New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Numbers 21
1
The Canaanite king of the city of Arad lived in the Negev Desert. He heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim. So he attacked the people of Israel. He captured some of them.
Reference
📍 Locations
2
Then Israel made a promise to the Lord. They said, "Hand these people over to us. If you do, we will set their cities apart to you in a special way to be destroyed."
Reference
3
The Lord gave Israel what they asked for. He handed the Canaanites over to them. Israel completely destroyed them. They also destroyed their towns. So that place was named Hormah.
Reference
4
The people of Israel traveled from Mount Hor along the way to the Red Sea. They wanted to go around Edom. But they grew tired on the way.
Reference
5
So they spoke against God. They also spoke against Moses. They said to them, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt? Do you want us to die here in the desert? We don't have any bread! We don't have any water! And we hate this awful food!"
Reference
6
Then the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people of Israel. The snakes bit them. Many of the people died.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 10:9
Deuteronomy 8:15
Isaiah 30:6
Isaiah 14:29
References Lord
Jeremiah 8:17
7
The others came to Moses. They said, "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 78:34
Prayer
Acts 8:24
Numbers 11:2
1 Kings 13:6
References Lord
Exodus 8:8
Exodus 8:28
8
The Lord said to Moses, "Make a snake. Put it up on a pole. Then anyone who is bitten can look at it and remain alive."
Reference
9
So Moses made a bronze snake. He put it up on a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake remained alive.
Reference
Creation
2 Kings 18:4
2 Corinthians 5:21
Parallel theme
Hebrews 12:2
John 6:40
John 12:32
Isaiah 45:22
Romans 8:3
Romans 1:17
Zechariah 12:10
1 John 3:8
10
The people of Israel moved on. They camped at Oboth.
📍 Oboth
11
Then they started out from Oboth. They camped in Iye Abarim. It's in the desert on the eastern border of Moab.
📍 Locations
12
From there they moved on. They camped in the Zered Valley.
📍 Valley of Zered
13
They started out from there and camped by the Arnon River. It's in the desert that spreads out into the territory of the Amorites. The Arnon is the border of Moab. It's between Moab and the Amorites.
Reference
📍 Arnon
14
Here is what the Book of the Wars of the Lord says about it. It says, "Sing about Waheb in Suphah and the valleys. Sing about the Arnon
📍 Locations
15
and the slopes of the valleys. They lead to the place called Ar. They lie along the border of Moab."
Reference
📍 Ar
16
From there the people of Israel continued on to Beer. That was the well where the Lord spoke to Moses. He said, "Gather the people together. I will give them water to drink."
Reference
📍 Beer
Parallel theme
Numbers 20:8
Isaiah 12:3
Revelation 21:6
Revelation 22:1
Revelation 22:17
Isaiah 43:20
Judges 9:21
Isaiah 49:10
John 4:10
References Moses
Exodus 17:6
17
Then Israel sang a song. They said, "Spring up, you well! Sing about it.
18
Sing about the well the princes dug. Sing about the well the nobles of the people dug. All of their rulers were holding their rods and staffs." Then the people of Israel went from the desert to Mattanah.
📍 Mattanah
19
They went from Mattanah to Nahaliel. They went from Nahaliel to Bamoth.
📍 Locations
20
And they went from Bamoth to a valley in Moab. It's the valley where the highest slopes of Pisgah look out over a dry and empty land.
Reference
📍 Locations
Parallel theme
Numbers 23:28
21
The people of Israel sent messengers to speak to Sihon. He was the king of the Amorites. The messengers said to him,
People
22
"Let us pass through your country. We won't go off the road into any field or vineyard. We won't drink water from any well. We'll travel along the king's highway. We'll just go straight through your territory."
Reference
Kingdom
Numbers 20:17
23
But Sihon wouldn't let Israel pass through his territory. He gathered his whole army together. Then he marched out into the desert against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought against Israel.
Reference
📍 Jahaz
References Israel
Judges 11:20
24
But Israel put him to death with their swords. They took over his land. They took everything from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. But they didn't take over any of the land of the Ammonites. That's because the Ammonites had built strong forts along their border.
Reference
📍 Arnon
25
The people of Israel captured all of the cities of the Amorites. Then they settled down in them. They captured the city of Heshbon. They also captured all of the settlements that were around it.
📍 Heshbon
26
Sihon, the king of the Amorites, ruled in Heshbon. He had fought against an earlier king of Moab. Sihon had taken from him all of his land all the way to the Arnon River.
📍 Locations
People
27
That's why the poets say, "Come to Heshbon. Let it be built again. Let Sihon's city be made as good as new.
