Numbers 21:7-17

7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Now pray to the Lord to take these snakes away." So Moses prayed for the people.

8 Then the Lord told Moses to make a metal snake and put it on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten could look at it and be healed.

9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten would look at the bronze snake and be healed. ¹

10 The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.

11 After leaving that place, they camped at the ruins of Abarim in the wilderness east of Moabite territory.

12 Then they camped in Zered Valley.

13 From there they moved again and camped on the north side of the Arnon River, in the wilderness which extends into Amorite territory. (The Arnon was the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.)

14 That is why [The Book of the Lord's Battles ]speaks of ". . . the town of Waheb in the area of Suphah, and the valleys; the Arnon River,

15 and the slope of the valleys that extend to the town of Ar and toward the border of Moab."

16 From there they went on to a place called Wells, where the Lord said to Moses, "Bring the people together, and I will give them water."

17 At that time the people of Israel sang this song: "Wells, produce your water; And we will greet it with a song -

Numbers 21:7-17 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.

Cross References

• 1. 21.9 2 K 18.4;John 3.14.