10 And the sons of Israel journey, and encamp in Oboth. 11 And they journey from Oboth, and encamp in Ije-Abarim, in the wilderness that 'is' on the front of Moab, at the rising of the sun. 12 From thence they have journeyed, and encamp in the valley of Zared. 13 From thence they have journeyed, and encamp beyond Arnon, which 'is' in the wilderness which is coming out of the border of the Amorite, for Arnon 'is' the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorite; 14 therefore it is said in a book, 'The wars of Jehovah,'—'Waheb in Suphah, And the brooks of Arnon; 15 And the spring of the brooks, Which turned aside to the dwelling of Ar, And hath leaned to the border of Moab.' 16 And from thence 'they journeyed' to Beer; it 'is' the well 'concerning' which Jehovah said to Moses, 'Gather the people, and I give to them—water.' 17 Then singeth Israel this song, concerning the well—they have answered to it: 18 'A well—digged it have princes, Prepared it have nobles of the people, With the lawgiver, with their staves.' And from the wilderness 'they journeyed' to Mattanah, 19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20 and from Bamoth in the valley which 'is' in the field of Moab 'to' the top of Pisgah, which hath looked on the front of the wilderness.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 21:10-20
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.