Numbers 21:1-11 ▼

1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the Atharim caravan route, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.

2 Then Israel made this vow in the LORD's presence: |If you give these people into our control, we intend to devote their cities to total destruction.|

3 When the LORD heard what Israel had decided to do, he delivered the Canaanites to them, and Israel exterminated them and their cities. They named the place Hormah.

4 After this, they traveled from Mount Hor along the caravan route by way of the Sea of Reeds and went around the land of Edom. But when the people got impatient because it was a long route,

5 the people complained against the LORD and Moses. |Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?| they asked. |There's no food and water, and we're tired of this worthless bread.|

6 In response, the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people to bite them. As a result, many people of Israel died.

7 Then the people approached Moses and admitted, |We've sinned by speaking against the LORD and you. Pray to the LORD, that he'll remove the serpents from us.| So Moses prayed in behalf of the people.

8 Then the LORD instructed Moses, |Make a poisonous serpent out of brass and fasten it to a pole. Anyone who has been bitten and who looks at it will live.|

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and fastened it to a pole. If a person who had been bitten by a poisonous serpent looked to the serpent, he lived.

10 After this, the Israelis traveled and encamped at Oboth.

11 Then they traveled from Oboth and encamped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is in the vicinity of Moab's eastern border.