📍 Heshbon
28
"Fire went out from Heshbon. A blaze went out from the city of Sihon. It burned up Ar in Moab. It burned up the citizens who lived on Arnon's hills.
Reference
📍 Locations
Parallel theme
Numbers 21:15
29
Moab, how terrible it is for you! People of Chemosh, you are destroyed! Chemosh has deserted his sons and daughters. His sons have run away from the battle. His daughters have become prisoners. He has handed all of them over to Sihon, the king of the Amorites.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Kings 23:13
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 48:46
Judges 11:24
Jeremiah 48:7
1 Kings 11:33
1 Kings 11:7
30
"But we have taken them over. Heshbon is destroyed all the way to Dibon. We have destroyed them as far as Nophah. Nophah goes all the way to Medeba."
Reference
📍 Locations
31
So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.
32
Moses sent spies to the city of Jazer. The people of Israel captured the settlements that were around it. They drove out the Amorites who were there.
Reference
📍 Jazer
33
Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan. Og was the king of Bashan. He and his whole army marched out. They went to fight against Israel at Edrei.
Reference
📍 Locations
People
34
The Lord said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of Og. I have handed him over to you. I have given you his whole army. I have also given you his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon, the king of the Amorites. He ruled in Heshbon."
Reference
📍 Heshbon
References Lord
Joshua 8:7
35
So the people of Israel struck Og down. They struck his sons down. And they wiped out his whole army. They didn't leave anyone alive. They took over his land for themselves.
Chapter Summary
Numbers Chapter 21 contains many events that take place as Israel journeys towards the promised land. They fight the king of Arad, complain yet again about their circumstances in the wilderness, are plagued with fiery serpents, and are healed when gazing upon the bronze serpent. The chapter later follows Israel's victories over many kings as they draw near to the promised land.
The chapter opens up to the king of Arad, a Canaanite king in the Negev, who hears about Israel's arrival by the way of Atharim. He goes out and attacks the Israelites, capturing some of them. In response to this, Israel makes a vow to the Lord. They say that if the Lord will indeed deliver the Canaanites into their hand, then they will utterly destroy their cities.
God hears their prayer and delivers the Canaanites into Israel's hand. They destroy the cities and call the place Hormah, a name that means "doubt." This was significant because Israel had attempted to go up to Canaan before in their journey, but they had been defeated. Now, as they travel according to the direction of the Lord, they finally experience victory in battle.
After leaving Mount Hor, Israel heads towards the Red Sea in order to bypass the land of Edom. The journey is arduous, and the people begin to gripe against God and Moses yet again. They complain that there is no bread, no water, and that they are tired of the manna that God is giving them.
Their complaining leads to God's judgment. He sends fiery serpents among the people, and many are bitten and die. The people recognize this is God's judgment and plead with Moses, saying that they have sinned against the Lord and against Moses. Moses prays for the people, and God instructs him to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole, and anyone who has been bitten may look upon it and live.
Moses makes the serpent of brass and puts it on the pole, and everyone who has been bitten looks upon it and receives healing. It should be noted that the mere brass serpent did not heal them, but looking upon it as the instrument of God's healing brought them life.
This story was one of the most notable miracles during Israel's wilderness wanderings, and the healing power of the brass serpent became legendary. In a sense, the people got what they asked for, but God also showed mercy to them. Israel had brought the judgment upon themselves through their murmuring, but God provided a way of restoration to them through Moses.
Israel continues on their journey through the wilderness, and eventually come to a place where God provides them with water. They build up around the well and sing a song that praises the well and those who helped lead them to it. Israel continues on their journey to the north, and sends envoys to Sihon, the king of Amorites. They ask permission to pass through his land, as they had done with Edom before. They promise to keep to the King's Highway and not trespass into the fields or vineyards or take water from the wells.
Sihon refuses to let them pass through his land, and instead musters up his army and attacks them in the wilderness. Israel battles and defeats him, taking possession of his land from the river Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the borders of the Ammonites. They occupy in the cities of the Amorites, including Heshbon. A Song about Heshbon is recorded, and it recounts that Sihon had previously conquered the land of the Amorites from the people who had been driven out before him, but that Israel has now conquered it from him.
Israel then continues on to the land of Og, king of Bashan. Og comes out with his people to meet them at Edrei, but the Lord says to not be afraid, that He has delivered Og and all his people and his land into Israel's hand.
Israel defeats Og and his army, killing every man and taking possession of his land. This gives Israel a large amount of territory on the east of the Jordan River.
The victories over Sihon and Og were significant because it marked a change in Israel's wilderness wandering. They are no longer just meandering, but have a definite direction as God leads them towards the promised land, and have conquered the kings along the way. They have also gained them large territories that are east of the Jordan River, which will also come in handy to them later when crossing over into Canaan.
