Numbers 21
The Voice
The customary mourning period is seven days, but as with Moses’ death later, they mourn for 30 days.
21 Meanwhile, the Canaanite king of Arad (which is in the Negev region) heard that the Israelites were approaching through Atharim, so he engaged them in battle. He even took some Israelites as prisoners of war.
Israelites (vowing to the Lord): 2 We pledge to You that if You help us win against these people, we will dedicate every last one of them to You and completely destroy their towns.
3 The Eternal One agreed to their proposal. He gave the Canaanites to the Israelites, and they promptly decimated the population and place. Consequently, the site is called Hormah, which means “destruction.”
4 And the Israelites set out again. They left Mount Hor and traveled by way of the Red Sea,[a] skirting Edom; but again, the difficult travel gave everyone a short temper. 5 They challenged both God and Moses.
Israelites: What were you thinking to bring us up out of Egypt and let us die out here in this desert land? There’s nothing to eat and no water either. We are sick and tired of living on what food we have.
6 As a divine response, the Eternal One sent venomous snakes[b] among them and the people were bitten. A number of Israelites were indeed killed by them. 7 They then appealed to Moses.
Israelites: We are so sorry! We know that it was wrong to speak against the Eternal and against you. Please talk to the Him, and get Him to take these awful snakes away.
So Moses appealed to God on behalf of the terrified and chastened congregation, 8 and He instructed Moses.
Eternal One: Make a venomous snake that looks like the ones tormenting the congregation, and put it on a pole. Everyone who gets bitten can simply look at your serpent and be healed.
9 So Moses took some bronze and cast a likeness of those vicious snakes to serve as an antidote for anyone who had been bitten. If they were to look on the bronze serpent, they would then live.
10-13 And the Israelites continued on their journey. They camped at Oboth; then at Iyeabarim (bordering Moab’s eastern border); then in the Wadi Zered; and then on the far side of the Arnon, which put them in the wilderness between the Moabite and Amorite territories. 14 This is what is described in The Book of the Eternal One’s Wars:
Waheb in Suphah[c]
and the river beds of Arnon;
15 The riverbeds that run right up to the settlement of Ar
and along the edge of Moab.
16 From there, they journeyed on to Beer, the place called “the well” where the Eternal One told Moses, “Gather the congregation, so I can give them water.” 17 At that time, they all sang the Song of the Well:
Israelites: Spring up, O well!
Sing, sing to the well,
18 The well our leaders dug for us,
our noblemen dug with their own scepters and staffs.
And they carried on from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19-20 and from there to Nahaliel, then Bamoth, and on to the valley that’s in the higher places of Moab, at Pisgah’s peak where one can look down on the Jeshimon Wilderness.
At that point, the Israelites came to the borderlands of another people and needed permission to pass through the land.
21 So Israel sent messengers to the Amorite king, Sihon.
Israel’s Message: 22 Please grant us permission to cross your country. We promise not to deviate and take anything from your seeded farmland or cultivated countryside. Nor will we drink from your wells. We will stick to the main road, the king’s highway, until we’re past your country’s far limits.
The Amorite King Sihon receives the same envoy as the Edomite king, and his response is the same: “You can’t pass through here.” Many of the other nations in this chronicle are aware of the divine provision of the Israelites because it is obvious that the survival of this enormous group in such an inhospitable environment is the work of God. With this understanding, the Amorite king nevertheless chooses to pick a fight with them. Not only did he say “no” to the Israelites crossing their territory, but he attacked. There is a very important principle here: don’t be on the opposite side of God in a fight.
23 Sihon would not allow them to pass. Instead, he roused all the Amorites and attacked the Israelites right there in the wilderness. They battled it out at Jahaz. 24 Israel met Sihon head-on and won the battle. They killed Sihon and took possession of the whole territory. That land goes from the Arnon to the Jabbok River and extends up to the Ammonites’ border, which is very well fortified.[d] 25-26 Israel took over all that area, claimed the Amorite cities and surrounding villages, and settled there. This included the capital city of Heshbon from where King Sihon ruled the Amorites. (It was Sihon who had challenged the late king of the Moabites and prevailed, making the territory of Moab all the way to the Arnon part of the Amorites’ lands.) 27 That’s where the singers get this taunting song:
Come gather at Heshbon, the city built up and strong—
the city of Sihon.
28 For a fire went out from Heshbon,
a flame from Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab,
swallowing the heights of Arnon.
29 How terrible for you, O Moab!
You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh!
Chemosh has made the Amorite, Sihon,
set your sons to rout
and take your daughters into slavery!
30 But we destroyed them, from Heshbon to Dibon,
and ravaged them to Nophah, even to Medeba.[e]
31 So it was that Israel then took this land from the Amorites and settled there. 32 They also captured the Amorite town of Jazer and took its villages and removed the Amorites living in the area.
33 Then they went northeast up the road to Bashan, where King Og and his people confronted the Israelites. When they clashed at Edrei, 34 the Eternal One encouraged Moses.
