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Numbers 21

Num 21, Nu 21, Nm 21, Nb 21


Numbers 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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,

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

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.

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

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:



19 And 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.

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

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.

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.

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

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Summary and the Meaning of Chapter 21 of the Book of Numbers in the KJV Holy Bible

The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Old Testament in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible. It is the continuation of the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land. Chapter 21 is a pivotal chapter in the book, as it marks a turning point in the Israelites' journey and sets the stage for their ultimate destination. This chapter is filled with significant events and important lessons that reveal the faithfulness of God and the struggles of the Israelites in their journey towards the Promised Land.

The Main Themes of Chapter 21

There are several main themes that can be identified in chapter 21 of the book of Numbers. These themes include obedience, faith, sin, punishment, and redemption. Each of these themes plays a crucial role in understanding the overall meaning and message of this chapter.

Obedience: The theme of obedience is prevalent throughout the book of Numbers, and it is especially highlighted in chapter 21. The Israelites had been given specific instructions by God on how to journey towards the Promised Land. However, in this chapter, we see that the Israelites disobeyed God's commandments and grumbled against Him. This disobedience ultimately led to severe consequences for the Israelites.

Faith: Another important theme in chapter 21 is faith. Despite their disobedience, we see the Israelites turning to God in times of trouble and placing their trust in Him to deliver them. This chapter also reveals the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises and protecting His people, even in the midst of their doubts and struggles.

Sin: The Israelites' sin is a recurring theme in the book of Numbers, and chapter 21 is no exception. Their disobedience and grumbling against God can be seen as a manifestation of their sinful nature. This chapter serves as a reminder that sin has consequences and can lead to destruction if not dealt with accordingly.

Punishment: As a result of their sin, the Israelites faced punishment from God. In this chapter, we see the Israelites being plagued by fiery serpents as a consequence of their disobedience. This punishment serves as a reminder that God is just and will not tolerate disobedience and sin.

Redemption: Despite their punishment, we see God's mercy and grace at work in chapter 21. He provides a way for the Israelites to be saved from the fiery serpents by instructing Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. Those who looked upon the bronze serpent were healed and saved from death. This act serves as a foreshadowing of the redemption and salvation that would come through Jesus Christ.

The Meaning of Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of the book of Numbers holds great significance in the overall message and meaning of the book. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and sin, but also highlights the faithfulness and mercy of God in redeeming His people.

The disobedience of the Israelites in this chapter reflects the ongoing struggle of humanity to follow God's commandments. It shows how easily we can turn away from God and His ways, leading to destruction and consequences. However, it also reveals God's patience and love for His people, even in the midst of their disobedience.

The bronze serpent lifted up on the pole serves as a powerful symbol of salvation and redemption. Just as the Israelites were saved from death by looking upon the bronze serpent, we are saved from eternal death by looking upon Jesus Christ, who was lifted up on the cross for our sins. This act foreshadows the ultimate redemption and salvation that would come through Jesus' death and resurrection.

Chapter 21 also serves as a reminder of the importance of faith in our journey with God. Despite their struggles and doubts, the Israelites turned to God in faith, and He remained faithful to them. This chapter shows that even in the midst of our sin and disobedience, God is still merciful and gracious towards us when we turn to Him in faith.

Furthermore, chapter 21 serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience in our relationship with God. The Israelites' disobedience led to severe consequences, but their obedience to God's instructions brought about their deliverance and salvation. This chapter shows that obedience is not just about following rules, but it is also about trusting and submitting to God's will for our lives.

The overall message of chapter 21 can be summed up in the words of Jesus in John 3:14-15, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." This chapter serves as a reminder of the love, mercy, and faithfulness of God, and the importance of obedience and faith in our relationship with Him.

In Conclusion

Chapter 21 of the book of Numbers is a pivotal chapter in the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land. It is filled with important themes and lessons that reveal the faithfulness of God and the struggles of His people. This chapter serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and sin, but also the redemption and salvation that can be found through faith and obedience in God. It points to the ultimate redemption and salvation that would come through Jesus Christ, and it serves as a timeless message for all believers to trust and obey God in our journey towards the Promised Land of eternal life.



This article is informed by the King James Version of the Holy Bible, the authors' personal knowledge, considerations and experience, and additional materials and resources available in internet.

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