Numbers 21 is a chapter full of defeat and victories. Israel has once again grumbled against God and fallen afoul of His judgments, but God has also shown mercy to them and healed their judgments. They have gained victories over the kings who had opposed them, and have taken possession of their lands.
It should also be noted how quickly things can change in life. The Israelites had just been complaining and had fallen under judgment, but then they experienced God's mercy. They had been losing battles and avoiding the promised land, but suddenly they were victorious and conquering lands and cities. It was all by the power of God, and it was not by their own might, but by His Spirit empowering them.
By the end of the chapter, Israel has conquered Arad, Sihon, and Og. They have taken possession of lands east of the Jordan River, and are now beginning to see the promised land spread out before them. The wilderness journey is far from over, but the events of Numbers 21 show us how God has been working to bring them to their destination.
The chapter opens up to the king of Arad, a Canaanite king in the Negev, who hears about Israel's arrival by the way of Atharim. He goes out and attacks the Israelites, capturing some of them. In response to this, Israel makes a vow to the Lord. They say that if the Lord will indeed deliver the Canaanites into their hand, then they will utterly destroy their cities.
God hears their prayer and delivers the Canaanites into Israel's hand. They destroy the cities and call the place Hormah, a name that means "doubt." This was significant because Israel had attempted to go up to Canaan before in their journey, but they had been defeated. Now, as they travel according to the direction of the Lord, they finally experience victory in battle.
After leaving Mount Hor, Israel heads towards the Red Sea in order to bypass the land of Edom. The journey is arduous, and the people begin to gripe against God and Moses yet again. They complain that there is no bread, no water, and that they are tired of the manna that God is giving them.
Their complaining leads to God's judgment. He sends fiery serpents among the people, and many are bitten and die. The people recognize this is God's judgment and plead with Moses, saying that they have sinned against the Lord and against Moses. Moses prays for the people, and God instructs him to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole, and anyone who has been bitten may look upon it and live.
Moses makes the serpent of brass and puts it on the pole, and everyone who has been bitten looks upon it and receives healing. It should be noted that the mere brass serpent did not heal them, but looking upon it as the instrument of God's healing brought them life.
This story was one of the most notable miracles during Israel's wilderness wanderings, and the healing power of the brass serpent became legendary. In a sense, the people got what they asked for, but God also showed mercy to them. Israel had brought the judgment upon themselves through their murmuring, but God provided a way of restoration to them through Moses.
Israel continues on their journey through the wilderness, and eventually come to a place where God provides them with water. They build up around the well and sing a song that praises the well and those who helped lead them to it. Israel continues on their journey to the north, and sends envoys to Sihon, the king of Amorites. They ask permission to pass through his land, as they had done with Edom before. They promise to keep to the King's Highway and not trespass into the fields or vineyards or take water from the wells.
Sihon refuses to let them pass through his land, and instead musters up his army and attacks them in the wilderness. Israel battles and defeats him, taking possession of his land from the river Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the borders of the Ammonites. They occupy in the cities of the Amorites, including Heshbon. A Song about Heshbon is recorded, and it recounts that Sihon had previously conquered the land of the Amorites from the people who had been driven out before him, but that Israel has now conquered it from him.
Israel then continues on to the land of Og, king of Bashan. Og comes out with his people to meet them at Edrei, but the Lord says to not be afraid, that He has delivered Og and all his people and his land into Israel's hand.
Israel defeats Og and his army, killing every man and taking possession of his land. This gives Israel a large amount of territory on the east of the Jordan River.
The victories over Sihon and Og were significant because it marked a change in Israel's wilderness wandering. They are no longer just meandering, but have a definite direction as God leads them towards the promised land, and have conquered the kings along the way. They have also gained them large territories that are east of the Jordan River, which will also come in handy to them later when crossing over into Canaan.
Numbers 21 is a chapter full of defeat and victories. Israel has once again grumbled against God and fallen afoul of His judgments, but God has also shown mercy to them and healed their judgments. They have gained victories over the kings who had opposed them, and have taken possession of their lands.
It should also be noted how quickly things can change in life. The Israelites had just been complaining and had fallen under judgment, but then they experienced God's mercy. They had been losing battles and avoiding the promised land, but suddenly they were victorious and conquering lands and cities. It was all by the power of God, and it was not by their own might, but by His Spirit empowering them.
By the end of the chapter, Israel has conquered Arad, Sihon, and Og. They have taken possession of lands east of the Jordan River, and are now beginning to see the promised land spread out before them. The wilderness journey is far from over, but the events of Numbers 21 show us how God has been working to bring them to their destination.