Numbers 21

Arad Destroyed

1 The a king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. 2 b So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then c I will utterly destroy their cities." 3 And the LORD listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called 1 Hormah. 2

The Bronze Serpent

4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to d go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very 3 discouraged on the way. 5 And the people e spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul 4 loathes this worthless bread." 6 So f the LORD sent g fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 h Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have i sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; j pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the LORD said to Moses, k "Make a l fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." 9 So m Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

The Song of the Well

10 Now the children of Israel moved on and n camped in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at 5 Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 o From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for p the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:
6 "Waheb in Suphah, 7
The brooks of the Arnon,
15 And the slope of the brooks
That reaches to the dwelling of q Ar,
And lies on the border of Moab."

16 From there they went r to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together, and I will give them water."

17 s Then Israel sang this song:
"Spring up, O well!
All of you sing to it -

18 The well the leaders sank,
Dug by the nation's nobles,
By the t lawgiver, with their staves."
And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah,
19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the 8 country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks u down on the 9 wasteland.

King Sihon Defeated

21 Then v Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 w "Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory." 23 x But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and 10 went out against Israel in the wilderness, y and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 Then z Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. 25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel a dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon.

27 Therefore those who speak in 11 proverbs say:
"Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
Let the city of Sihon be repaired.
28 "For b fire went out from Heshbon,
A flame from the city of Sihon;
It consumed c Ar of Moab,
The lords of the d heights of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, e Moab!
You have perished, O people of f Chemosh!
He has given his g sons as fugitives,
And his h daughters into captivity,
To Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 "But we have shot at them;
Heshbon has perished i as far as Dibon.
Then we laid waste as far as Nophah,
Which reaches to j Medeba."

King Og Defeated

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 32 Then Moses sent to 12 spy out k Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 l And they turned and went up by the way to m Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle n at Edrei. 34 Then the LORD said to Moses, o "Do not fear him, for I have 13 delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and p you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon." 35 q So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

