The Bronze Serpent

⁴ Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to ^(A)go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very ^[a]discouraged on the way.

¹⁸ And they ^(A)went along through the wilderness and ^(B)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.

⁹ So Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; ^(A)but they did not heed Moses, because of ^(B)anguish^[a] of spirit and cruel bondage.

⁷ Now why will you ^(A)discourage the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord has given them?

^3 (A)that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that ^(B)we are appointed to this. ^4 (C)For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, ^(A)exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ^(B)“We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

⁴¹ So they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.

⁹ For ^(A)when they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, so that they did not go into the land which the Lord had given them.

⁵ Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, ^(A)because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. ⁶ You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.

⁷ “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your ^[a]trudging through this great wilderness. ^(B)These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.” ’

⁸ “And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the plain, away from ^(C)Elath and Ezion Geber, we ^(D)turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab.

^40 (A)But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.’