Numbers 21-22 - Prayer Tents

Numbers 21

Victory over the Canaanites

21The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that the Israelites were approaching on the road through Atharim. So he attacked the Israelites and took some of them as prisoners.H4428H6166H3669H3427H5045H8085H3478H935H1870H871H3898H3478H7617H76282Then the people of Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy

all their towns."H3478H5087H5088H3068H559H5414H5414H5971H3027H2763H58923The LORD heard the Israelites' request and gave them victory over the Canaanites. The Israelites completely destroyed them and their towns, and the place has been called Hormah

ever since.H3068H8085H6963H3478H5414H3669H2763H5892H7121H8034H4725H2767

The Bronze Snake

4Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea

to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,H5265H2022H2023H1870H5488H3220H5437H776H123H5315H5971H7114H18705and they began to speak against God and Moses. "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?" they complained. "There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!"H5971H1696H430H4872H5927H4714H4191H4057H3899H4325H5315H6973H7052H38996So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.H3068H7971H8314H5175H5971H5391H5971H7227H5971H3478H41917Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people.H5971H935H4872H559H2398H1696H3068H6419H3068H5493H5175H4872H6419H59718Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!"H3068H559H4872H6213H8314H7760H5251H5391H7200H24259So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!H4872H6213H5175H5178H7760H5251H5175H5391H376H5027H5175H5178H2425

Israel’s Journey to Moab

10The Israelites traveled next to Oboth and camped there.H1121H3478H5265H2583H8811Then they went on to Iye-abarim, in the wilderness on the eastern border of Moab.H5265H88H2583H5863H4057H6440H4124H4217H812112From there they traveled to the valley of Zered Brook and set up camp.H5265H2583H5158H221813Then they moved out and camped on the far side of the Arnon River, in the wilderness adjacent to the territory of the Amorites. The Arnon is the boundary line between the Moabites and the Amorites.H5265H2583H5676H769H4057H3318H1366H567H769H1366H4124H4124H56714For this reason The Book of the Wars of the LORD speaks of "the town of Waheb in the area of Suphah, and the ravines of the Arnon River,H559H5612H4421H3068H2052H5492H5158H76915and the ravines that extend as far as the settlement of Ar on the border of Moab."H793H5158H5186H3427H6144H8172H1366H412416From there the Israelites traveled to Beer

, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Assemble the people, and I will give them water."H876H875H3068H559H4872H622H5971H622H5414H432517There the Israelites sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Yes, sing its praises!H3478H7891H7892H5927H875H603018Sing of this well, which princes dug, which great leaders hollowed out with their scepters and staffs." Then the Israelites left the wilderness and proceeded on through Mattanah,H8269H2658H875H5081H5971H3738H2710H4938H4057H498019Nahaliel, and Bamoth.H4980H5160H5160H112020After that they went to the valley in Moab where Pisgah Peak overlooks the wasteland

.H1120H1516H7704H4124H7218H6449H8259H6440H3452

Victory over Sihon and Og

21The Israelites sent ambassadors to King Sihon of the Amorites with this message.H3478H7971H4397H5511H4428H567H55922"Let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won't even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king's road until we have passed through your territory."H5674H776H5186H7704H3754H8354H4325H875H3212H4428H1870H5674H136623But King Sihon refused to let them cross his territory. Instead, he mobilized his entire army and attacked Israel in the wilderness, engaging them in battle at Jahaz.H5511H5414H3478H5674H1366H5511H622H5971H622H3318H7125H3478H4057H935H3096H3898H347824But the Israelites slaughtered them with their swords and occupied their land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. They went only as far as the Ammonite border because the boundary of the Ammonites was fortified

.H3478H5221H6310H2719H3423H776H769H2999H1121H5983H1366H1121H5983H579425So Israel captured all the towns of the Amorites and settled in them, including the city of Heshbon and its surrounding villages.H3478H3947H5892H3478H3427H5892H567H2809H132326Heshbon had been the capital of King Sihon of the Amorites. He had defeated a former Moabite king and seized all his land as far as the Arnon River.H2809H5892H5511H4428H567H3898H7223H4428H4124H3947H776H3027H76927Therefore, the ancient poets wrote this about him: "Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt! Let the city of Sihon be restored.H4911H559H935H2809H5892H5511H1129H355928A fire flamed forth from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It burned the city of Ar in Moab; it destroyed the rulers of the Arnon heights.H784H3318H2809H3852H7151H5511H398H6144H4124H1181H76929What sorrow awaits you, O people of Moab! You are finished, O worshipers of Chemosh! Chemosh has left his sons as refugees, his daughters as captives of Sihon, the Amorite king.H188H4124H6H5971H3645H5414H1121H6412H1323H7622H5511H4428H56730We have utterly destroyed them, from Heshbon to Dibon. We have completely wiped them out as far away as Nophah and Medeba

."H3384H2809H6H1769H8074H5302H431131So the people of Israel occupied the territory of the Amorites.H3478H3427H776H56732After Moses sent men to explore the Jazer area, they captured all the towns in the region and drove out the Amorites who lived there.H4872H7971H7270H3270H3920H1323H3423H3423H56733Then they turned and marched up the road to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and all his people attacked them at Edrei.H6437H5927H1870H1316H5747H4428H1316H3318H7125H5971H4421H15434The LORD said to Moses, "Do not be afraid of him, for I have handed him over to you, along with all his people and his land. Do the same to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon."H3068H559H4872H3372H5414H3027H5971H776H6213H6213H5511H4428H567H3427H280935And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land.H5221H1121H5971H1115H7604H8300H3423H776

