211 When the Canaanite , the king of Arad , who lived in the Negev , heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim , then he fought against Israel and took some of them captive . 2 So Israel made a vow to the Lord and said , "If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand , then I will utterly destroy their cities ." 3 The Lord heard the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites ; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities . Thus the name of the place was called Hormah .
4 Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red e Sea , to go around the land of Edom ; and the people became impatient because of the journey . 5 The people spoke against God and Moses , " Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness ? For there is no food and no water , and we loathe this miserable food ." 6 The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people , so that many people of Israel died . 7 So the people came to Moses and said , "We have sinned , because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord , that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people . 8 Then the Lord said to Moses , "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard ; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten , when he looks at it, he will live ." 9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard ; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man , when he looked to the bronze serpent , he lived .
10 Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped in Oboth . 11 They journeyed from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim , in the wilderness which is opposite e Moab , to the east e . 12 From there they set out and camped in 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 , for the Arnon is the border of Moab , between Moab and the Amorites . 14 Therefore e it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord , "Waheb in Suphah , And the wadis of the Arnon , 15 And the slope of the wadis That extends to the site of Ar , And leans to the border of Moab ." 16 From there they continued to Beer , that is the well where the Lord said to Moses , "Assemble the people , that I may give them water ." 17 Then Israel sang this song : "Spring up, O well ! Sing to it! 18 "The well , which the leaders sank , Which the nobles of the people dug , 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 e e the wasteland .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 21:1-20
Commentary on Numbers 21:1-3
(Read Numbers 21:1-3)
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.
Commentary on Numbers 21:4-9
(Read Numbers 21:4-9)
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, Hebrews 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.
Commentary on Numbers 21:10-20
(Read Numbers 21:10-20)
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, John 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.