Numbers 20:22-21:9

New International Version

The Death of Aaron

²² The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh^(A) and came to Mount Hor.^{(B) 23} At Mount Hor, near the border of Edom,^(C) the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²⁴ “Aaron will be gathered to his people.^(D) He will not enter the land I give the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against my command^(E) at the waters of Meribah.^{(F) 25} Get Aaron and his son Eleazar and take them up Mount Hor.^{(G) 26} Remove Aaron’s garments^(H) and put them on his son Eleazar, for Aaron will be gathered to his people;^(I) he will die there.”

²⁷ Moses did as the Lord commanded: They went up Mount Hor^(J) in the sight of the whole community. ²⁸ Moses removed Aaron’s garments and put them on his son Eleazar.^(K) And Aaron died there^(L) on top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, ²⁹ and when the whole community learned that Aaron had died,^(M) all the Israelites mourned for him^(N) thirty days.

Arad Destroyed

21 When the Canaanite king of Arad,^(O) who lived in the Negev,^(P) heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. ² Then Israel made this vow^(Q) to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy^[a](R) their cities.” ³ The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites^(S) over to them. They completely destroyed them^(T) and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.^[b](U)

The Bronze Snake

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor^(V) along the route to the Red Sea,^[c](W) to go around Edom.^(X) But the people grew impatient on the way;^{(Y) 5} they spoke against God^(Z) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt^(AA) to die in the wilderness?^(AB) There is no bread! There is no water!^(AC) And we detest this miserable food!”^(AD)

⁶ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes^(AE) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.^{(AF) 7} The people came to Moses^(AG) and said, “We sinned^(AH) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord^(AI) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed^(AJ) for the people.

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole;^(AK) anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake^(AL) and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.^(AM)