Numbers 22

Balak Sends for Balaam

22Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.H1121H3478H5265H2583H6160H4124H5676H3383H34052Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites.H1111H1121H6834H7200H3478H6213H5673And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified.H4124H3966H1481H6440H5971H7227H4124H6973H6440H1121H34784The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!" So Balak, king of Moab,H4124H559H2205H4080H6951H3897H5439H7794H3897H3418H7704H1111H1121H6834H4428H4124H62565sent messengers to call Balaam son of Beor, who was living in his native land of Pethor

near the Euphrates River. His message said: "Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me.H7971H4397H1109H1121H1160H6604H5104H776H1121H5971H7121H559H5971H3318H4714H3680H5869H776H3427H41366Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse."H3212H779H5971H6099H3201H5221H1644H776H3045H1288H1288H779H7797Balak's messengers, who were elders of Moab and Midian, set out with money to pay Balaam to place a curse upon Israel

. They went to Balaam and delivered Balak's message to him.H2205H4124H2205H4080H3212H7081H3027H935H1109H1696H1697H11118"Stay here overnight," Balaam said. "In the morning I will tell you whatever the LORD directs me to say." So the officials from Moab stayed there with Balaam.H559H3885H3915H7725H1697H7725H3068H1696H8269H4124H3427H11099That night God came to Balaam and asked him, "Who are these men visiting you?"H430H935H1109H559H58210Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent me this message.H1109H559H430H1111H1121H6834H4428H4124H797111'Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come and curse these people for me. Then perhaps I will be able to stand up to them and drive them from the land.'"H5971H3318H4714H3680H5869H776H3212H6895H3201H3898H164412But God told Balaam, "Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!"H430H559H1109H3212H779H5971H128813The next morning Balaam got up and told Balak's officials, "Go on home! The LORD will not let me go with you."H1109H6965H1242H559H8269H1111H3212H776H3068H3985H5414H198014So the Moabite officials returned to King Balak and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us."H8269H4124H6965H935H1111H559H1109H3985H198015Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time.H1111H7971H3254H8269H7227H351316They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don't let anything stop you from coming to help me.H935H1109H559H559H1111H1121H6834H4513H198017I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!"H3513H3966H3513H3513H6213H559H3212H6895H597118But Balaam responded to Balak's messengers, "Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD my God.H1109H6030H559H5650H1111H1111H5414H1004H4393H3701H2091H3201H5674H6310H3068H430H6213H6996H141919But stay here one more night, and I will see if the LORD has anything else to say to me."H3427H3915H3045H3068H1696H325420That night God came to Balaam and told him, "Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do."H430H935H1109H3915H559H582H935H7121H6965H3212H389H1697H1696H6213

Balaam and His Donkey

21So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials.H1109H6965H1242H2280H860H3212H8269H412422But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the LORD to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along,H430H639H2734H1980H4397H3068H3320H1870H7854H7392H860H8147H528823Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.H860H7200H4397H3068H5324H1870H2719H8025H3027H860H5186H1870H3212H7704H1109H5221H860H5186H187024Then the angel of the LORD stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls.H4397H3068H5975H4934H3754H1447H144725When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again.H860H7200H4397H3068H3905H7023H3905H1109H7272H7023H5221H325426Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.H4397H3068H5674H3254H5975H6862H4725H1870H5186H3225H804027This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.H860H7200H4397H3068H7257H1109H1109H639H2734H5221H860H473128Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. "What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?" it asked Balaam.H3068H6605H6310H860H559H1109H6213H5221H7969H727229"You have made me look like a fool!" Balaam shouted. "If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!"H1109H559H860H5953H3863H3426H2719H3027H202630"But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life," the donkey answered. "Have I ever done anything like this before?" "No," Balaam admitted.H860H559H1109H860H7392H3117H5532H5532H6213H55931Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.H3068H1540H5869H1109H7200H4397H3068H5324H1870H2719H8025H3027H6915H7812H63932"Why did you beat your donkey those three times?" the angel of the LORD demanded. "Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.H4397H3068H559H5221H860H7969H7272H3318H7854H1870H339933Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey."H860H7200H5186H6440H7969H7272H194H5186H6440H2026H242134Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I didn't realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going."H1109H559H4397H3068H2398H3045H5324H1870H7125H7489H5869H772535But the angel of the LORD told Balaam, "Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say." So Balaam went on with Balak's officials.H4397H3068H559H1109H3212H582H657H1697H1696H1696H1109H3212H8269H111136When King Balak heard that Balaam was on the way, he went out to meet him at a Moabite town on the Arnon River at the farthest border of his land.H1111H8085H1109H935H3318H7125H5892H4124H1366H769H7097H136637"Didn't I send you an urgent invitation? Why didn't you come right away?" Balak asked Balaam. "Didn't you believe me when I said I would reward you richly?"H1111H559H1109H7971H7971H7121H1980H3201H552H351338Balaam replied, "Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth."H1109H559H1111H935H3201H3201H1696H3972H1697H430H7760H6310H169639Then Balaam accompanied Balak to Kiriath-huzoth,H1109H3212H1111H935H2351H715540where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep. He sent portions of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him.H1111H2076H1241H6629H7971H1109H826941The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him.H1242H1111H3947H1109H5927H1116H1120H7200H7097H5971