Bible Chapter Summary
Numbers 21 Summary
Serpents, Wells, and Amorite Conquests
Israel defeats king Arad the Canaanite after making a vow to the LORD to utterly destroy his cities, naming the place Hormah. While journeying around Edom, the people complain against God and Moses, prompting the LORD to send fiery serpents whose bites cause many deaths; upon the people's repentance, Moses is instructed to make a bronze serpent on a pole, and any bitten person who looks upon it lives. The Israelites then continue their march through the wilderness, camping at a series of stations and receiving water at Beer, where a well-song is recorded. Reaching the Transjordan, Israel defeats Sihon king of the Amorites after he refuses safe passage and attacks, seizes his territory from Arnon to Jabbok, and subsequently defeats Og king of Bashan at Edrei, possessing his land as well.
Key themes
Key verses
Numbers 21:8
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.”
Numbers 21:9
“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.”
Numbers 21:6
“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.”
Numbers 21:34
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.”
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