Numbers 21:4-13 ▼

4 Then they set out from Mount Hor (mountain) along the route to the Red Sea (the Sea of Reeds), in order to bypass the land of Edom (red). But the people grew impatient on the journey

5 and spoke against God {Elohim} and against Moses (drawn out): “Why have you⁺ led us up out of Egypt (land of bondage) to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”

6 So the LORD {YHWH} sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites (God prevails) were bitten and died.

7 Then the people came to Moses (drawn out) and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD {YHWH} and against you. Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses interceded for the people.

8 Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.”

9 So Moses (drawn out) made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live.

10 Then the Israelites (God prevails) set out and camped at Oboth (waterskins).

11 They journeyed from Oboth (waterskins) and camped at Iye-abarim (ruins of Abarim) in the wilderness opposite Moab (of his father) to the east.

12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered (osier brook).

13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon (rushing stream), in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite (a sayer) territory. Now the Arnon is the border (of his father) between the Moabites and the Amorites.