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1 When 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. 2 So 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}. 3 And 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). 4 Then they set out from Mount Hor (mountain) along the route to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds), in order to bypass the land of Edom (red). But the people grew impatient on the journey 5 and 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!” 6 So the LORD {YHWH} sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites (God prevails) were bitten and died. 7 Then 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. 8 Then 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.” 9 So 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. Numbers 21:1-9, Berean Annotated Bible. Public domain.
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