Numbers 21:12-22

12 From there they traveled and camped in Vadi Zered.

13 From there they traveled and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the desert; this river comes out of the territory of the Emori; for the Arnon is the boundary between Mo'av and the Emori.

14 This is why it says, in the Book of the Wars of ADONAI, ". . . Vahev at Sufah, the vadis of Arnon,

15 and the slope of the vadis extending as far as the site of 'Ar, which lie next to the territory of Mo'av."

16 From there they went on to Be'er [well]; that is the well about which ADONAI said to Moshe, "Assemble the people, and I will give them water."

17 Then Isra'el sang this song: "Spring up, oh well! Sing to the well

18 sunk by the princes, dug by the people's leaders with the scepter, with their staffs!" From the desert they went to Mattanah,

19 from Mattanah to Nachali'el, from Nachali'el to Bamot,

20 and from Bamot to the valley by the plain of Mo'av at the start of the Pisgah range, where it overlooks the desert.

21 Isra'el sent messengers to Sichon, king of the Emori, with this message:

22 "Let me pass through your land. We won't turn aside into fields or vineyards, and we won't drink any water from the wells. We will go along the King's Highway until we have left your territory."

Numbers 21:12-22 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.