Numbers

Tells about the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, including their travels and the census of their tribes.

Chapter 21

1 And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.

*When King Arad from the southland heard that Israel was coming his way with spies, he attacked them and captured some of them.

2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.

*Israel promised God, "If you truly save these people for me, I'll completely destroy their cities."

3 And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

*And God listened to Israel's prayer, and defeated the people living there (Canaanites). They completely destroyed them and their towns. He named this place Hormah.

4 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

*They traveled from Mount Hor near the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. The people were very sad due to their journey.

5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

*The people complained about God and Moses, asking why they were brought out of Egypt only to die in the desert. They mentioned that there was no food or water, and they really didn't like the manna, the bread from heaven.

6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

*God sent venomous snakes to the people, which bit them and many Israelites died.

7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

*So the people went to Moses and said, "We made a mistake. We spoke badly about the Lord and you. Please ask the Lord to remove the snakes from us." Then Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

*And God told Moses, "Create a snake made of fire and put it on a stick. Whoever is bitten by a snake will live if they look at it.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

*Moses created a bronze snake and put it on a stick. If a snake bit someone, they could survive by looking at the bronze snake.

10 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.

*The Israelite kids moved on and camped at Oboth.

11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising.

*They traveled from Oboth and set up camp at Ijeabarim in the desert area near Moab, facing the sunrise direction.

12 From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.

*From there, they moved and set up camp in the valley called Zared.

13 From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

*After that, they moved and set up camp on the other side of the Arnon River, in a desert area near where the Amorites' land begins. The Arnon River marks the boundary between Moab and the Amorites.

14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,

*It says in the book about the LORD's battles, what he did in the Red Sea and the Arnon streams.

15 And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.

*At the flowing river near Ar's home, on the edge of Moab's land.

16 And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.

*From there, they went to a place called Beer. This is the well where God told Moses to gather the people so he could provide them with water.

17 Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:

*Then, Israel sang this simple song: Rise, water source; celebrate its filling.

18 The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:

*The leaders made a well, guided by the lawgiver, along with other important people using their sticks. Then, they traveled from the desert to a place called Mattanah.

19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth:

*From Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth.

20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.

*From Bamoth in the Moab valley to the top of Pisgah, looking at Jeshimon.

21 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,

*Israel sent messengers to Sihon, the Amorite king, saying,

22 Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders.

*Let me go through your land. We won't stop in the fields or vineyards, and we won't drink from your well water. Instead, we'll stay on the main road near the king's highway until we leave your territory.

23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

*Sihon refused to let Israel pass through his land. He gathered his people and fought against Israel in the desert near a place called Jahaz.

24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

*Israel fought and took over the land, from a place called Arnon to another place called Jabbok. This included the land of the children of Ammon, because their border was very strong.

25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.

*Israel captured all these towns and lived in all the Amorite cities, including Heshbon and its surrounding villages.

26 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 unto Arnon.

*Heshbon was a city ruled by Sihon, a powerful king of the Amorites. He defeated the previous Moab king, taking control of all his land up to the Arnon River.

27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

*So, those who give wise sayings suggest, go to Heshbon and help rebuild Sihon's city.

28 For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

*From Heshbon, a fire has gone out, a flame from Sihon's city: it has destroyed Ar in Moab and the leaders of Arnon's high places.

29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.

*Oh no, Moab! You're in big trouble, people of Chemosh! The god you worship has handed over your surviving sons and daughters to Sihon, the powerful king of the Amorites, as prisoners.

30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.

*We attacked them, destroying Heshbon all the way to Dibon. We also destroyed everything from Nophah up to Medeba.

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

*So, Israel lived among the Amorites' territory.

32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.

*Moses sent people to check out Jaazer. They took over its villages and forced the Amorites living there to leave.

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

*So, they went up through Bashan area. King Og of Bashan came out with his people to fight them in a battle at a place called Edrei.

34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.

*And God told Moses, "Don't be afraid. I have given him and his people and their land into your hands. Treat him like you treated Sihon, the king of the Amorites from Heshbon."

35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

*So they attacked him and his children and everyone with him until no one was still alive; then they took over his land.

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