Arad Destroyed
1When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy21:2 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verse 3. their cities.” 3The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.21:3 Hormah means destruction.
The Bronze Snake
4They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,21:4 Or the Sea of Reeds to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
The Journey to Moab
10The Israelites moved on and camped at Oboth. 11Then they set out from Oboth and camped in Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that faces Moab toward the sunrise. 12From there they moved on and camped in the Zered Valley. 13They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14That is why the Book of the Wars of the Lord says:
“…Zahab21:14 Septuagint; Hebrew Waheb in Suphah and the ravines,
the Arnon 15and21:14,15 Or “I have been given from Suphah and the ravines / of the Arnon 15 to the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the settlement of Ar
and lie along the border of Moab.”
16From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.”
17Then Israel sang this song:
“Spring up, O well!
Sing about it,
18about the well that the princes dug,
that the nobles of the people sank—
the nobles with scepters and staffs.”
Then they went from the wilderness to Mattanah, 19from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 20and from Bamoth to the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah overlooks the wasteland.
Defeat of Sihon and Og
21Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
22“Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”
23But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel. 24Israel, however, put him to the sword and took over his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, but only as far as the Ammonites, because their border was fortified. 25Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its surrounding settlements. 26Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken from him all his land as far as the Arnon.
27That is why the poets say:
“Come to Heshbon and let it be rebuilt;
let Sihon’s city be restored.
28“Fire went out from Heshbon,
a blaze from the city of Sihon.
It consumed Ar of Moab,
the citizens of Arnon’s heights.
29Woe to you, Moab!
You are destroyed, people of Chemosh!
He has given up his sons as fugitives
and his daughters as captives
to Sihon king of the Amorites.
30“But we have overthrown them;
Heshbon’s dominion has been destroyed all the way to Dibon.
We have demolished them as far as Nophah,
which extends to Medeba.”
31So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.
32After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.
34The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”
35So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.
Nchi Ya Aradi Yaangamizwa
121:1 Hes 33:40; Yos 12:14; Mwa 12:9; Hes 13:17; Kum 1:7; Amu 1:9Mfalme wa Kikanaani wa Aradi aliyeishi huko Negebu aliposikia kwamba Waisraeli walikuwa wanakuja kwa njia ya Atharimu, aliwashambulia Waisraeli na kuwateka baadhi yao. 221:2 Law 7:16; Kut 22:20; Kum 2:34; Yos 2:10; 8:26; Yer 25:9; 50:21Ndipo Israeli akaweka nadhiri hii kwa Bwana: “Ikiwa utawatia watu hawa mikononi mwetu, tutaiangamiza kabisa miji yao.” 321:3 Mwa 10:18; Hes 14:45Bwana akasikiliza ombi la Waisraeli, naye akawapa ushindi juu ya Wakanaani. Wakawaangamiza kabisa na miji yao; hivyo mahali pale pakaitwa Horma.21:3 Horma maana yake Maangamizi.
Nyoka Wa Shaba
421:4 Hes 20:22; 14:25; Kum 2:1; 11:4; Hes 20:21; Kum 2:8; Amu 11:18Waisraeli wakasafiri kutoka mlima Hori kupitia njia inayoelekea Bahari ya Shamu,21:4 Yaani Bahari Nyekundu au Bahari ya Mafunjo (ona 14:25). kuizunguka Edomu. Lakini watu wakakosa uvumilivu njiani, 521:5 Za 78:19; Kut 14:11; Hes 11:20; 14:2, 3; 20:3; 11:5wakamnungʼunikia Mungu na Mose, wakisema, “Kwa nini umetupandisha kutoka Misri ili tufe jangwani? Hakuna mkate! Hakuna maji! Nasi tunachukia sana chakula hiki duni!”
621:6 Kum 8:15; 32:33; Ay 20:14; Za 58:4; 140:3; Yer 8:17; 1Kor 10:9Ndipo Bwana akapeleka nyoka wenye sumu katikati yao; wakawauma watu, nao Waisraeli wengi wakafa. 721:7 Za 78:34; Hos 5:15; Hes 14:40; Kut 8:8; 1Sam 7:8; Yer 27:18; 37:3; Mdo 8:24; Hes 11:2Watu wakamjia Mose na kusema, “Tumetenda dhambi wakati tuliponena dhidi ya Bwana na dhidi yako. Mwombe Bwana ili atuondolee hawa nyoka.” Hivyo Mose akawaombea hao watu.
