Numbers 21:15-25

15 Arnon and the slopes of the valleys that go down to the site of Ar and lie along the border of Moab...."

16 From there they went to Beer [Well]. This is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people, and I will give them water."

17 Then Israel sang this song about the well: "Make your water spring up! Sing to the well,

18 the well dug by princes, dug out by the nobles of the people with their scepters and staffs." From the desert they went to Mattanah,

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

20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where Mount Pisgah overlooks Jeshimon.

21 Then Israel sent messengers to say to King Sihon of the Amorites,

22 "Let us go through your country. We won't go through any of your fields or vineyards or drink any of the water from your wells. We'll stay on the king's highway until we've passed through your territory."

23 Sihon wouldn't let Israel pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his troops and came out into the desert to attack Israel. When Sihon's troops came to Jahaz, they fought against Israel.

24 But Israel defeated them in battle and took possession of their land from the Arnon Valley to the Jabbok River. [They stopped at] the border of the Ammon because it was fortified.

25 Israel took all those Amorite cities, including Heshbon and all its villages, and lived in them.

Numbers 21:15-25 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.