Arad Conquered

21 When the Canaanite, the king of (A)Arad, who lived in the [a]Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. So (B)Israel made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over this people to me, then I will [b]utterly destroy their cities.” The Lord heard the voice of Israel and turned over the Canaanites; then they [c]utterly destroyed them and their cities. And the place was named [d](C)Hormah.

Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the [e]Red Sea, to (D)go around the land of Edom; and the [f]people became impatient because of the journey. So the people spoke against God and Moses: “(E)Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no [g]food and no water, and [h](F)we are disgusted with [i]this miserable food.”

The Bronze Serpent

(G)Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and (H)they bit the people, so that (I)many people of Israel died. (J)So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and against you; (K)intercede with the Lord, that He will remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “[j]Make a (L)fiery serpent, and put it on a flag pole; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, and looks at it, will live.” So Moses made a (M)bronze serpent and put it on the flag pole; and it came about, that if a serpent bit someone, and he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

10 (N)Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped in Oboth. 11 Then they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness which is opposite Moab, to the [k]east. 12 (O)From there they set out and camped in [l]Wadi Zered. 13 From there they journeyed and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that comes out of the border of the Amorites; (P)for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 For that reason it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,

“Waheb in Suphah,
And the [m]wadis of the Arnon,
15 And the slope of the wadis
That extends to the site of (Q)Ar,
And leans to the border of Moab.”

16 (R)From there they continued to [n]Beer, that is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Assemble the people, that I may give them water.”

17 (S)Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well! Sing to it!
18 The well, which the leaders dug,
Which the nobles of the people hollowed out,
With the scepter and with their staffs.”

And from the wilderness they continued to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the land of Moab, at the top of Pisgah, which overlooks the [o]desert.

Two Victories

21 (T)Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying, 22 (U)Let me pass through your land. We will not turn off into field or vineyard; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the king’s road until we have passed through your border.” 23 (V)But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his border. Instead, Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and came to (W)Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 Then (X)Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the (Y)border of the sons of Ammon was [p]Jazer. 25 Israel took all these cities, and (Z)Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all her [q]villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 27 For that reason those who use proverbs say,

“Come to Heshbon! Let it be built!
So let the city of Sihon be established.
28 (AA)For a fire spread from Heshbon,
A flame from the town of Sihon;
It devoured (AB)Ar of Moab,
The [r](AC)dominant [s]heights of the Arnon.
29 (AD)Woe to you, Moab!
You are destroyed, people of (AE)Chemosh!
(AF)He has given his sons as fugitives,
(AG)And his daughters into captivity,
To an Amorite king, Sihon.
30 But we have shot them down with arrows,
Heshbon is destroyed as far as (AH)Dibon,
Then we have laid waste as far as Nophah,
Which reaches to Medeba.”

31 So Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 Now Moses sent men to spy out (AI)Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.

33 (AJ)Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan, and Og the king of Bashan went out against them [t]with all his people, for battle at (AK)Edrei. 34 But the Lord said to Moses, “(AL)Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.” 35 So (AM)they [u]killed him and his sons and all his people, until there was no survivor left; and they took possession of his land.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:1 I.e., South country
  2. Numbers 21:2 Lit devote to destruction
  3. Numbers 21:3 Lit devoted to destruction
  4. Numbers 21:3 I.e., a devoted thing; or Destruction
  5. Numbers 21:4 Lit Sea of Reeds
  6. Numbers 21:4 Lit soul of the people was short
  7. Numbers 21:5 Lit bread
  8. Numbers 21:5 Lit our soul is disgusted
  9. Numbers 21:5 I.e., the manna
  10. Numbers 21:8 Lit Make for yourself
  11. Numbers 21:11 Lit sunrise
  12. Numbers 21:12 I.e., a dry stream bed, except in the rainy season
  13. Numbers 21:14 I.e., dry stream beds
  14. Numbers 21:16 I.e., a well
  15. Numbers 21:20 Or Jeshimon
  16. Numbers 21:24 So LXX; MT strong
  17. Numbers 21:25 Lit daughters
  18. Numbers 21:28 Lit lords of the
  19. Numbers 21:28 Or Bamoth
  20. Numbers 21:33 Lit he and
  21. Numbers 21:35 Lit struck

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. 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.” 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

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) they spoke against God(L) and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt(M) to die in the wilderness?(N) There is no bread! There is no water!(O) And we detest this miserable food!”(P)

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes(Q) among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.(R) The people came to Moses(S) and said, “We sinned(T) when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord(U) will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed(V) for the people.

