Numbers 21:10-20

10 The Israelites went and camped at Oboth.

11 They went from Oboth to Iye Abarim, in the desert east of Moab.

12 From there they went and camped in the Zered Valley.

13 From there they went and camped across the Arnon, in the desert just inside the Amorite country. The Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.

14 That is why the Book of the Wars of the Lord says: ". . . and Waheb in Suphah, and the ravines, the Arnon,

15 and the slopes of the ravines that lead to the settlement of Ar. These places are at the border of Moab."

16 The Israelites went from there to Beer; a well is there where the Lord said to Moses, "Gather the people and I will give them water."

17 Then the Israelites sang this song: "Pour out water, well! Sing about it.

18 Princes dug this well. Important men made it. With their scepters and poles, they dug it." The people went from the desert to Mattanah.

19 From Mattanah they went to Nahaliel and on to Bamoth.

20 From Bamoth they went to the valley of Moab where the top of Mount Pisgah looks over the desert.

Numbers 21:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 21

This chapter gives an account of the defeat of King Arad, the Canaanite, Nu 21:1-3 of the murmurings of the children of Israel, because of difficulties in travelling round, the land of Edom, for which they were punished with fiery serpents, Nu 21:4-6 and how that upon their repentance a brazen serpent was ordered to be made, and to be erected on a pole, that whoever looked to it might live, Nu 21:7-9 and of the several journeys and stations of the children of Israel, until they came to the land of the Amorites, Nu 21:10-20, when they sent a message to Sihon their king, to desire him to grant them a passage through his country; but he refusing, they fought with him, smote him, and possessed his land, concerning which many proverbial sayings were used, Nu 21:21-32 and the chapter is concluded with the defeat of Og, king of Bashan, Nu 21:33-35.