821:8 Yn 3:14Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Tengeneza nyoka wa shaba na umweke juu ya mti; yeyote aliyeumwa na nyoka anaweza kumtazama na akaishi tena.” 921:9 2Fal 18:4; Yn 3:14-15Kwa hiyo Mose akatengeneza nyoka wa shaba na kumweka juu ya mti. Kisha wakati mtu yeyote aliumwa na nyoka, naye akamtazama yule nyoka wa shaba, aliishi.
Safari Kwenda Moabu
1021:10 Hes 33:43Waisraeli waliendelea na safari yao na wakapiga kambi huko Obothi. 1121:11 Mwa 36:35; Hes 33:44; Kum 34:8; Yer 40:11Kisha wakaondoka Obothi na kupiga kambi huko Iye-Abarimu, katika jangwa linalotazamana na Moabu kuelekea mawio ya jua. 1221:12 Kum 2:13, 14Kutoka hapo waliendelea mbele wakapiga kambi kwenye Bonde la Zeredi. 1321:13 Hes 22:36; Kum 2:24; Yos 12:1; Amu 11:13, 18; 2Fal 10:33; Isa 16:2; Yer 48:20; Mwa 10:16Wakasafiri kutoka hapo na kupiga kambi kando ya Mto Arnoni, ambao uko katika jangwa lililoenea hadi nchi ya Waamori. Arnoni ni mpaka wa Moabu, kati ya Moabu na Waamori. 1421:14 1Sam 17:47; 18:17; 25:28Ndiyo sababu Kitabu cha Vita vya Bwana kinasema:
“…Mji wa Wahebu nchini Seifa na mabonde
ya Arnoni, 1521:15 Kum 2:9, 18; Isa 15:1na miteremko ya mabonde
inayofika hadi mji wa Ari
na huelekea mpakani mwa Moabu.”
1621:16 Hes 25:1; 33:49; Amu 9:21; Isa 15:8Kutoka hapo waliendelea mbele hadi kisima cha Beeri; kwenye kisima ambacho Bwana alimwambia Mose, “Wakusanye watu pamoja, nami nitawapa maji.”
1721:17 Kut 15:1Kisha Israeli akaimba wimbo huu:
“Bubujika, ee kisima!
Imba kuhusu maji,
18kuhusu kisima ambacho kilichimbwa na wakuu,
ambacho watu mashuhuri walikifukua,
watu mashuhuri wakiwa na fimbo za utawala na bakora.”
Kisha wakatoka jangwani kwenda Matana, 19kutoka Matana wakafika Nahalieli, kutoka Nahalieli wakafika Bamothi, 2021:20 Hes 23:14; Kum 3:17; 34:1; Yos 12:3; 13:20na kutoka Bamothi wakafika kwenye bonde lililoko Moabu, mahali ambapo kilele cha Pisga kinatazamana na nyika.
Kushindwa Kwa Sihoni Na Ogu
(Kumbukumbu 2:26–3:11)
2121:21 Mwa 32:3; Hes 32:33; Kum 1:4; Yos 2:10; 12:2; 13:10; Amu 11:19-21; 1Fal 4:19; Neh 9:22; Za 135:11; 136:19; Yer 48:4; 48:45; Kut 23:23Israeli akawatuma wajumbe kumwambia Sihoni mfalme wa Waamori:
2221:22 Hes 20:17“Uturuhusu tupite katika nchi yako. Hatutageuka kando kwenda katika mashamba au mashamba ya mizabibu, ama kunywa maji kutoka kisima chochote. Tutasafiri kwenye njia kuu ya mfalme hata tutakapokuwa tumekwisha kupita katika nchi yako.”
