Revised Literal Translation

Numbers 21

1And whenkingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428Aradעֲרָד֙'a.RadH6166the Canaaniteהַכְּנַעֲנִ֤יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669,which dweltיֹשֵׁ֣בyo.ShevH3427in the southהַנֶּ֔גֶבha.Ne.gevH5045,heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עvai.yish.Ma'H8085tell that Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478cameבָּ֣אba'H935by the wayדֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the spiesהָאֲתָרִ֑יםha.'a.ta.RimH871;then he foughtוַיִּלָּ֙חֶם֙vai.yi.La.chemH3898against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,and tookוַיִּ֥שְׁבְּ׀vai.YishbH7617someof them prisonersשֶֽׁבִי׃She.viH7628.

2And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֥לYis.ra.'ElH3478vowedוַיִּדַּ֨רvai.yi.DarH5087a vowנֶ֛דֶרNe.derH5088unto Yhwhלַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.wehH3068,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,If thou wilt indeedנָתֹ֨ןna.TonH5414deliverתִּתֵּ֜ןti.TenH5414this peopleהָעָ֤םha.'AmH5971into my handבְּיָדִ֔יbe.ya.DiH3027,then I will utterly destroyוְהַֽחֲרַמְתִּ֖יve.ha.cha.ram.TiH2763their citiesעָרֵיהֶֽם׃'a.rei.HemH5892.

3And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068hearkenedוַיִּשְׁמַ֨עvai.yish.Ma'H8085to the voiceבְּק֣וֹלbe.KolH6963of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and delivered upוַיִּתֵּן֙vai.yi.TenH5414the Canaanitesהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669;and they utterly destroyedוַיַּחֲרֵ֥םvai.ya.cha.RemH2763them and their citiesעָרֵיהֶ֑ם'a.rei.HemH5892:and he calledוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121the nameשֵׁם־shem-H8034of the placeהַמָּק֖וֹםha.ma.KomH4725Hormahחָרְמָֽה׃ פcha.re.MahH2767.

4And they journeyedוַיִּסְע֞וּvai.yis.'UH5265from mountהָהָר֙ha.HarH2022Horמֵהֹ֤רme.HorH2023by the wayדֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the Redס֔וּףSufH5488seaיַם־yam-H3220,to compassלִסְבֹ֖בlis.VoH5437the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of Edomאֱד֑וֹם'e.DomH123:and the soulנֶֽפֶשׁ־ne.fesh-H5315of the peopleהָעָ֖םha.'AmH5971was much discouragedוַתִּקְצַ֥רva.tik.TzarH7114because of the wayבַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃ba.Da.rekhH1870.

5And the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696against Godבֵּֽאלֹהִים֮be.lo.HimH430,and against Mosesוּבְמֹשֶׁה֒u.ve.mo.ShehH4872,Wherefore have ye brought us upהֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙he.'e.li.Tu.nuH5927out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֔יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714to dieלָמ֖וּתla.MutH4191in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֑רba.mid.BarH4057? for there isno breadלֶ֙חֶם֙le.chemH3899, neither is there anywaterמַ֔יִםMa.yimH4325;and our soulוְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּve.naf.She.nuH5315loathethקָ֔צָהKa.tzahH6973this lightהַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃ha.ke.lo.KelH7052breadבַּלֶּ֖חֶםba.Le.chemH3899.

6And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068sentוַיְשַׁלַּ֨חvay.sha.LachH7971fieryהַשְּׂרָפִ֔יםha.se.ra.FimH8314serpentsהַנְּחָשִׁ֣יםha.ne.cha.ShimH5175among the peopleבָּעָ֗םba.'AmH5971,and they bitוַֽיְנַשְּׁכ֖וּvay.na.she.KhuH5391the peopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971;and muchרָ֖בravH7227peopleעַם־'am-H5971of Israelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478diedוַיָּ֥מָתvai.Ya.motH4191.

