Numbers 21:1-15 ▼

1 And Arad the Chananitish king who dwelt by the wilderness, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharin; and he made war on Israel, and carried off some of them captives.

2 And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord, and said, If thou wilt deliver this people into my power, I will devote it and its cities to thee .

3 And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered the Chananite into his power; and Israel devoted him and his cities, and they called the name of that place Anathema.

4 And having departed from mount Or by the way leading to the Red Sea, they compassed the land of Edom, and the people lost courage by the way.

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, saying, Why is this? Hast thou brought us ought of Egypt to slay us in the wilderness? for there is not bread nor water; and our soul loathes this light bread.

6 And the Lord sent among the people deadly serpents, and they bit the people, and much people of the children of Israel died.

7 And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee: pray therefore to the Lord, and let him take away the serpent from us.

8 And Moses prayed to the Lord for the people; and the Lord said to Moses, Make thee a serpent, and put it on a signal- staff ; and it shall come to pass that whenever a serpent shall bite a man, every one so bitten that looks upon it shall live.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a signal- staff : and it came to pass that whenever a serpent bit a man, and he looked on the brazen serpent, he lived.

10 And the children of Israel departed, and encamped in Oboth.

11 And having departed from Oboth, they encamped in Achalgai, on the farther side in the wilderness, which is opposite Moab, toward the east.

12 And thence they departed, and encamped in the valley of Zared.

13 And they departed thence and encamped on the other side of Arnon in the wilderness, the country which extends from the coasts of the Amorites; for Arnon is the borders of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

14 Therefore it is said in a book, A war of the Lord has set on fire Zoob, and the brooks of Arnon.

15 And he has appointed brooks to cause Er to dwell there ; and it lies near to the coasts of Moab.