Numbers 21:4-9

4 profecti sunt autem et de monte Or per viam quae ducit ad mare Rubrum ut circumirent terram Edom et taedere coepit populum itineris ac laboris

5 locutusque contra Deum et Mosen ait cur eduxisti nos de Aegypto ut moreremur in solitudine deest panis non sunt aquae anima nostra iam nausiat super cibo isto levissimo

6 quam ob rem misit Dominus in populum ignitos serpentes ad quorum plagas et mortes plurimorum

7 venerunt ad Mosen atque dixerunt peccavimus quia locuti sumus contra Dominum et te ora ut tollat a nobis serpentes oravit Moses pro populo

8 et locutus est Dominus ad eum fac serpentem et pone eum pro signo qui percussus aspexerit eum vivet

9 fecit ergo Moses serpentem aeneum et posuit pro signo quem cum percussi aspicerent sanabantur

Numbers 21:4-9 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.