1And the Canaanite, the king of Arad who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel had entered by the way of Atharim,—so he made war with Israel, and took some of them captive.
2Then Israel vowed vow unto Yahweh, and said,—If thou wilt, surely deliver up, this people into my hand, then will I utterly destroy their cities.
3And Yahweh hearkened unto the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanite into his hand, so he utterly destroyed them, and their cities, and called the name of the place Hormah [that is, "Utter Destruction"].
4Then brake they up from Mount Hor, by way of the Red Sea, to go round the land of Edom,—and the soul of the people became impatient because of the way,
5So then the people spake against God and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt, to die in the desert? for there is neither bread nor water, and our soul, doth loathe this contemptible bread!
6And Yahweh sent among the people the poisonous serpents, and they bit the people,—and much people out of Israel died.
7Then came the people of Israel unto Moses and said—We have sinned in that we spake against Yahweh and against thee, Pray thou unto Yahweh, that he may take from us the serpent. So Moses prayed for the people.
8Then said Yahweh unto Moses—Make thee a like serpent, and put it upon standard,—and it shall come to pass, that, any one who is bitten, as soon as he seeth it, shall live.
9So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon the standard,—and it came to pass—that if the serpent had bitten any man, as soon as he directed his look unto the serpent of bronze, he lived.
10And the sons of Israel brake up,—and encamped in Oboth.
11And they brake up from Oboth,—and encamped in Ije-Abarim, in the desert which is over against Moab, towards the rising of the sun.
12From thence, brake they up,—and encamped in the ravine of Zered.
13From thence, brake they up, and encamped on the other side of Arnon which is in the desert, that cometh forth out of the boundary of the Amorites,—for, Arnon, is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
14For this cause is it said, in the Book of the Wars of Yahweh,— …Waheb with a hurricane, And the ravines of Arnon;
15And the bottom of the ravines, that extendeth toward the dwelling of Ar,—And adjoineth to the boundary of Moab,
16And from thence, towards Beer,—the same, is the well whereof Yahweh said unto Moses, Gather together the people, that I may give them water.
17Then, sang Israel this song,—Spring thou up, O well! Respond ye thereunto;
18A well!—princes digged it, Nobles of the people, delved it, With a sceptre, With their staves. And, from the desert, to Mattanah;
19and from Mattanah, to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel, to Bamoth;
20and, from Bamoth of the valley, which is in the field-country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah,—which overlooketh Jeshimon.
21Then sent Israel messengers, unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying:
22Let me pass through thy land we will not turn aside into field or into vineyard, nor will we drink the water of a well,—by the king’s road, will we go, until we get through thy boundary.
23And Sihon suffered not Israel to pass through his boundary, but Sihon gathered together all his people, and came forth to meet Israel, towards the desert, and entered Jahaz, and fought with Israel.
24And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword,—and took possession of his land, from Arnon unto Jabbok, unto the sons of Ammon, for strong, was the boundary of the sons of Ammon.
25So Israel took all these cities,—and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all her villages;
26for, as for Heshbon, the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, it was, he, having fought with the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, unto Arnon.
27For this cause, say the poets—Enter ye Heshbon,—Built and prepared be the city of Sihon;
28For, a fire, hath come forth out of Heshbon, A flame, out of the stronghold of Sihon; It hath consumed Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of Arnon.
29Woe to thee, Moab, Thou art lost, O people of Chemosh,—He hath given up his sons as fugitives, And his daughters into captivity, Unto the king of the Amorites, Sihon.
30Then we shot them—Heshbon is destroyed, as far as Dibon,—Then laid we waste as far as Nophah, A fire reacheth unto Medeba.
31So then Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.
32And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured the villages thereof,—and dispossessed the Amorites that were there.
33Then turned they, and went up by the way of Bashan,—and Og, king of Bashan, came forth to meet them—he and all his people, to give battle at Edrei.
34Then said Yahweh unto Moses—Do not fear him, for into thy hand, have I delivered him and all his people, and his land,—Therefore shalt thou do unto him, as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who was dwelling in Heshbon.
35So then they smote him and his sons and all his people, until there was not left him a remnant,—and took possession of his land.