The Defeat of Arad

1When the Canaanite (merchant) king of Arad (a wild donkey), who lived in the Negev (southland), heard that Israel (he wrestles with God) was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked Israel and captured some prisoners. 2So Israel (he wrestles with God) made a vow to the LORD {YHWH}: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction {cherem}.a”

3And the LORD {YHWH} heard Israel’s (he wrestles with God) plea and delivered up the Canaanites (merchants). Israel devoted them and their cities to destruction; so they named the place Hormah (destruction).b

The Bronze Serpent

4Then they set out from Mount Hor (mountain) along the route to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds),c in order to bypass the land of Edom (red). But the people grew impatient on the journey 5and spoke against God {Elohim} and against Moses (drawn out): “Why have you⁺ led us up out of Egypt (land of bondage) to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”

6So the LORD {YHWH} sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites (God prevails) were bitten and died.

7Then the people came to Moses (drawn out) and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD {YHWH} and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.

8Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” 9So Moses (drawn out) made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

The Journey to Moab

10Then the Israelites (God prevails) set out and camped at Oboth (waterskins). 11They journeyed from Oboth (waterskins) and camped at Iye-abarim (ruins of Abarim) in the wilderness opposite Moab (of his father) to the east. 12From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered (osier brook). 13From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon (rushing stream), in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite (a sayer) territory.

Now the Arnon is the border (of his father) between the Moabites and the Amorites. 14Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD {YHWH}:

“Waheb (now, come on) in Suphah (honeycomb / overflow)

and the wadis of the Arnon (rushing stream),

15even the slopes of the wadis

that extend to the site of Ar (a city)

and lie along the border of Moab (of his father).”

16From there they went on to Beer (well),d the well where the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Gather the people so that I may give them water.” 17Then Israel (he wrestles with God) sang this song:

“Spring up, O well,

all of you sing to it!

18The princes dug the well;

the nobles of the people hollowed it out

with their scepters

and with their staffs.”

From the wilderness the Israelites went on to Mattanah (gift of YHWH), 19and from Mattanah (gift of YHWH) to Nahaliel (torrents of God), and from Nahaliel to Bamoth (great high place), 20and from Bamoth (great high place) to the valley in Moab (of his father) where the top of Pisgah (cleft) overlooks the wasteland (Jeshimon).e

The Defeat of Sihon
(Deuteronomy 2:24–37)

21Then Israel (he wrestles with God) sent messengers to Sihon (warrior) king of the Amorites (sayers), saying, 22“Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”

23But Sihon (warrior) would not let Israel (he wrestles with God) pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz (Jahzah),f he fought against Israel. 24And Israel (he wrestles with God) put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon (rushing stream) to the Jabbok (emptying)—but only up to the border of the Ammonites (tribal), because it was fortified (because the territory was rugged).g

25Israel (he wrestles with God) captured all the cities of the Amorites (sayers) and occupied them, including Heshbon (stronghold) and all its villages. 26Heshbon (stronghold) was the city of Sihon (warrior) king of the Amorites (sayers), who had fought against the former king of Moab (of his father) and taken all his land as far as the Arnon (rushing stream). 27That is why the poets say:

“Come to Heshbon (stronghold), let it be rebuilt;

let the city of Sihon (warrior) be restored.

28For a fire went out from Heshbon (stronghold),

a blaze from the city of Sihon (warrior).

It consumed Ar (a city) of Moab (of his father),

the rulers of Arnon’s (rushing stream) heights.

29Woe to you, O Moab (of his father)!

You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh (subduer)!

He gave up his sons as refugees,

and his daughters into captivity

to Sihon (warrior) king of the Amorites (sayers).

30But we have overthrown them;

Heshbon (stronghold) is destroyed as far as Dibon (wasting).

We demolished them as far as Nophah (blast),

which reaches to Medeba (We demolished them until fire spread to Medeba).h”

The Defeat of Og
(Deuteronomy 3:1–11)

31So Israel (he wrestles with God) lived in the land of the Amorites (sayers). 32After Moses (drawn out) had sent spies to Jazer (helped), Israel captured its villages and drove out the Amorites (sayers) who were there.

33Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan (fruitful), and Og (long-necked) king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet them in battle at Edrei (good pasture).

34But the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon (warrior) king of the Amorites (sayers), who lived in Heshbon (stronghold).”

35So they struck down Og, along with his sons and his whole army, until no remnant was left. And they took possession of his land.