21:5In Psalm 78, we learn the sources of Israet’s complaining: (1) Their spirits were not faithful to God (78:8); (2) they refused to obey God’s law (78:10); (3) they forgot the miracles God had done for them (78:11). Our complaining often has its roots in one of these thoughtless actions and attitudes. If we can deal with the cause of our complaining, it will not take hold and grow in our lives.
Life Application Study BibleNumbersChapter 21
Numbers 21
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 235, 236, 237
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21Numbers 21
Victory over the Canaanites
121 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were approaching on the road through Atharim. So he attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners. 2Then the people of Israel made this vow to the LORD: “If you will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy* all their towns.” 3The LORD heard the Israelites’ request and gave them victory over the Canaanites. The Israelites completely destroyed them and their towns, and the place has been called Hormah* ever since.
The Bronze Snake
‘Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea* to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, Sand they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. 6There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”. 8So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 7Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8Then the LORD told him, 11Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” 9So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!
Israel’s Journey to Moab
10The Israelites traveled next to Oboth and camped there. 11Then they went on to lye-abarim, in the wilderness on the eastern border of Moab. *2From there they traveled to the valley of Zered Brook and set up camp. 13Then they moved out and camped on the far side of the Arnon River, in the wilderness adjacent to the territory of the Amorites. The Arnon is the boundary line between the Moabites and the Amorites. 14For this reason The Book of the Wars of the LORD speaks of “the town of Waheb in the area of Suphah, and the ravines of the Arnon River, t5and the ravines that extend as far as the settlement of Ar on the border of Moab.” 16From there the Israelites traveled to Beer,* which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Assemble the people, and I will give them water.” 1” There the Israelites sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Yes, sing its praises!
18Sing of this well,which princes dug,which great leaders hollowed outwith their scepters and staffs.”Then the Israelites left the wilderness and proceeded on through Mattanah,
19Nahaliel,and Bamoth.
20After that they went to the valley in Moab where Pisgah Peak overlooks thewasteland.*
Victory over Sihon and Og
2121The Israelites then sent ambassadors to King Sihon of the Amorites with this message: 22“L et us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won't even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king's road until we have passed through your territory.” 23But King Sihon refused to let them cross his territory. Instead, he mobilized his entire army and attacked Israel in the wilderness, engaging them in battle at Jahaz. 24But the Israelites slaughtered them with their swords and occupied their land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. They went only as far as the Ammonite border because the boundary of the Ammonites was fortified.* 25So Israel captured all the towns of the Amorites and settled in them, including the city of Heshbon and its surrounding villages. 26Heshbon had been the capital of King Sihon of the Amorites. He had defeated a former Moabite king and seized all his land as far as the Arnon River.
27Therefore, the ancient poets wrote this about him:“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt!Let the city of Sihon be restored.
28A fire flamed forth from Heshbon,a blaze from the city of Sihon.It burned the city of Ar in Moab;it destroyed the rulers of the Arnon heights.28 What sorrow awaits you, O people of Moab!You are finished, O worshipers of Chemosh!Chemosh has left his sons as refugees,his daughters as captives of Sihon, the Amorite king.
30We have utterly destroyed them,from Heshbon to Dibon.We have completely wiped them outas far away as Nophah and Medeba.*”
31So the people of Israel occupied the territory of the Amorites. 32After Moses sent men to explore the Jazer area, they captured all the towns in the region and drove out the Amorites who lived there. 33Then they turned and marched up the road to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and all his people attacked them at Edrei. 34The LORD said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.” 35And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land.
D. SECOND APPROACH TO THE PROMISED LAND (22:1—36:13)
Now the old generation has died and a new generation stands poised at the border, ready to enter the Promised Land. Neighboring nations, however, cause Israel to begin worshiping other gods. Without Moses’ quick action, the nation may never have entered Canaan. We must never let down our guard in resisting sin.
1. The story of Balaam
Textual footnotes
- destroying them or by giving them as an Offering; also in 21:3. 21:3 Hormah means “destruction.” 21:4 Hebrew
- sea of reeds.
- was rugged; Hebrew reads because the boundary of the Ammonites was strong.
- 21:2 The Hebrew term used here refers to the complete consecration of things or people to the LORD, either by
- 21:16 Beer means “well.” 21:20 Or overlooks Jeshimon.
- 21:24 Or because the terrain of the Ammonite frontier
- 21:30 Or until fire spread to Medeba. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
21:6God used poisonous snakes to punish the people for their unbelief and complaining. The wilderness where they traveled has a variety of snakes. Some hide in the sand and attack without warning. Both the Israelites and the Egyptians had a great fear of snakes. A bite by a poisonous snake often meant a slow death with intense suffering.
21:8,9When the bronze snake was hung on the pole, the Israelites didn't know the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (see John 3:14, 15). Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the snake on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus’ death on the cross. It was not the snake that healed the people but their belief that God could heal them. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience to God’s instructions. In the same way, we should continue to look to Christ (see Hebrews 12:2).
21:14There is no other existing record of The Book of the Wars of the LORD. Most likely, it was a collection of victory songs or poems.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 236
BATTLES WITH SIHON AND 0G King Sihon refused passage to the Israelites through his land, and he attacked Israel at Jahaz. Israel defeated him, occupying the land between the Arnon and Jabbok Rivers, including the capital city, Heshbon. As they moved north, they defeated King Og of Bashan at Edrel.
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Study feature · page 237
21:28 Deut 2:9, 18 Jer 48:45-46 21:29 Judg 11:24 4 Kgs 11:7, 33
Study feature · page 237
THE SNAKE INTHE WILDERNESS Compare the texts for yourself: Numbers 21:7-9 and John 3:14, 15.
Israelites Christians
Bitten by snakes..... 6. ee Bitten by sin
Little initial pain, then intense suffering........ Little initial pain, then intense suffering
Physical death from snakes’ poison.......... Spiritual death from sin’s poison
Bronze snake lifted up in the wilderness....... Christ lifted up on the cross
Looking to the snake spared one’s life........ Looking to Christ saves from eternal death
21:27-30 Chemosh, the national god of Moab, was worshiped aS a god of war. This false god, however, was no help to this ation when it fought against israel. Israel's God was stronger than any of Canaan's war gods. 21:34 God assured Moses that Israel’s enemy was conquered Even before the battle began! God wants to give us victory over Our enemies (which are usually problems related to sin rather an armed soldiers). But first we must believe that he can help Us. Second, we must trust him to help us. Third, we must take Steps he shows us.
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