Eternal One: Don’t be afraid of him. I’ve already determined that you’ll defeat King Og. He, his people, and all his land shall be yours. You’ll treat him just as you did the Amorite king, Sihon, in Heshbon.
35 Sure enough, the Israelites defeated Og. They killed him, his sons, and everyone, for that matter. No one survived. So the Israelites took possession of Bashan.
Numeri 21
Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014
Israeliţii în luptă cu canaaniţii
21 Împăratul Aradului, un canaanit, care locuia la miazăzi, a auzit(A) că Israel vine pe drumul Atarim. El s-a luptat împotriva lui Israel şi a luat mai mulţi prinşi de război. 2 Atunci(B) Israel a făcut Domnului o juruinţă şi a zis: „Dacă vei da pe poporul acesta în mâinile mele, îi voi nimici cu desăvârşire cetăţile.” 3 Domnul a auzit glasul lui Israel şi a dat pe canaaniţi în mâinile lui. Israeliţii i-au nimicit cu desăvârşire, pe ei şi cetăţile lor, şi locul acela l-au numit Horma (Nimicire deplină).
Şerpii înfocaţi
4 Au(C) plecat de la muntele Hor pe drumul care duce spre Marea Roşie, ca să(D) ocolească ţara Edomului. Poporul şi-a pierdut răbdarea pe drum 5 şi a vorbit(E) împotriva lui Dumnezeu şi împotriva lui Moise: „Pentru(F) ce ne-aţi scos din Egipt ca să murim în pustie? Căci nu este nici pâine, nici apă şi ni s-a scârbit(G) sufletul de această hrană proastă.” 6 Atunci, Domnul(H) a trimis împotriva poporului nişte(I) şerpi înfocaţi, care au muşcat poporul, aşa încât au murit mulţi oameni în Israel. 7 Poporul(J) a venit la Moise şi a zis: „Am(K) păcătuit, căci am vorbit împotriva Domnului şi împotriva ta. Roagă-te(L) Domnului ca să depărteze de la noi aceşti şerpi.” Moise s-a rugat pentru popor. 8 Domnul a zis lui Moise: „Fă-ţi un şarpe înfocat şi spânzură-l de o prăjină; oricine este muşcat şi va privi spre el va trăi.” 9 Moise(M) a făcut un şarpe de aramă şi l-a pus într-o prăjină şi oricine era muşcat de un şarpe şi privea spre şarpele de aramă trăia.
Alte călătorii ale israeliţilor
10 Copiii lui Israel au plecat şi au(N) tăbărât la Obot. 11 Au plecat(O) din Obot şi au tăbărât(P) la Iie-Abarim, în pustia din faţa Moabului, spre răsăritul soarelui. 12 De acolo au plecat şi au tăbărât în valea Zered. 13 De acolo au plecat şi au tăbărât dincolo de Arnon, care curge prin pustie, ieşind din ţinutul amoriţilor, căci Arnonul(Q) face hotarul Moabului, între Moab şi amoriţi.
14 De aceea se zice în Cartea Războaielor Domnului:
„Vaheb în Sufa,
Şivoaiele Arnonului
15 Şi scurgerile şuvoaielor,
Care se întind înspre Ar şi se ating(R) cu hotarul lui Moab.”
16 De acolo s-au dus(S) la Beer (Fântână). La această fântână, Domnul a zis lui Moise: „Strânge poporul şi le voi da apă.”
17 Atunci a cântat(T) Israel cântarea aceasta:
„Ţâşneşte, fântână! Cântaţi în cinstea ei!
18 Fântâna pe care au săpat-o căpeteniile,
Pe care au săpat-o mai-marii poporului,
Cu toiagul de cârmuire(U), cu toiegele lor!”
Din pustia aceasta s-au dus la Matana; 19 din Matana, la Nahaliel; din Nahaliel, la Bamot; 20 din Bamot, la valea din câmpia Moabului, în vârful muntelui Pisga, care caută spre(V) pustie.
Sihon şi Og
21 Israel(W) a trimis soli la Sihon, împăratul amoriţilor, ca să-i spună: 22 „Lasă-mă(X) să trec prin ţara ta; nu vom intra nici în ogoare, nici în vii şi nu vom bea apă din fântâni; vom ţine drumul împărătesc, până vom trece de ţinutul tău.” 23 Sihon(Y) n-a îngăduit lui Israel să treacă prin ţinutul lui. Sihon a strâns tot poporul şi a ieşit înaintea lui Israel, în pustie. A venit la Iahaţ(Z) şi s-a luptat împotriva lui Israel. 24 Israel(AA) l-a bătut cu ascuţişul sabiei şi i-a cucerit ţara de la Arnon până la Iaboc, până la hotarul copiilor lui Amon, căci hotarul copiilor lui Amon era întărit. 25 Israel a luat toate cetăţile acelea şi s-a aşezat în toate cetăţile amoriţilor, în Hesbon şi în toate satele de prin împrejurimi. 26 Căci Hesbonul era cetatea lui Sihon, împăratul amoriţilor. El pornise cu război împotriva împăratului dinainte al Moabului şi-i luase toată ţara până la Arnon.
