Numbers 21:14-24

14 Therefore it is said in the book of the battles of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon

15 and at the stream of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, and lies upon the border of Moab.

16 And from there they went to Beer; this is the well of which the LORD spoke unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.

17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it.

18 The princes dug the well, the willing people dug it, and the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah.

19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth.

20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the fields of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks toward Jeshimon.

21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,

22 Let me pass through thy land; we will not turn into the fields or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the wells; but we will go along by the king’s high way until we are past thy borders.

23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border; instead Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel into the wilderness; and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.

24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the sons of Ammon, for the border of the sons of Ammon was strong.

Numbers 21:14-24 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.