  1. Cross References
    Numbers 33:40
    Now the king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.
    Joshua 12:14
    The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one.
    Judges 1:16
    Now the children of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up from the City of Palms with the children of Judah into the Wilderness of Judah, which lies in the South near Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 28:20
    Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on.
    Judges 11:30
    And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands.
  3. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:34
    We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining.
  4. Cross References
    Judges 11:18
    And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
  5. Cross References
    Numbers 20:4
    Why have you brought up the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our animals should die here?
    Numbers 20:5
    "And why have you made us come up out of Egypt, to bring us to this evil place? It is not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink."
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 10:9
    Nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents.
  7. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 8:15
    Who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock.
  8. Cross References
    Numbers 11:2
    Then the people cried out to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the LORD, the fire was quenched.
    Psalms 78:34
    When He slew them, then they sought Him; And they returned and sought earnestly for God.
    Isaiah 26:16
    LORD, in trouble they have visited You, They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them.
    Hosea 5:15
    I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.
  9. Cross References
    Leviticus 26:40
    But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 8:8
    Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, "Entreat the LORD that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the LORD.
    1 Samuel 12:19
    And all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.
    1 Kings 13:6
    Then the king answered and said to the man of God, "Please entreat the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me." So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and became as before.
    Acts 8:24
    Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.
  11. Cross References
    John 3:14
    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
    John 3:15
    That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
  12. Cross References
    Isaiah 14:29
    Do not rejoice, all you of Philistia, Because the rod that struck you is broken; For out of the serpent's roots will come forth a viper, And its offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.
    Isaiah 30:6
    The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which came the lioness and lion, The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people who shall not profit.
  13. Cross References
    2 Kings 18:4
    He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.
    John 3:14
    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.
    John 3:15
    That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
  14. Cross References
    Numbers 33:43
    They departed from Punon and camped at Oboth.
    Numbers 33:44
    They departed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, at the border of Moab.
  15. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:13
    'Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.' So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered.
  16. Cross References
    Numbers 22:36
    Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory.
    Judges 11:18
    And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 21:28
    For fire went out from Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It consumed Ar of Moab, The lords of the heights of the Arnon.
    Deuteronomy 2:9
    "Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
    Deuteronomy 2:18
    This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab.
    Deuteronomy 2:29
    'just as the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD our God is giving us.'
  18. Cross References
    Judges 9:21
    And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
  19. Cross References
    Exodus 15:1
    Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
  20. Cross References
    Isaiah 33:22
    (For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us).
  21. Cross References
    Numbers 23:28
    So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that overlooks the wasteland.
  22. Cross References
    Numbers 32:33
    So Moses gave to the children of Gad, to the children of Reuben, and to half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land with its cities within the borders, the cities of the surrounding country.
    Deuteronomy 2:26 - 37
    And I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying.
    Judges 11:19
    'Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, "Please let us pass through your land into our place."
  23. Cross References
    Numbers 20:16
    When we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border.
    Numbers 20:17
    'Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King's Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.'"
  24. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 29:7
    And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them.
  25. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:32
    Then Sihon and all his people came out against us to fight at Jahaz.
    Judges 11:20
    But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
  26. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:33
    And the LORD our God delivered him over to us; ...
    Joshua 12:1
    These are the kings of the land whom the childr...
    Nehemiah 9:22
    Moreover You gave them kingdoms and nations, An...
    Psalms 135:10
    He defeated many nations And slew mighty kings -
    Psalms 136:19
    Sihon king of the Amorites, For His mercy endur...
    Amos 2:9
    Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before t...
  27. Cross References
    Amos 2:10
    Also it was I who brought you up from the land of Egypt, And led you forty years through the wilderness, To possess the land of the Amorite.
  28. Cross References
    Jeremiah 48:45
    Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon Because of exhaustion. But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, A flame from the midst of Sihon, And shall devour the brow of Moab, The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.
    Jeremiah 48:46
    Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perish; For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive.
  29. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:9
    "Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
    Deuteronomy 2:18
    This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab.
    Isaiah 15:1
    The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste And destroyed, Because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste And destroyed.
  30. Cross References
    Numbers 22:41
    So it was, the next day, that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, that from there he might observe the extent of the people.
    Numbers 33:52
    Then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places.
  31. Cross References
    Jeremiah 48:46
    Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perish; For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive.
  32. Cross References
    Judges 11:24
    Will you not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God takes possession of before us, we will possess.
    1 Kings 11:33
    Because they have forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David.
    2 Kings 23:13
    Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon.
  33. Cross References
    Isaiah 15:2
    He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, To the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; On all their heads will be baldness, And every beard cut off.
    Isaiah 15:5
    My heart will cry out for Moab; His fugitives shall flee to Zoar, Like a three-year-old heifer. For by the Ascent of Luhith They will go up with weeping; For in the way of Horonaim They will raise up a cry of destruction.
  34. Cross References
    Isaiah 16:2
    For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
  35. Cross References
    Numbers 32:3
    Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon.
    Numbers 32:34
    And the children of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer.
    Jeremiah 48:18
    O daughter inhabiting Dibon, Come down from your glory, And sit in thirst; For the plunderer of Moab has come against you, He has destroyed your strongholds.
    Jeremiah 48:22
    On Dibon and Nebo and Beth Diblathaim.
  36. Cross References
    Isaiah 15:2
    He has gone up to the temple and Dibon, To the high places to weep. Moab will wail over Nebo and over Medeba; On all their heads will be baldness, And every beard cut off.
  37. Cross References
    Numbers 32:1
    Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock; and when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that indeed the region was a place for livestock.
    Numbers 32:3
    Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Shebam, Nebo, and Beon.
    Numbers 32:35
    Atroth and Shophan and Jazer and Jogbehah.
    Jeremiah 48:32
    O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer. Your plants have gone over the sea, They reach to the sea of Jazer. The plunderer has fallen on your summer fruit and your vintage.
  38. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 29:7
    And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them.
  39. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:1
    Then we turned and went up the road to Bashan; and Og king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
  40. Cross References
    Joshua 13:12
    All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants; for Moses had defeated and cast out these.
  41. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:2
    "And the LORD said to me, 'Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand; you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.'
  42. Cross References
    Numbers 21:24
    Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.
    Psalms 135:10
    He defeated many nations And slew mighty kings -
    Psalms 136:20
    And Og king of Bashan, For His mercy endures forever -
  43. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:3
    So the LORD our God also delivered into our hands Og king of Bashan, with all his people, and we attacked him until he had no survivors remaining.
    Deuteronomy 3:4
    And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we did not take from them: sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
    Deuteronomy 29:7
    And when you came to this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we conquered them.
    Joshua 13:12
    All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants; for Moses had defeated and cast out these.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Previous Book Next Book