Numbers 21

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1 And whanne Chananei, the kyng of Arad, that dwellide at the south, hadde herd this, that is, that Israel cam bi the weye of aspieris, he fauyt ayens hem; and Chananei was ouercomere and ledde pray of Israel. 2 And Israel bounde hym sylf bi avow to the Lord, and seide, If thou schalt bitake this puple in myn hond, Y schal do awei the citees therof. 3 And the Lord herde the preieris of Israel, and bitook the Chananey; and Israel killid hym, and distruyede hise citees; and clepide the name of that place Horma, that is, cursyng, ethir hangyng up. 4 Forsothe thei yeden forth also fro the hil of Hor, bi the weie that ledith to the reed see, that thei schulden cumpasse the lond of Edom; and it bigan to anoye the puple, of the weie and trauel. 5 And the puple spak ayens the Lord and Moises, and seide, Whi leddist thou vs out of Egipt, that we schulden die in wildirnesse? breed failith, watris ben not; oure soule wlatith now on this meete moost liyt. 6 Wherfor the Lord sente firid serpentis in to the puple; at the woundis of whiche serpentis, and the dethis of ful many men, 7 thei camen to Moyses, and seiden, We synneden, for we spaken ayens the Lord and thee; preie thou, that he take awey fro vs the serpentis. 8 And Moises preiede for the puple; and the Lord seide to hym, Make thou a serpent of bras, and sette thou it for a signe ; he that is smytun and biholdith it, schal lyue. 9 Therfor Moyses made a serpent of bras, and settide for a signe; and men smytun and biholdynge it, weren heelid. 10 And the sones of Israel yeden forth, 11 and settiden tentis in Oboth; fro whennus thei yeden forth, and settiden tentis in Neabarym, in the wildirnesse, that biholdith Moab, ayens the eest coost. 12 And thei moueden fro thennus, and camen to the stronde of Zareth; 13 which thei leften, and settiden tentis ayens Arnon, which is in the deseert, and apperith in the coostis of Amorrei. Forsothe Arnon is the terme of Moab, and departith Moabitis and Ammoreis. 14 Wherfor it is seid in the book of batels of the Lord, As he dide in the reed see, so he schal do in the strondis of Arnon; 15 the harde rochis of the strondis weren bowid, that tho schulen reste in Arnon, and schulden ligge in the coostis of Moabitis. 16 Fro that place the pit apperide, of which the Lord spak to Moyses, Gadere thou the puple, and Y schal yyue watir to it. 17 Thanne Israel soong this song, The pit stie; 18 thei sungen togidere, The pit which the princes diggiden, and the duykis of the multitude maden redi, in the yyuere of the lawe, and in her stauys. And thei yeden forth fro the wildirnesse to Mathana, 19 fro Mathana to Naaliel, fro Naaliel in to Bamoth; 20 Bamoth is a valey in the cuntrey of Moab, in the cop of Phasga, that biholdith ayens the deseert. 21 Forsothe Israel sente messangeris to Seon, kyng of Ammorreis, and seide, 22 Y biseche that it be leueful to me to passe thorou thi loond; we schulen not bowe in to the feeldis and vyneris; we schulen not drynke watris of pittis; we schulen go in the kyngis weie, til we passen thi termes. 23 Which nolde graunte that Israel schulde passe thury hise coostis, but rather, whanne the oost was gaderid, he yede out ayens Israel, in to deseert. And he cam in to Yasa, and fauyt ayens Israel; 24 of whom he was smytun in the scharpnesse of swerd, and his lond was weldid fro Arnon til to Jeboth and the sones of Amon; for the termes of Amonytis weren holdun bi strong help. 25 Therfor Israel took alle the citees of hym, and dwelliden in the citees of Amorrei, that is, in Esebon, and hise townes. 26 The citee of Esebon was Seons, kyng of Ammorei, which Seon fauyt ayens the kyng of Moab, and took al the lond that was of his lordschip, til to Arnon. 27 Therfor it is seid in prouerbe, Come ye in to Esebon, be it bildid, and maad the citee of Seon; 28 fier yede out of Esebon, flawme yede out of the citee ethir greet castel of Seon, and deuouryde Ar of Moabitis, and the dwelleris of the hiye places of Arnon. 29 Moab, wo to thee! thou, puple of Chamos, perischidist; it yaf the sones therof in to fliyt, and the douytris in to caitifte to Seon, kyng of Ammoreis; 30 the yok of hem perischide, fro Esebon til to Dibon; the wery men camen in to Jophe, and til to Medaba. 31 And so Israel dwellide in the lond of Ammorrey. 32 And Moises sente men that schulden aspie Jaser, whos townes thei token, and weldiden the dwelleris. 33 And thei turniden hem silf, and stieden bi the weie of Basan. And Og, the kyng of Basan, with al his puple cam ayens hem, to fiyte in Edray. 34 And the Lord seide to Moises, Drede thou not hym, for Y haue bitake hym, and al his loond, and puple, in thin hoond; and thou schalt do to hym as thou didist to Seon, kyng of Ammorreis, the dwellere of Esebon. 35 Therfor thei smytiden bothe hym with hise sones and al his puple, til to deeth; and thei weldiden `the lond of hym.

What Is This Chapter About?

Theme: God's Judgment and Redemption

Numbers 21 describes the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, where they face various challenges and rebellions, leading to God's judgment and ultimately, redemption. This chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty, justice, and mercy, as He guides His people towards the Promised Land. Through their experiences, the Israelites learn valuable lessons about faith, obedience, and trust in God's providence.

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Key Verse

Numbers 21:9 "And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole, and if a serpent had bitten anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live"

This verse is central to the chapter as it symbolizes the redemption and salvation that God provides to His people. The bronze serpent represents Christ, who would later be lifted up on the cross, providing salvation to all who look to Him in faith. The Israelites' experience with the bronze serpent foreshadows the ultimate redemption that Christ would bring, as seen in John 3:14-15, where Jesus says, 'Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.'

Key Words in Numbers 21

"bronze serpent"

The bronze serpent is a symbol of salvation and healing, representing Christ, who would later be lifted up on the cross to provide redemption to all who believe in Him.

"wilderness"

The wilderness represents the challenges and difficulties that the Israelites faced during their journey, which serves as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of believers today, as seen in Hebrews 3:7-4:11, where the author warns against hardened hearts and encourages believers to enter God's rest.

"rebellion"

The Israelites' rebellion against God serves as a warning to believers today, emphasizing the importance of obedience and trust in God's providence, as seen in Romans 11:20-22, where Paul writes, 'do not be arrogant, but tremble, for if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.'

"redemption"

Redemption is a central theme in this chapter, highlighting God's power to deliver His people from sin and its consequences, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, as seen in Ephesians 1:7, where Paul writes, 'in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.'

Christ in This Chapter

The bronze serpent in Numbers 21:9 is a type of Christ, who was lifted up on the cross to provide salvation to all who believe in Him. Just as the Israelites looked to the bronze serpent to be healed, we must look to Christ to receive spiritual healing and redemption. This connection is explicitly stated in John 3:14-15, where Jesus says, 'Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.' The chapter also highlights God's justice and mercy, which are ultimately fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, as seen in Romans 3:24-26, where Paul writes, 'we are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.' (John 3:14-15 · 2 Corinthians 5:21)

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Names and pronouns referring to God are marked throughout the text.

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Numbers 21

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