²⁸ So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,^(A) declares the Lord, I will do to you^(B) the very thing I heard you say: ²⁹ In this wilderness your bodies will fall^(C)—every one of you twenty years old or more^(D) who was counted in the census^(E) and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land^(F) I swore with uplifted hand^(G) to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh^(H) and Joshua son of Nun.^{(I) 31} As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.^{(J) 32} But as for you, your bodies will fall^(K) in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years,^(L) suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. ³⁴ For forty years^(M)—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land^(N)—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ ³⁵ I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things^(O) to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.^(P)”

Arad Destroyed

21 When the Canaanite king of Arad,^(A) who lived in the Negev,^(B) 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^(C) to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy^[a](D) their cities.” ³ The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites^(E) over to them. They completely destroyed them^(F) and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.^[b](G)

The Bronze Snake

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor^(H) along the route to the Red Sea,^[c](I) to go around Edom.^(J) But the people grew impatient on the way;^(K)

Defeat of Sihon and Og

²¹ Israel sent messengers^(A) to say to Sihon^(B) king of the Amorites:^(C)

²³ But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.^(E) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,^(F) he fought with Israel.^{(G) 24} Israel, however, put him to the sword^(H) and took over his land^(I) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,^(J) but only as far as the Ammonites,^(K) because their border was fortified. ²⁵ Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites^(L) and occupied them,^(M) including Heshbon^(N) and all its surrounding settlements. ²⁶ Heshbon was the city of Sihon^(O) king of the Amorites,^(P) who had fought against the former king of Moab^(Q) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.^(R)

³¹ So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.^(A)

³² After Moses had sent spies^(B) to Jazer,^(C) 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^(D),^(E) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.^(F)

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.^(G)”

³⁵ So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors.^(H) And they took possession of his land.^(I)