Numbers 21
Victory at Hormah
Num 21:1 When the Canaanite king of Arad who lived in the Negev heard that Israel was approaching along the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoner. Num 21:2 So Israel made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed deliver this people into our hand, then we will utterly destroy their cities.” Num 21:3 The Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah.
Since Moses cannot cut through Edom, he must take the longer, circular route around Mount Hor. The Canaanites in this region attacked Israel, which was a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant. Instead of Israel being exterminated, the Canaanites of these cities were exterminated. The Canaanites received the kind-for-kind judgments of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Fiery Serpents
Num 21:4 Then they traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, but the people became impatient along the way. Num 21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food.” Num 21:6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died.
Num 21:7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he would take away the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Israelites began to complain about the strength of the Canaanite army. This was an insult to God, who had destroyed a much larger Egyptian army right in front of their eyes. Therefore, God sent poisonous snakes among the people.
Num 21:8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” Num 21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.
The people confessed their sin, so Moses was commanded to set up a pole with a bronze snake upon it. When the people looked at the bronze snake upon the bronze cross, then they lived. Jesus will later teach Nicodemus that this was a picture of the saving faith in the Messiah. Whoever looks up at the snake will live. Whoever looks up to the Messiah will live. The snake is the healing symbol of the medical community.
The Approach to Moab
Num 21:10 The Israelites traveled on and camped in Oboth. Num 21:11 Then they traveled on from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that is before Moab, on the eastern side. Num 21:12 From there they moved on and camped in the valley of Zered. Num 21:13 From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends from the regions of the Amorites, for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
Num 21:14 This is why it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord, “Waheb in Suphah and the wadis, the Arnon Num 21:15 and the slope of the valleys that extends to the dwelling of Ar, and falls off at the border of Moab.” Num 21:16 And from there they traveled to Beer; that is the well where the Lord spoke to Moses, “Gather the people and I will give them water.”
Since Edom would not allow Israel to pass though the King’s Highway, Israel circled around Edom and Moab. The Book of the Wars of the Lord was an ancient uninspired book that is now lost.
Num 21:17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well, sing to it!
Num 21:18 The well which the princes dug, which the leaders of the people opened with their scepters and their staffs.” And from the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah; Num 21:19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth; Num 21:20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the country of Moab, near the top of Pisgah, which overlooks the wilderness.
This song may have been taken from The Book of the Wars of the Lord. This song was a praise about the tribal leaders and the working class working together to dig wells. One digs wells when one plans on a permanent residency. The Israelites continued their circular route around Edom and Moab.
The Victory over Sihon and Og
Num 21:21 Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying, Num 21:22 “Let us pass through your land; we will not turn aside into the fields or into the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well, but we will go along the King’s Highway until we pass your borders.” Num 21:23 But Sihon did not permit Israel to pass through his border; he gathered all his forces together and went out against Israel into the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel.
The Amorites refused to allow Israel to pass through their land on the King’s Highway. This was a violation of the Abrahamic Covenant.
Num 21:24 But the Israelites defeated him in battle and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strongly defended. Num 21:25 So Israel took all these cities; and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.
The Ammonites were defeated by Israel. No one could defeat Israel, as long as Israel was loyal to the Mosaic Covenant.
Num 21:26 For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. Now he had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all of his land from his control, as far as the Arnon. Num 21:27 That is why those who speak in proverbs say, “Come to Heshbon, let it be built. Let the city of Sihon be established!
Num 21:28 For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places of Arnon.
This poem basically stated that “You Amorites have beaten the Moabites, but we Israelites have beaten you.”
Num 21:29 Woe to you, Moab. You are ruined, O people of Chemosh He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters the prisoners of King Sihon of the Amorites. Num 21:30 We have overpowered them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. We have shattered them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”
Chemosh was the god of the Moabites. Human sacrifices were offered to this god.
Num 21:31 So the Israelites lived in the land of the Amorites. Num 21:32 Moses sent spies to reconnoiter Jaazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.
God promised Abraham that Israel would return when the iniquity of the Amorites was “full” (Genesis 15:16). Many archaeological references to the “Amurru” have been found. Archaeology was invented to discredit the Bible, but instead, it has clarified the Bible. Archaeology has never excavated an item which disproves the Bible.
Num 21:33 Then they turned and went up by the road to Bashan. And King Og of Bashan and all his forces marched out against them to do battle at Edrei.
Num 21:34 And the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand. You will do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. Num 22:35 So they defeated Og, his sons, and all his people, until there were no survivors, and they possessed his land.
King Og of Bashen attacked Israel and violated the Abrahamic Covenant. Israel exterminated every man, woman, and child. There were no survivors. Liberals call God cruel for exterminating every man, woman, and child. However, when God goes to war, He goes to win. He does not compromise the lives of His young people for political ambition or monetary profit. His message to the world is that if you mess with my chosen people, the price is extermination. The only deterrent to war is for a nation to make itself so strong and so ruthless, that other nations will not want to mess with them. When a nation destroys its weapon base, then they are inviting destruction from another nation who will not demilitarize themselves. After World War I, Europe demilitarized itself. Nazi Germany armed herself to the teeth and almost defeated all of Europe.