📖 Numbers — Chapter 21 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Numbers 21:1 And when king RArad 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.
Numbers 21:2 And Israel Rvowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
Numbers 21:3 And the LORD Rhearkened 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 THormah.
Numbers 21:4 And they journeyed from Rmount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much Tdiscouraged because of the way.
Numbers 21:5 And the people Rspake 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.
Numbers 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; Rpray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Numbers 21:8 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.
Numbers 21:9 And Moses made Ra 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.
Numbers 21:10 RAnd the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.
Numbers 21:11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at TIjeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising.
Numbers 21:12 From thence they removed, and pitched in Rthe valley of Zared.
Numbers 21:13 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.
Numbers 21:14 Wherefore it is said Rin the book of the wars of the LORD, TWhat he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,
Numbers 21:15 And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and Tlieth upon the border of Moab.
Numbers 21:16 And from thence they went to RBeer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.
Numbers 21:17 Then Israel Rsang this song, TSpring up, O well; Tsing ye unto it:
Numbers 21:18 The Rprinces 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:
Numbers 21:19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth:
Numbers 21:20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the RTcountry of Moab, to the top of TPisgah, which looketh toward TJeshimon.
Numbers 21:21 RAnd Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
Numbers 21:22 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.
Numbers 21:23 And RSihon 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.
Numbers 21:24 And RIsrael 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.
Numbers 21:25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel Rdwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the Tvillages thereof.
Numbers 21:26 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.
Numbers 21:27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:
Numbers 21:28 For there is Ra 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.
Numbers 21:29 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.
Numbers 21:30 We Rhave shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.
Numbers 21:31 RThus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.
Numbers 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out RJaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
Numbers 21:33 And Rthey 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.
Numbers 21:34 And the LORD said unto Moses, RFear 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.
Numbers 21:35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 21:1–9 — Arad and the Serpent of Brass
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD delivers the Canaanites after Israel's vow. Later the people complain, and fiery serpents bring death among them. Moses prays, and the LORD directs him to make a serpent on a pole; those bitten who look at it live. Moses makes it of brass.
Key Truth: The account records judgment, intercession, and the LORD's appointed provision for life.
Check What You Remember
1. What bit the people after their complaint? (Numbers 21:6)
Find it in Numbers 21:6 (KJV).
2. What metal was Moses' serpent made of? (Numbers 21:9)
Find it in Numbers 21:9 (KJV).
3. What did a bitten person do to live? (Numbers 21:9)
Find it in Numbers 21:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 21:10–20 — The Journey and the Well
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Israel's stages toward Moab are recorded. At Beer, the LORD promises water, and Israel sings about the well. The journey continues toward the valley in Moab and the top of Pisgah.
Key Truth: The record includes the LORD's provision of water during the journey.
Check What You Remember
1. What border river is named in verse 13? (Numbers 21:13)
Find it in Numbers 21:13 (KJV).
2. At what place did the LORD promise water in verse 16? (Numbers 21:16)
Find it in Numbers 21:16 (KJV).
3. What did Israel sing about? (Numbers 21:17)
Find it in Numbers 21:17 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 21:21–35 — Sihon and Og
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Sihon refuses passage and fights Israel, and Israel gains his land. The account identifies Heshbon as his city. Og of Bashan also comes to battle, and the LORD tells Moses not to fear him. Israel defeats him and possesses his land.
Key Truth: The account records Israel's victories and the LORD's assurance to Moses.
Check What You Remember
1. Who was the king of the Amorites? (Numbers 21:21)
Find it in Numbers 21:21 (KJV).
2. What city belonged to Sihon? (Numbers 21:26)
Find it in Numbers 21:26 (KJV).
3. Who was the king of Bashan? (Numbers 21:33)
Find it in Numbers 21:33 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does the response to the serpents join confession with intercession?
2. How does the brass serpent’s use relate to the promised life?
3. How does the well episode connect divine provision with the leaders’ action?
4. How does Sihon answer the proposed peaceful passage?
5. How does the instruction concerning Og relate to the earlier victory?
Notes
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