Numbers 21

The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard that Israel came by the way of Atharim. He fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”

The LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. The name of the place was called Hormah.

They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.

The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!”

The LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and they bit the people. Many people of Israel died.

The people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” Moses prayed for the people.

The LORD said to Moses, “Make a venomous snake, and set it on a pole. It shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

Moses made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked at the serpent of bronze, he lived.

The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in Oboth.

They traveled from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise.

From there they traveled, and encamped in the valley of Zered.

From there they traveled, and encamped 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.

Therefore it is said in The Book of the Wars of the LORD , “Vaheb in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon,

the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of Ar, leans on the border of Moab.”

From there they traveled to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”

Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, well! Sing to it,

the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles.” From the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah;

and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth;

and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks down on the desert.

Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,

“Let me pass through your land. We will not turn away into field or vineyard. We will not drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king’s highway, until we have passed your border.”

Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border, but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz. He fought against Israel.

Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was fortified.

Israel took all these cities. Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.

For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.

Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon. Let the city of Sihon be built and established;

for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.

Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites.

We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.”

Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.

Moses sent to spy out Jazer. They took its villages, and drove out the Amorites who were there.

They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.

The LORD said to Moses, “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people, and his land. You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”

So they struck him, with his sons and all his people, until there were no survivors; and they possessed his land.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter recounts Israel’s continued journey toward the Promised Land, highlighting key military victories over the Canaanite king of Arad and the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, as well as the episode of the bronze serpent. Amid divine judgment and mercy, the narrative underscores God’s sovereign guidance, the people’s recurring unbelief, and the fulfillment of His promises to bring Israel into the land east of the Jordan.

Flow.

The chapter begins with Israel’s vow and victory over the Canaanite king of Arad, resulting in the naming of Hormah.
It then details the people’s complaint against God and Moses, leading to judgment through fiery serpents and subsequent salvation through the bronze serpent lifted on a pole.
The journey resumes with geographical markers and a poetic citation from “The Book of the Wars of the LORD,” culminating in Israel’s arrival near Moab.
Israel defeats Sihon of the Amorites and later Og of Bashan, taking possession of their lands, which marks the beginning of the occupation of the eastern territories.

Connections. Following chapter 20, which records the death of Aaron, the failed request to Edom, and the renewed hardships at Kadesh, chapter 21 continues the theme of Israel’s testing and God’s faithfulness despite rebellion. The move around Edom and the shift into Transjordan set the stage geographically and politically for the encounters with Sihon and Og. This conquest of the east bank prepares directly for chapter 22, where Israel’s presence in Moabite territory triggers the narrative involving Balak and Balaam, as the nations take notice of Israel’s advance.

What it teaches. God is both holy and merciful: He judges rebellion, as seen in the serpents sent for the people’s complaints (), yet provides a means of salvation that prefigures Christ’s lifting up (; cf. HC LD 13). Vows made to the LORD must be honored (; cf. WCF 19.4), and God hears intercession, as Moses’ prayer brings relief. The defeat of Sihon and Og fulfills earlier promises that the land would be given (:4), demonstrating that the LORD delivers His people by His power (; cf. WCF 3.8). The land east of the Jordan is now possessed, marking a crucial advance in the fulfillment of God’s covenant to Abraham (; cf. WCF 7.3).

Apply. When judgment reveals sin, look to the divinely appointed means of deliverance without delay.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.