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

The Journey to Moab

10 The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth.(Z) 11 Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab(AA) toward the sunrise. 12 From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley.(AB) 13 They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon(AC), which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.(AD) 14 That is why the Book of the Wars(AE) of the Lord says:

“. . . Zahab[d] in Suphah and the ravines,
    the Arnon 15 and[e] the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the settlement of Ar(AF)
    and lie along the border of Moab.”

16 From there they continued on to Beer,(AG) the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”

17 Then Israel sang this song:(AH)

“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(AI) overlooks the wasteland.

Defeat of Sihon and Og

21 Israel sent messengers(AJ) to say to Sihon(AK) king of the Amorites:(AL)

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.(AM)

23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.(AN) He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz,(AO) he fought with Israel.(AP) 24 Israel, however, put him to the sword(AQ) and took over his land(AR) from the Arnon to the Jabbok,(AS) but only as far as the Ammonites,(AT) because their border was fortified. 25 Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites(AU) and occupied them,(AV) including Heshbon(AW) and all its surrounding settlements. 26 Heshbon was the city of Sihon(AX) king of the Amorites,(AY) who had fought against the former king of Moab(AZ) and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.(BA)

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.(BB)
It consumed(BC) Ar(BD) of Moab,
    the citizens of Arnon’s heights.(BE)
29 Woe to you, Moab!(BF)
    You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!(BG)
He has given up his sons as fugitives(BH)
    and his daughters as captives(BI)
    to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “But we have overthrown them;
    Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.(BJ)
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
    which extends to Medeba.(BK)

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

32 After Moses had sent spies(BM) to Jazer,(BN) 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(BO),(BP) and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.(BQ)

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.(BR)

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

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:2 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 3.
  2. Numbers 21:3 Hormah means destruction.
  3. Numbers 21:4 Or the Sea of Reeds
  4. Numbers 21:14 Septuagint; Hebrew Waheb
  5. Numbers 21:15 Or “I have been given from Suphah and the ravines / of the Arnon 15 to

Arad Destroyed

21 When (A)the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in (B)the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive. (C)And Israel vowed a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”[a] And the Lord heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called (D)Hormah.[b]

The Bronze Serpent

From Mount Hor (E)they set out by the way to the Red Sea, (F)to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people (G)spoke against God and against Moses, (H)“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and (I)we loathe this worthless food.” (J)Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and (K)they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. (L)And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. (M)Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So (N)Moses made a bronze[c] serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The Song of the Well

10 And the people of Israel set out and (O)camped in Oboth. 11 (P)And they set out from Oboth and (Q)camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 From there they set out and camped in (R)the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, for the (S)Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,

“Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
15 and the slope of the valleys
that extends to the seat of (T)Ar,
and leans to the border of Moab.”

16 And from there they continued (U)to Beer;[d] that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that (V)I may give them water.” 17 Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
18 the well that the princes made,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with (W)the scepter and with their staffs.”

And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah (X)that looks down on the desert.[e]

King Sihon Defeated

21 Then (Y)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 (Z)“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water of a well. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 (AA)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and (AB)came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 (AC)And Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the (AD)Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore the (AE)ballad singers say,

“Come to (AF)Heshbon, let it be built;
    let the city of Sihon be established.
28 For (AG)fire came out from (AH)Heshbon,
    flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured (AI)Ar of Moab,
    and swallowed[f] the heights of the Arnon.
29 (AJ)Woe to you, O Moab!
    You are undone, O people of (AK)Chemosh!
He has made his sons fugitives,
    and his daughters captives,
    to an Amorite king, Sihon.
30 So we overthrew them;
    Heshbon, as far as (AL)Dibon, perished;
    and we laid waste as far as Nophah;
    fire spread as far as (AM)Medeba.”[g]

King Og Defeated

31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out (AN)Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there. 33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle (AO)at Edrei. 34 (AP)But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And (AQ)you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” 35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 21:2 That is, set apart (devote) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verse 3
  2. Numbers 21:3 Hormah means destruction
  3. Numbers 21:9 Or copper
  4. Numbers 21:16 Beer means well
  5. Numbers 21:20 Or Jeshimon
  6. Numbers 21:28 Septuagint; Hebrew the lords of
  7. Numbers 21:30 Compare Samaritan and Septuagint; Hebrew and we laid waste as far as Nophah, which is as far as Medeba

戰勝迦南人

21 尼革夫迦南人的亞拉得王,聽說以色列亞他林路來,就和以色列交戰,擄去他們一些人。 以色列向耶和華許願說:「你若把這百姓真的交在我手中,我就把他們的城鎮徹底毀滅。」 耶和華垂聽了以色列的聲音,把迦南人交出來。以色列就把迦南人和他們的城鎮徹底毀滅。因此,那地方名叫何珥瑪[a]

