ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Numbers 21

Num. 21:1–3 This victory at Hormah marks a turning point. From now on, one victory follows another until they reach the Jordan, ready to enter Canaan.

Num. 21:1 This battle was not begun by Israel; they were attacked by the king of Arad. This was also true of other battles in the Transjordan (the area east of the Jordan River); compare vv. 21–23; 33–35; 25:17–18.

Num. 21:2–3 devote their cities to destruction. Israel promised to keep no spoils of war for themselves if God gave them victory. Later God ordered that all Canaanite cities that resisted Israel should be treated like Hormah (Deut. 20:16–18).

Num. 21:4–9 The people once again grumble about their food. They are punished by poisonous snake bites.

Num. 21:9 bronze serpent. The Hebrew term translated “bronze” can also mean “copper” (see esv footnote). The redness of copper suggests atonement (see 19:1–10). Jesus compares his own death on the cross to the uplifted serpent (John 3:14–15). By the time of King Hezekiah of Judah (c. 715 b.c.), this copper serpent had become an object of worship among the Israelites (2 Kings 18:4).

Num. 21:10–20 These verses summarize Israel’s passage through the Transjordan, east of the Dead Sea, around the territory of Moab and through the land of the Amorites. Many of the places cannot be precisely located, but the general route is clear.

Num. 21:14–15 The Book of the Wars of the Lord was perhaps a collection of ancient songs, like the Book of Jashar (see Josh. 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18). The esv translates the Hebrew text as it exists today. Because of the difficulty in understanding these verses, some have suggested the text may have been changed through a copyist’s error.

Num. 21:16–18 These verses celebrate finding an abundant well.

Num. 21:21–30 Sihon, king of the Amorites, attacked Israel and was defeated (v. 24). This was the first land the Israelites settled (v. 25).

Num. 21:27–30 This old poem celebrates the previous capture of Moabite territory by Sihon. It is probably included to show that the Israelites were justified in displacing the Amorites from their land, since they had acquired it from the Moabites by force. The poem also helps to explain why the king of Moab later hired Balaam to curse Israel (chs. 22–24): Moab had been defeated by Sihon, and Sihon had been defeated by Israel, so what hope did Moab have against Israel?

Num. 21:29 Chemosh was the god of Moab (Judg. 11:24).

Num. 21:31–35 The campaign against Og is reported more fully in Deut. 3:1–11. This large area in northern Transjordan was later settled by three tribes (see Numbers 32).