7Therefore the peopleהָעָ֨םha.'AmH5971cameוַיָּבֹא֩vai.ya.Vo'H935to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872,and saidוַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,We have sinnedחָטָ֗אנוּcha.Ta.nuH2398,for we have spokenדִבַּ֤רְנוּdi.Bar.nuH1696against Yhwhבַֽיהוָה֙ba.Yah.wehH3068,and against thee; prayהִתְפַּלֵּל֙hit.pa.LelH6419unto Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,that he take awayוְיָסֵ֥רve.ya.SerH5493the serpentsהַנָּחָ֑שׁha.na.ChashH5175from us. And Mosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872prayedוַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥לvai.yit.pa.LelH6419for the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

8And Yhwhיְהוָ֜הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁ֗הmo.ShehH4872,Makeעֲשֵׂ֤ה'a.SehH6213thee a fiery serpentשָׂרָ֔ףsa.RafH8314,and setוְשִׂ֥יםve.SimH7760it upon a poleנֵ֑סNesH5251:and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bittenהַנָּשׁ֔וּךְha.na.ShukhH5391,when he lookethוְרָאָ֥הve.ra.'AhH7200upon it, shall liveH2425.

9And Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872madeוַיַּ֤עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213a serpentנְחַ֣שׁne.ChashH5175of brassנְחֹ֔שֶׁתne.Cho.shetH5178,and putוַיְשִׂמֵ֖הוּvay.si.Me.huH7760it upon a poleהַנֵּ֑סha.NesH5251,and it came to pass, that if a serpentהַנָּחָשׁ֙ha.na.ChashH5175had bittenנָשַׁ֤ךְna.ShakhH5391any manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376,when he beheldוְהִבִּ֛יטve.hi.BitH5027the serpentנְחַ֥שׁne.ChashH5175of brassהַנְּחֹ֖שֶׁתha.ne.Cho.shetH5178,he livedH2425.

10And the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478set forwardוַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'UH5265,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583in Obothבְּאֹבֹֽת׃be.'o.VotH88.

11And they journeyedוַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'UH5265from Obothמֵאֹבֹ֑תme.'o.VotH88,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֞וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583at Ije–abarimH5863,in the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּר֙ba.mid.BarH4057which isbeforeפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124,toward the sunrisingמִמִּזְרַ֖ח הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃mi.miz.Rach ha.Sha.meshH8121 H4217.

12From thence they removedנָסָ֑עוּna.Sa.'uH5265,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583in the valleyבְּנַ֥חַלbe.Na.chalH5158of Zaredזָֽרֶד׃Za.redH2218.

13From thence they removedנָסָעוּ֒na.sa.'UH5265,and pitchedוַֽיַּחֲנ֗וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583on the other sideמֵעֵ֤בֶרme.'E.verH5676of Arnonאַרְנוֹן֙'ar.nOnH769, which isin the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רba.mid.BarH4057that cometh outהַיֹּצֵ֖אhai.yo.Tze'H3318of the coastsמִגְּב֣וּלmi.ge.VulH1366of the Amoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִ֑יha.'e.mo.RiH567:for Arnonאַרְנוֹן֙'ar.nOnH769isthe borderגְּב֣וּלge.VulH1366of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124,between Moabמוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvH4124and the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִֽי׃ha.'e.mo.RiH567.

14Wherefore it is saidיֵֽאָמַ֔רye.'a.MarH559in the bookבְּסֵ֖פֶרbe.Se.ferH5612of the warsמִלְחֲמֹ֣תmil.cha.MotH4421of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,What he didוָהֵ֣בva.HevH2052in the Red seaבְּסוּפָ֔הbe.su.FahH5492,and in the brooksהַנְּחָלִ֖יםha.ne.cha.LimH5158of Arnonאַרְנֽוֹן׃'ar.NonH769,

15And at the streamוְאֶ֙שֶׁד֙ve.'E.shedH793of the brooksהַנְּחָלִ֔יםha.ne.cha.LimH5158that goeth downנָטָ֖הna.TahH5186to the dwellingלְשֶׁ֣בֶתle.She.vetH3427of Arעָ֑ר'ArH6144,and liethוְנִשְׁעַ֖ןve.nish.'AnH8172upon the borderלִגְב֥וּלlig.VulH1366of Moabמוֹאָֽב׃mo.'AvH4124.