銅製的蛇

他們從何珥山起行,繞過以東地往紅海那條路走。在路上,百姓心中煩躁。 百姓向 神和摩西發怨言,說:「你們為甚麼把我們從埃及領上來[b],使我們死在曠野呢?這裏沒有糧食,沒有水,我們厭惡這淡而無味的食物。」 耶和華派火蛇進入百姓當中去咬他們,於是以色列中死了許多百姓。 百姓到摩西那裏,說:「我們有罪了,因為我們向耶和華和你發怨言。求你向耶和華禱告,叫蛇離開我們。」於是摩西為百姓禱告。 耶和華對摩西說:「你要造一條火蛇,掛在杆子上。凡被咬的,一望這蛇就必存活。」 摩西就造了一條銅蛇,掛在杆子上。凡被蛇咬的,一望這銅蛇就活了。

從何珥山到摩押谷

10 以色列人起行,安營在阿伯 11 又從阿伯起行,安營在以耶‧亞巴琳,在摩押對面的曠野,向日出的方向。 12 又從那裏起行,安營在撒烈谷 13 從那裏再起行,安營在亞嫩河的另一邊。這亞嫩河在曠野,從亞摩利人的境內流出來;亞嫩河摩押的邊界,在摩押亞摩利人之間。 14 所以《耶和華的戰記》中提到:

蘇法哇哈伯
    亞嫩河谷,
15 以及亞珥地區眾河床的斜坡,
    都靠近摩押的邊境。」

16 以色列人從那裏起行,到了比珥[c]。從前耶和華對摩西說:「召集百姓,我要給他們水」,說的就是這井。 17 當時,以色列人唱這首歌:

「井啊,湧出水來!
你們要向它歌唱!
18 這井是領袖用權杖所挖,
是百姓中的貴族用手杖所掘。」

以色列人從曠野往瑪他拿去, 19 瑪他拿拿哈列,從拿哈列巴末 20 巴末摩押地的谷,又到那可以瞭望曠野的毗斯迦山頂。

戰勝亞摩利王和巴珊王(A)

21 以色列差遣使者到亞摩利人的王西宏那裏,說: 22 「求你讓我們穿越你的地;我們不岔進田間和葡萄園,也不喝井裏的水,只走王的大道,直到過了你的邊界。」 23 西宏不讓以色列人穿越他的境內,就召集他的眾百姓出到曠野,要攻擊以色列,到了雅雜以色列交戰。 24 以色列人用刀殺了他,佔領了他的地,從亞嫩河雅博河,直到亞捫人的邊界,因為亞捫人的邊防堅固。 25 以色列人奪取這裏所有的城鎮,就住在亞摩利人的城鎮中,包括希實本和所屬的一切鄉鎮[d] 26 希實本亞摩利西宏的首都;西宏曾與先前的摩押王交戰,從他手中奪取了他所有的地,直到亞嫩河 27 所以那些作詩歌的說:

你們到希實本來吧;
西宏的城被修造建立。
28 因為有火從希實本發出,
有火焰從西宏的城冒出,
燒燬了摩押亞珥
亞嫩河丘壇的主[e]
29 摩押啊,你有禍了!
基抹的百姓啊,你們滅亡了!
基抹的男子逃亡,
女子被擄,
交給了亞摩利西宏
30 我們射了他們;
希實本直到底本盡都毀滅[f]
我們劫掠,直到挪法
挪法直延到米底巴

31 這樣,以色列人就住在亞摩利人的地。 32 摩西差派人去窺探雅謝以色列人佔領了雅謝附近的鄉村,趕出那裏的亞摩利人。

33 後來,以色列人轉回,往上巴珊的路去。巴珊率領他的眾百姓出來,在以得來與他們交戰。 34 耶和華對摩西說:「不要怕他!因為我已將他和他的眾百姓,以及他的地都交在你手中。你要待他如同待住在希實本亞摩利西宏一樣。」 35 於是他們殺了巴珊王和他的眾子,以及他的眾百姓,沒有留下一個倖存者,並且佔領了他的地。

Footnotes

  1. 21.3 「何珥瑪」意思是「毀滅」。
  2. 21.5 「你們…領上來」:七十士譯本是「你為甚麼把我們從埃及領出來」。
  3. 21.16 「比珥」意思是「井」。
  4. 21.25 「鄉鎮」:原文直譯「女子們」;本卷書下同。
  5. 21.28 「亞嫩河丘壇的主」:原文另譯「亞嫩河丘壇的諸巴力」;七十士譯本是「亞嫩河的柱像」。
  6. 21.30 「我們…毀滅」:七十士譯本是「他們的後代滅亡,從希實本直到底本」。