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Numbers 21:10-22:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Numbers 21:10-22:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Journey to Moab
10 The Israelites set out and camped in Oboth.(A) 11 They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness bordering Moab toward the sunrise.(B) 12 From there they set out and camped in the Wadi Zered.(C) 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in[a] the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites, for the Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Wherefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,
“Waheb in Suphah and the wadis.
The Arnon 15 and the slopes of the wadis
that extend to the seat of Ar
and lie along the border of Moab.”[b](D)
16 From there they continued to Beer;[c] that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
18 the well that the leaders sank,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the scepter, with the staff.”
From the wilderness to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that overlooks the wasteland.[d]
King Sihon Defeated
21 Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying,(E) 22 “Let me pass through your land; we will not turn aside into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of any well; we will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”(F) 23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness; he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.(G) 24 Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong.(H) 25 Israel took all these towns, and Israel settled in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and captured all his land as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the singers say,
“Come to Heshbon; let it be built;
let the city of Sihon be established.
28 For fire came out from Heshbon,
flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured Ar of Moab
and swallowed up[e] the heights of the Arnon.(I)
29 Woe to you, O Moab!
You are undone, O people of Chemosh!
He has made his sons fugitives
and his daughters captives
to an Amorite king, Sihon.(J)
30 So their posterity perished
from Heshbon[f] to Dibon,
and we laid waste until fire spread to Medeba.”[g](K)
31 Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. 32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.(L)
King Og Defeated
33 Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and King Og of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.(M) 34 But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have given him into your hand, with all his people and his land. You shall do to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.”(N) 35 So they killed him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left, and they took possession of his land.
Balak Summons Balaam to Curse Israel
22 The Israelites set out and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.(O) 2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were so numerous; Moab was overcome with fear of the Israelites.(P) 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.(Q) 5 He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is on the Euphrates,[h] in the land of Amaw,[i] to summon him, saying, “A people has come out of Egypt; they have spread over the face of the earth, and they have settled next to me.(R) 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.”(S)
Numbers 21:10-22:6
New International Version
Numbers 21:10-22:6
New International Version
The Journey to Moab
10 The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.(A) 11 Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab(B) toward the sunrise. 12 From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley.(C) 13 They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon(D), which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.(E) 14 That is why the Book of the Wars(F) of the Lord says:
“. . . Zahab[a] in Suphah and the ravines,
the Arnon 15 and[b] the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the settlement of Ar(G)
and lie along the border of Moab.”
16 From there they continued on to Beer,(H) the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”
17 Then Israel sang this song:(I)
“Spring up, O well!
Sing about it,
18 about the well that the princes dug,
that the nobles of the people sank—
the nobles with scepters and staffs.”
Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah(J) overlooks the wasteland.
Defeat of Sihon and Og
21 Israel sent messengers(K) to say to Sihon(L) king of the Amorites:(M)
22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.(N)”
23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.(O) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,(P) he fought with Israel.(Q) 24 Israel, however, put him to the sword(R) and took over his land(S) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,(T) but only as far as the Ammonites,(U) because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites(V) and occupied them,(W) including Heshbon(X) and all its surrounding settlements. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon(Y) king of the Amorites,(Z) who had fought against the former king of Moab(AA) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.(AB)
27 That is why the poets say:
“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
let Sihon’s city be restored.
28 “Fire went out from Heshbon,
a blaze from the city of Sihon.(AC)
It consumed(AD) Ar(AE) of Moab,
the citizens of Arnon’s heights.(AF)
29 Woe to you, Moab!(AG)
You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!(AH)
He has given up his sons as fugitives(AI)
and his daughters as captives(AJ)
to Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 “But we have overthrown them;
Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.(AK)
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
which extends to Medeba.(AL)”
31 So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.(AM)
32 After Moses had sent spies(AN) to Jazer,(AO) the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan(AP),(AQ) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.(AR)
34 The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.(AS)”
35 So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors.(AT) And they took possession of his land.(AU)
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab(AV) and camped along the Jordan(AW) across from Jericho.(AX)
2 Now Balak son of Zippor(AY) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread(AZ) because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites(BA) said to the elders of Midian,(BB) “This horde is going to lick up everything(BC) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.(BD)”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(BE) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(BF) in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt;(BG) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse(BH) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.(BI) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
Footnotes
- Numbers 21:14 Septuagint; Hebrew Waheb
- Numbers 21:15 Or “I have been given from Suphah and the ravines / of the Arnon 15 to
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