King James Version
The Book of Numbers
Chapter 21
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Commentary
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.
The very same murmuring crowd and yes, the very same ones that feared and doubted during the entire Divine Deliverance... "they will utterly destroy their cities!" It truly seems, from a summery thus far, that this People purpose in their hearts to choose when to accept Gods guidance and when not to. It also seems to be that this People complain among themselves far in advance, to "work themselves up" to whatever frenzy they happen to stirr up.This is not the Way Of Holiness, as we have learned as The Way.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.
This time there was no chapter of sin and repentance, followed by more laws laid out for the People. This time they did just as that which pleases God, and were rewarded accordingly. There isn't much to log here, except that if it were me, I'd want several chapters that detail the dynamic blessing that God had just manifest for them.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.
Well, it sure didn't take the People very long to forget all about that important lesson learned. It may be that these People do not like to journey. It seems to me that it most often occurs after a journey or just before. Nevertheless, these People do know a better way to address God. Certainly they know to NOT address Him indirectly, and in a negative mentality; for that, too is sin. No man may approach God with the filth of reproach all through his heart. These little journeys are not long. Surely the People would murmur long before they arrived if their destination is too long for them. They complain about trivial matters already.It seems to me that these People didn't like the journey. Never mind that it is done, and that there is no changing the past, they seem to have wanted to somehow punish God. What else could they hope to gain by speaking against God AFTER they already made the trip? Any destination ought to be as good as the next, until they finally do reach the Promised Land.
Sure, I understand that some trips are rough and for various reasons. I also understand that sometimes our trips will be rough. Considering these two things, along with the considerable abundance of Divine Intervention, I hope I would be open minded enough to consider making another vow with God. Perhaps this vow should be to the effect that will improve the overall conditions of the remaining trips that loom before them.
Maybe these People do sometimes get "caught up in the moment" and forget. Maybe they get in a panic sometimes. Maybe this panic is brought on be mixed emotions, and perhaps some of these emotions were the result of altogether different circumstances. For example, they are likely to be feeling a little bit invigorated by the recent victory. They may even feel that they deserve better. There are a lot of factors to consider. What kind of circumstances effects your emotions? What about just today? What is the overall outcome of these mixed emotions? In other words, what overall "mood" have you been in today? Can you examine each emotion and determine what caused each emotion? Can you identify the reason why you feel this way?
Maybe you can. Maybe some of us do need to practice. Fortunately for us, we have a written personal copy of physical Divine Guidance. As a people today, we rely almost entire upon our intellect. No matter who we are and how little we may know about something, we still have a need to rationalize things. What if the People needed such a thing? How can anyone ever rationalize a miracle as dynamic as parting a sea? What about the pillar of fire by night? Don't forget the 12 plagues. Who can rationalize these things? People today do struggle over a trivial matter if they cannot quickly rationalize it.
6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
I have notices that as the People do progress in their obedience to Gods direction, the punishment for regression or "backsliding" becomes more severe. Certainly they don't get easier to endure. These People repent every time. Each time they repent, the Lord provides a way for them to carry out a task that will result in deliverance. Sure, He could simply discontinue the actual repromand, but it seems here that He would rather the People ACT upon their repentance. It is important for us today to not just FEEL sorry for our sin, but also to DO something about it. Matthew 18:21-35and 5:23-26 are our guidance for when we are at aught against each other.As the plague of the deadly serpents manifests among tihe people, they must have come to a complete panic. During this time, they don't seem to get all "caught up in the moment" and begin to murmur against God, as they do when the going gets rough.
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.
Oh, how the People do things! Take a look here. When they want something from God, they make a vow. When the journeys are a struggle, they murmur among themselves until it leads to a rebellion. When they are in trouble and God punishes them, they go to Moses.They blame Moses in times when things don't go well, or if they are overcome in some sort of emotion such as jelousy or pride. Sometimes they even skip over Moses and speak directly against God! So far, I have never seen these People go directly to God in ANY occasion of repentance. They seem to always go to Moses for that.
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.
Again, God don't just discontinue the plague, He provides a way of relief for the People. The People have to DO something before they can be rescued, and in this case, they have to do it individually, and not as a whole. In other words, this thing isn't going away with a single act as describled by God. This time the plague remains and as each person is effected by it, that person must crawl out in their pain, and quickly too, because the serpents in this plague are deadly. They will kill in 10 seconds! The person bitten must quickly look upon this fiery serpent, that is on the pole. No matter what condition they are already in at the time they are bitten, they must look upon this fiery serpent BEFORE they DIE!What about the fear of one slithering into their tent as they sleep? How easy would it be for us to sleep, knowing that these serpents are everywhere, and for the specif perpose of KILLING them? Well, at least there IS an escape plan. This escape plan does is for AFTER they are bitten, not as a means of avoiding the bite.
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.
Off they go. As with every time they are punished, when it is all settled, they head on out for a new location.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,
Where is this book of the wars of the LORD? I wonder if it is as awesome as it seems?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:
After much traveling, I have to assume that it was not specifically any easier than any other travels. This time the People did not murmur, nor did they speak any ill thing to or among themselves. Instead, they sang a song. They really seem to like it here, with this well.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.
The People tried to pass through the Amorites peacably and the Amorites would not allow it. Perhaps the Amorites would have been more cooperative if the Israelites had a better reputation for their efforts. If the Lord had of intervened in any of the previous passes, then surely the Amorites would not defy them. What they did not seem to know is that the People were on good terms with God just then.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.
Because of the good behaviors and that their hearts were right with God, they were able to run the Amorites all the way to the strong borders of the children of Ammon. It is likely that the Amorites didn't expect this outcome.
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.
While Israel was in good standing with God, they went on to take all the cities and lived there for a while. They even took all of the villages.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.
The Amorites were strong enough to take all of this land from the mighty Moabites and now the seemingly weak Israelites are strong enough to take the cities and villages away from the Amorites. This shows that the Israelites were infact stronger than the Moabites, even though the Moabites took a big victory over the Israelites before.This is clear evidence that God will give the People victory ONLY when they are right with His will. It is important to remember that God will punish those He loves, and He is quick to reward the obedient.
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.What other way is more effective to add insult to injury or salt to an open wound than to set up "house" in our enemys land? The enemies denied passage and went in to attack Israel, so the Israelites defeat them and proceed to live in their houses, and eat their food, and probably even take wives among them as seems to be a strong insult to a defeated people.
32 And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.
Even though the People only sought to pass peacably by the Amorites, now that they were forced to fight, and did utterly defeat them, they continue to take towns and villages. Fortunately for the Amorites, the People only "drove them out" and did not decide to utterly destroy them as they have in past situations.
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.
Even here, after so much time in good grace with God, He continues to deliver them to victory. The Lord volunteered this time, and did not simply respond to a vow by the People. This time He spoke up and calmed the People, "fear not". Now they will take the Bashan territory as a retaliation to this peoples' attack. These people of Bashan did not have the mercy that the Amorites had. These people were all slain; utterly destroyed.Surely the people of Bashan knew well in advance that the Israelites were on a "winning streak" and that any attack to them at the time would result in defeat. Perhaps it is because of this that Israel proceeded to wipe them out completely. Maybe we should see this as a warning to us in todays time. When God is for us, who can be against us?
35 So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.
(KJV)
