5
They spoke out against God and Moses: "Why did you drag us out of Egypt to die in this godforsaken country? No decent food; no water - we can't stomach this stuff any longer."
6
So God sent poisonous snakes among the people; they bit them and many in Israel died.
7
The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke out against God and you. Pray to God; ask him to take these snakes from us." Moses prayed for the people.
8
God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it on a flagpole: Whoever is bitten and looks at it will live."
9
So Moses made a snake of fiery copper and put it on top of a flagpole. Anyone bitten by a snake who then looked at the copper snake lived.
10
The People of Israel set out and camped at Oboth.
11
They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim in the wilderness that faces Moab on the east.
12
They went from there and pitched camp in the Zered Valley.
13
Their next camp was alongside the Arnon River, which marks the border between Amorite country and Moab.
14
The Book of the Wars of God refers to this place: Waheb in Suphah, the canyons of Arnon;
15
Along the canyon ravines that lead to the village Ar And lean hard against the border of Moab.
16
They went on to Beer (The Well), where God said to Moses, "Gather the people; I'll give them water."
17
That's where Israel sang this song: Erupt, Well! Sing the Song of the Well,
18
the well sunk by princes, Dug out by the peoples' leaders digging with their scepters and staffs.
19
to Nahaliel to Bamoth (The Heights)
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to the valley that opens into the fields of Moab from where Pisgah (The Summit) rises and overlooks Jeshimon (Wasteland).
21
Israel sent emissaries to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying,
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"Let us cross your land. We won't trespass into your fields or drink water in your vineyards. We'll keep to the main road, the King's Road, until we're through your land."
23
But Sihon wouldn't let Israel go through. Instead he got his army together and marched into the wilderness to fight Israel. At Jahaz he attacked Israel.
24
But Israel fought hard, beat him soundly, and took possession of his land from the Arnon all the way to the Jabbok right up to the Ammonite border. They stopped there because the Ammonite border was fortified.
25
Israel took and occupied all the Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its surrounding villages.