Commentary on Numbers 21

Numbers 21 recounts Israel's continued journey through the wilderness, marked by both victory and severe judgment. It opens with a triumph over the Canaanites, but quickly shifts to the people's renewed grumbling against God and Moses, leading to a plague of poisonous snakes. God provides a unique remedy through a bronze serpent, foreshadowing Christ's redemptive work. The chapter concludes with Israel's successful military campaigns against Sihon and Og, securing territory east of the Jordan, demonstrating God's faithfulness despite their failures.

Historical context

Numbers, the fourth book of the Pentateuch, chronicles Israel's forty-year wilderness wanderings from Sinai to the plains of Moab. This period is characterized by God's faithful provision and Israel's repeated rebellion and subsequent judgment. Numbers 21 specifically falls within the final year of this journey, as the generation condemned to die in the wilderness is largely gone, and the new generation approaches the promised land.

The events described here occur as Israel skirts the edges of Edom and Moab, nations with whom they had complex relationships, often involving prohibitions against direct conflict (Num 20:14-21; Deut 2:4-9). The narrative highlights the challenges of desert travel, including lack of water and food, which frequently triggered the Israelites' complaints. The military victories against Arad, Sihon, and Og are crucial, as they mark the beginning of Israel's conquest of Canaanite territory, providing a tangible demonstration of God fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham (Gen 12:7; 15:18-21).

Verse by verse

• 1:

  The king of Arad, a Canaanite, attacks Israel, taking some captives. This unprovoked attack serves as a catalyst for Israel to engage in warfare, marking a shift from their previous attempts to avoid conflict with neighboring peoples like Edom (Num 20:14-21).

• 2:

  Israel makes a vow to the Lord: if He grants them victory, they will utterly destroy the Canaanite cities, dedicating them as cherem (חֵרֶם), a term meaning 'devoted to destruction.' This reflects a holy war concept, where the spoils and inhabitants are consecrated to God through destruction, preventing Israel from being corrupted by pagan practices.

• 4:

  After bypassing Edom, Israel travels around its border, a detour that proves arduous. The journey's difficulty, coupled with the lack of direct access through Edom, leads to renewed impatience and frustration among the people, setting the stage for their next rebellion.

• 5:

  The people complain against God and Moses, expressing contempt for the manna—calling it “worthless food”—and lamenting the lack of water. This echoes previous rebellions (Exod 16:3; Num 11:4-6), demonstrating a persistent spiritual amnesia and ingratitude despite God's consistent provision.

• 6:

  In response to their grumbling, the Lord sends poisonous snakes among the people, and many die. This severe judgment underscores the seriousness of their rebellion and their rejection of God's gracious care. The snakes, often associated with evil and temptation in the Bible (Gen 3:1-15), become instruments of divine justice.

• 7:

  The people confess their sin and plead with Moses to intercede for them. This moment of repentance, though perhaps born of fear, is crucial. Moses, once again, acts as the mediator between God and His rebellious people, a recurring theme in the wilderness narrative.

• 8:

  God instructs Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone bitten by a snake who looks at the bronze serpent will live. This seemingly paradoxical remedy—looking at the symbol of their affliction for healing—points to a deeper spiritual truth.

• 9:

  Moses obeys, and those who look at the bronze serpent are healed. This act of faith, looking to God's prescribed means of salvation, is a powerful type (a foreshadowing) of Christ's crucifixion, as later explained by Jesus Himself in John 3:14-15.

• 16:

  The narrative shifts to Israel's journey to Beer, where God provides water. This brief mention of water provision after the snake incident highlights God's continued faithfulness and care for His people, even after their sin and judgment.

• 21:

  Israel sends messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, requesting passage through his land. This diplomatic approach mirrors their attempt with Edom (Num 20:14), indicating a desire for peaceful transit.

• 23:

  Sihon refuses passage and attacks Israel, leading to a decisive battle. God grants Israel victory, allowing them to conquer Sihon's territory, from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River, establishing their first significant land acquisition east of the Jordan.

• 33:

  Israel then turns north and confronts Og, king of Bashan. Og, a formidable giant (Deut 3:11), also attacks Israel, but God assures Moses of victory. This conquest further expands Israel's territory, demonstrating God's power and commitment to His covenant promises.

Key themes

• Divine judgment and mercy
• Human rebellion and divine provision
• The bronze serpent as a type of Christ
• God's faithfulness to His covenant
• Conquest and territorial expansion

Application

Numbers 21 offers a stark reminder of the human tendency to grumble and doubt God's goodness, even in the face of His consistent provision. We often find ourselves in spiritual deserts, complaining about our circumstances and forgetting the countless ways God has sustained us. The story of the bronze serpent, however, offers profound hope. Just as the Israelites, bitten by deadly snakes, had only to look to the bronze serpent to live, we, too, are invited to look to Christ, who was “lifted up” on the cross (John 3:14-15).

Our spiritual sickness, the venom of sin, is far more deadly than any snakebite. Yet, God has provided the ultimate remedy in Jesus. We are called not to earn our healing, but to simply look in faith to Him, trusting in His finished work. This chapter encourages us to acknowledge our sin, turn from our complaining, and fix our gaze on Christ, the source of our eternal life and healing. It also reminds us that God's purposes will prevail, even through our failures, as He faithfully leads His people toward their promised inheritance.

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