Numbers21
English Standard Version
1When the , the of , who in the , that was by the of , he against , and some of them .
2And a to the Lord and , you will this into my , then I will their to .
3And the Lord the of and the , and they them and their to . So the of the was .
4From they by the to the , to go the of . And the became on the .
5And the against and against , have you out of to in the ? For there is and , and this .
6Then the Lord among the , and they the , so that of .
7And the to and , We have , for we have against the Lord and against you. to the Lord, that he take the from us. So for the .
8And the Lord to , a fiery and it on a , and who is , when he it, shall .
9So a and it on a . And a , he would at the and .
10And the of and in .
11And they from and at , in the that is , toward the .
12 they and in the of .
13 they and on the other of the , is in the that the of the , the is the of , between and the .
14 it is in the of the of the Lord, in , and the of the ,
15and the of the that to the of , and the of .
16And they continued to ; that is the of the Lord to , the , so that I may them .
17Then : , O !— to it!—
18the that the , that the of the , with the and with their . And from the they went on to ,
19and from to , and from to ,
20and from to the lying in the of by the of that on the .
21Then to of the , ,
22Let me your . We will turn into or . We will the of a . We will go the we have your .
23But would to his . his and went to the and to and against .
24And him with the of the and of his from the the , as far as the , the of the was .
25And , and in the of the , in , and in all its .
26For was the of the of the , who had against the of and his out of his , as far the .
27 the ballad , to , let it be ; let the of be .
28For from , from the of . It of , and swallowed the of the .
29 to you, O ! You are , O of ! He has his , and his , to an , .
30So we them; , as far , ; and we as far ; spread .
31Thus in the of the .
32And to , and they its and the were .
33Then they and by the to . And the of them, he and his , to at .
34But the Lord to , Do him, for I have him into your , and his , and his . And you shall to him you to of the , who at .
35So they him and his and his , he had . And they his .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 21.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Canaanites of Arad destroyed. (1–3). The people murmuring, are plagued with fiery serpents, They repenting, are healed through the brazen serpent. (4–9). Further journeys of the Israelites. (10–20). Sihon and Og overcome, Their land possessed. (21–35).
vv1-3
Before the people began their march round the country of Edom, the king of Arad, a Canaanite, who inhabited the southern part of the country, attacked them in the wilderness, and took some prisoners. This was to lead the Israelites to look more thoroughly to the Lord.
vv4-9
The children of Israel were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom. They speak discontentedly of what God had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do. What will they be pleased with, whom manna will not please? Let not the contempt which some cast on the word of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eternal life, whoever may call it light bread. We see the righteous judgment God brought upon them for murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many to death. It is to be feared that they would not have owned the sin, if they had not felt the smart; but they relent under the rod. And God made a wonderful provision for their relief. The Jews themselves say it was not the sight of the brazen serpent that cured; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them. There was much gospel in this. Our Saviour declared, Joh 3:14, 15, that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whatsoever believeth in him, should not perish. Compare their disease and ours. Sin bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Compare the application of their remedy and ours. They looked and lived, and we, if we believe, shall not perish. It is by faith that we look unto Jesus, Heb 12:2. Whosoever looked, however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place, was certainly and perfectly cured. The Lord can relieve us from dangers and distresses, by means which human reason never would have devised. Oh that the venom of the old serpent, inflaming men's passions, and causing them to commit sins which end in their eternal destruction, were as sensibly felt, and the danger as plainly seen, as the Israelites felt pain from the bite of the fiery serpents, and feared the death which followed! Then none would shut their eyes to Christ, or turn from his gospel. Then a crucified Saviour would be so valued, that all things else would be accounted loss for him; then, without delay, and with earnestness and simplicity, all would apply to him in the appointed way, crying, Lord, save us; we perish! Nor would any abuse the freeness of Christ's salvation, while they reckoned the price which it cost him.
vv10-20
We have here the removes of the children of Israel, till they came to the plains of Moab, from whence they passed over Jordan into Canaan. The end of their pilgrimage was near. “They set forward.” It were well if we did thus; and the nearer we come to heaven, were so much the more active and abundant in the work of the Lord. The wonderful success God granted to his people, is here spoken of, and, among the rest, their actions on the river Arnon, at Vaheb in Suphah, and other places on that river. In every stage of our lives, nay, in every step, we should notice what God has wrought for us; what he did at such a time, and what in such a place, ought to be distinctly remembered. God blessed his people with a supply of water. When we come to heaven, we shall remove to the well of life, the fountain of living waters. They received it with joy and thankfulness, which made the mercy doubly sweet. With joy must we draw water out of the wells of salvation, Isa 12:3. As the brazen serpent was a figure of Christ, who is lifted up for our cure, so is this well a figure of the Spirit, who is poured forth for our comfort, and from whom flow to us rivers of living waters, Joh 7:38, 39. Does this well spring up in our souls? If so, we should take the comfort to ourselves, and give the glory to God. God promised to give water, but they must open the ground. God's favours must be expected in the use of such means as are within our power, but still the power is only of God.
Key Words
כְּנַעַנִי: a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing for their neighbors the Ishmaelites, who conducted mercantile caravans)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
עֲרָד: Arad, the name of a place near Palestine, also of a Canaanite and an Israelite
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
נֶגֶב: the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah, occasionally, Egypt (as south to Palestine)
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
דֶּרֶךְ: a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
אֲתָרִים: Atharim, a place near Palestine
Cross References
Numbers 21Jesus directly compares Himself being lifted up to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul warns against tempting Christ as Israel did, resulting in their destruction by fiery serpents.
Supported by JFB
Moses recalls God leading Israel through the great wilderness infested with fiery serpents and scorpions.
Supported by JFB
Hezekiah destroys this very bronze serpent because the Israelites had turned it into an idol.
Supported by JFB
The promised well of water typifies the Holy Spirit, poured forth to satisfy and comfort believers.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Recounts Sihon refusing passage, hardening his heart, and marching out to fight at Jahaz.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of the battle against Og, king of Bashan, at Edrei and his defeat.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast with their earlier defeat at Hormah when they presumptuously fought without God.
Jephthah historical defense citing Moses' peaceful messengers and Sihon's hostile refusal.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Poetic celebration of God smiting great kings, specifically mentioning Sihon and Og.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jeremiah directly quotes this ancient proverb of Heshbon, Sihon, and Moab's destruction.
Confirms the geographical identity of King Arad the Canaanite in the south.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details the transition at the valley of Zered, marking thirty-eight years of wandering.
Supported by JFB
Jephthah refers to Chemosh, the national god of Moab, matching the proverb quoted here.