27 De aceea zic poeţii:
„Veniţi la Hesbon!
Să se zidească din nou şi să se întărească cetatea lui Sihon.
28 Căci a ieşit(AB) un foc din Hesbon,
O flacără din cetatea lui Sihon,
Şi a mistuit pe(AC) Ar-Moab,
Pe locuitorii înălţimilor Arnonului.
29 Vai de tine, Moab!
Eşti pierdut, poporul lui Chemoş!(AD)
El a făcut pe fiii lui fugari,
Şi pe fetele lui le-a dat roabe
Lui Sihon, împăratul amoriţilor.
30 Noi am aruncat cu săgeţile asupra lor:
Din Hesbon până la(AE) Dibon totul este nimicit;
Am pustiit până la Nofah,
Care se întinde până la(AF) Medeba.”
31 Israel s-a aşezat astfel în ţara amoriţilor. 32 Moise a trimis să iscodească Iaezerul(AG). Au luat satele care ţineau de el şi au izgonit pe amoriţii care erau în ele. 33 Au(AH) schimbat(AI) apoi drumul şi s-au suit pe drumul care duce la Basan. Og, împăratul Basanului, le-a ieşit înainte cu tot poporul lui, ca să lupte împotriva lor la(AJ) Edrei. 34 Domnul a zis lui Moise: „Nu(AK) te teme de el, căci îl dau în mâinile tale, pe el şi tot poporul lui şi toată ţara lui; să-i(AL) faci cum ai făcut lui Sihon, împăratul amoriţilor, care locuia la Hesbon.” 35 Şi ei l-au(AM) bătut, pe el şi pe fiii lui şi tot poporul lui, de n-au lăsat să scape unul măcar, şi au pus mâna pe ţara lui.
Numbers 21
New King James Version
Canaanites Defeated at Hormah
21 The (A)king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. 2 (B)So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then (C)I will utterly destroy their cities.” 3 And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called [a]Hormah.
The Bronze Serpent
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to (D)go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very [b]discouraged on the way. 5 And the people (E)spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul [c]loathes this worthless bread.” 6 So (F)the Lord sent (G)fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.
7 (H)Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have (I)sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; (J)pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 Then the Lord said to Moses, (K)“Make a (L)fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So (M)Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
From Mount Hor to Moab
10 Now the children of Israel moved on and (N)camped in Oboth. 11 And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at [d]Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. 12 (O)From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. 13 From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for (P)the 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:
[e]“Waheb in Suphah,
The brooks of the Arnon,
15 And the slope of the brooks
That reaches to the dwelling of (Q)Ar,
And lies on the border of Moab.”
16 From there they went (R)to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 17 (S)Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!
All of you sing to it—
18 The well the leaders sank,
Dug by the nation’s nobles,
By the (T)lawgiver, with their staves.”
And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the [f]country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks (U)down on the [g]wasteland.
King Sihon Defeated(V)
21 Then (W)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 22 (X)“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 23 (Y)But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and [h]went out against Israel in the wilderness, (Z)and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 24 Then (AA)Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. 25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel (AB)dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its 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 from his hand as far as the Arnon. 27 Therefore those who speak in [i]proverbs say:
“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
Let the city of Sihon be repaired.
28 “For (AC)fire went out from Heshbon,
A flame from the city of Sihon;
It consumed (AD)Ar of Moab,
The lords of the (AE)heights of the Arnon.
29 Woe to you, (AF)Moab!
You have perished, O people of (AG)Chemosh!
He has given his (AH)sons as fugitives,
And his (AI)daughters into captivity,
To Sihon king of the Amorites.
30 “But we have shot at them;
Heshbon has perished (AJ)as far as Dibon.
Then we laid waste as far as Nophah,
Which reaches to (AK)Medeba.”
31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 32 Then Moses sent to [j]spy out (AL)Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.
King Og Defeated(AM)
33 (AN)And they turned and went up by the way to (AO)Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle (AP)at Edrei. 34 Then the Lord said to Moses, (AQ)“Do not fear him, for I have [k]delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and (AR)you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” 35 (AS)So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.
Footnotes
- Numbers 21:3 Lit. Utter Destruction
- Numbers 21:4 impatient
- Numbers 21:5 detests
- Numbers 21:11 Lit. The Heaps of Abarim
- Numbers 21:14 Ancient unknown places; Vg. What He did in the Red Sea
- Numbers 21:20 Lit. field
- Numbers 21:20 Heb. Jeshimon
- Numbers 21:23 attacked
- Numbers 21:27 parables
- Numbers 21:32 secretly search
- Numbers 21:34 given you victory over him
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Copyright of the Cornilescu Bible © 1924 belongs to British and Foreign Bible Society. Copyright © 2010, 2014 of the revised edition in Romanian language belongs to the Interconfessional Bible Society of Romania, with the approval of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