2321:23 Hes 20:21; Kum 2:32; Yos 13:18; 21:36; Amu 11:20; Isa 15:4; Yer 48:21, 34; Hes 20:18Lakini Sihoni hakumruhusu Israeli apite katika nchi yake. Alilikutanisha jeshi lake lote, wakaondoka kwenda jangwani ili kupigana na Israeli. Alipofika huko Yahazi, akapigana na Israeli. 2421:24 Kum 2; 33; 3:3; 29:7; Za 135:10-11; Amo 2:9; Kum 3:4; Mwa 32:22; Hes 32:33; Amu 11:13, 22; Mwa 19:38; Kum 2:37; Yos 13:10Hata hivyo, Israeli alimshinda kwa upanga na kuiteka ardhi yake kutoka Arnoni mpaka Yaboki, lakini ni hadi kufikia nchi ya Waamoni tu, kwa sababu mipaka yake ilikuwa imezungushwa ukuta. 2521:25 Hes 13:29; Amu 10:11; 11:26; Amo 2:10; Hes 32:3; Kum 1:4; 29:7; Yos 9:10; 12:2; Isa 15:4; 16:8; Yer 48:2Israeli akaiteka miji yote ya Waamori na kuikalia, pamoja na Heshboni na makazi yote yanayoizunguka. 2621:26 Kum 29:7; Za 135:11; Hes 13:29Heshboni ulikuwa mji wa Sihoni mfalme wa Waamori, ambaye alikuwa amepigana dhidi ya mfalme wa Moabu aliyetangulia na akawa amechukua ardhi yake yote mpaka Arnoni.
27Ndiyo sababu watunga mashairi husema:
“Njoo Heshboni na ujengwe tena;
mji wa Sihoni na ufanywe upya.
2821:28 Yer 48:45; Hes 11:1; 22:41; Kum 12:2; Yos 13:17; Isa 15:2; Yer 1:5“Moto uliwaka kutoka Heshboni,
mwali wa moto kutoka mji wa Sihoni.
Uliteketeza Ari ya Moabu,
raiya wa mahali pa Arnoni palipoinuka.
2921:29 Hes 24:17; 2Sam 8:2; 1Nya 18:2; Za 60:8; Isa 25:10; Yer 48:46; Amu 10:6; 11:24; Rum 1:15; 1Fal 11:7; 2Fal 23:13; Yer 48:7; Isa 15:5; 16:2Ole wako, ee Moabu!
Umeharibiwa, enyi watu wa Kemoshi!
Amewatoa wanawe kuwa wakimbizi,
na binti zake kama mateka
kwa Mfalme Sihoni wa Waamori.
3021:30 Hes 32:3; Yos 13:19; Neh 11:25; Isa 15:2; Yer 48:18; Yos 13:16; 1Nya 19:7“Lakini tumewashinda;
Heshboni umeharibiwa hadi Diboni.
Tumebomoa hadi kufikia Nofa,
ulioenea hadi Medeba.”
3121:31 Hes 13:29Kwa hiyo Israeli akaishi katika nchi ya Waamori.
3221:32 Yos 2:1; 6:22; 7:2; Amu 18:2; 2Sam 10:3; 1Nya 19:3; Hes 32:1; Yos 13:25; 2Sam 24:5; 1Nya 6:8; Isa 16:8; Yer 48; 32Baada ya Mose kutuma wapelelezi kwenda mji wa Yazeri, Waisraeli waliteka viunga vya mji huo na kuwafukuza Waamori waliokuwa wanaishi huko. 3321:33 Hes 32:33; Kum 3:3; 31:11; Yos 2:10; 12:4; 13:30; 1Fal 4:19; Neh 9:22; Za 135:11; 136:20; Kum 3:4; 32:14; Yos 9:10; 1Fal 4:13; Kum 1:4; 3:1; Yos 12:4; 13:12; 19:37Kisha wakageuka na kwenda katika njia inayoelekea Bashani, naye Ogu mfalme wa Bashani pamoja na jeshi lake lote wakatoka kupigana nao huko Edrei.
3421:34 Kum 3:2Bwana akamwambia Mose, “Usimwogope Ogu, kwa sababu nimeshamkabidhi mikononi mwako, pamoja na jeshi lake lote na nchi yake. Mtendee kama ulivyomtendea Sihoni mfalme wa Waamori, ambaye alitawala huko Heshboni.”
3521:35 Hes 21:35; Yos 9:10; 22:1; Hes 22:11; 13:29; Yos 2:7; Hes 31:12; 33:48; Kum 32:49; Yos 2:1Kwa hiyo wakamuua, pamoja na wanawe na jeshi lake lote, bila ya kumwacha hata mtu mmoja hai. Nao wakaimiliki nchi yake.