16And from thence they wentto Beerבְּאֵ֑רָהbe.'E.rahH876: that isthe wellהַבְּאֵ֗רha.be.'ErH875whereof Yhwhיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068spakeאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559unto Mosesלְמֹשֶׁ֔הle.mo.ShehH4872,Gatherאֱסֹף֙'e.SofH622the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971togetherH622,and I will giveוְאֶתְּנָ֥הve.'e.te.NahH5414them waterמָֽיִם׃ סMa.yimH4325.

17Then Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478sangיָשִׁ֣ירya.ShirH7891this songהַשִּׁירָ֖הha.shi.RahH7892,Spring upעֲלִ֥י'a.LiH5927,O wellבְאֵ֖רve.'ErH875;singעֱנוּ־'e.nu-H6030ye unto it:

18The princesשָׂרִ֗יםsa.RimH8269diggedחֲפָר֣וּהָcha.fa.Ru.haH2658the wellבְּאֵ֞רbe.'ErH875,the noblesנְדִיבֵ֣יne.di.VeiH5081of the peopleהָעָ֔םha.'AmH5971diggedכָּר֙וּהָ֙ka.Ru.haH3738it, by the direction ofthe lawgiverבִּמְחֹקֵ֖קbim.cho.KekH2710,with their stavesבְּמִשְׁעֲנֹתָ֑םbe.mish.'a.no.TamH4938.And from the wildernessוּמִמִּדְבָּ֖רu.mi.mid.BarH4057they wentto Mattanahמַתָּנָֽה׃ma.ta.NahH4980:

19And from Mattanahוּמִמַּתָּנָ֖הu.mi.ma.ta.NahH4980to Nahalielנַחֲלִיאֵ֑לna.cha.li.'ElH5160:and from Nahalielוּמִנַּחֲלִיאֵ֖לu.mi.na.cha.li.'ElH5160to Bamothבָּמֽוֹת׃ba.MotH1120:

20And from Bamothוּמִבָּמ֗וֹתu.mi.ba.MotH1120inthe valleyהַגַּיְא֙ha.gaY'H1516, that isin the countryבִּשְׂדֵ֣הbis.DehH7704of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124,to the topרֹ֖אשׁroshH7218of Pisgahהַפִּסְגָּ֑הha.pis.GahH6449,which lookethוְנִשְׁקָ֖פָהve.nish.Ka.fahH8259towardפְּנֵ֥יpe.NeiH6440Jeshimonהַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃ פhay.shi.MonH3452.

21And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971messengersמַלְאָכִ֔יםmal.'a.KhimH4397unto Sihonסִיחֹ֥ןsi.ChonH5511kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֖יha.'e.mo.RiH567,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

22Let me passאֶעְבְּרָ֣ה'e'.be.RahH5674through thy landבְאַרְצֶ֗ךָve.'ar.Tze.khaH776:we will not turnנִטֶּה֙ni.TehH5186into the fieldsבְּשָׂדֶ֣הbe.sa.DehH7704,or into the vineyardsוּבְכֶ֔רֶםu.ve.Khe.remH3754;we will not drinkנִשְׁתֶּ֖הnish.TehH8354ofthe watersמֵ֣יmeiH4325of the wellבְאֵ֑רve.'ErH875: butwe will go alongH3212by the king’sהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha.Me.lekhH4428highwayבְּדֶ֤רֶךְbe.De.rekhH1870,until we be pastנַעֲבֹ֖רna.'a.VorH5674thy bordersגְּבֻלֶֽךָ׃ge.vu.Le.khaH1366.

23And Sihonסִיחֹ֣ןsi.ChonH5511would not sufferנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֮Yis.ra.'ElH3478to passעֲבֹ֣ר'a.VorH5674through his borderבִּגְבֻלוֹ֒big.vu.LoH1366:but Sihonסִיחֹ֜ןsi.ChonH5511gatheredוַיֶּאֱסֹ֨ףvai.ye.'e.SofH622all his peopleעַמּ֗וֹa.MoH5971togetherH622,and went outוַיֵּצֵ֞אvai.ye.Tze'H3318againstH7125Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478into the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֔רָהha.mid.Ba.rahH4057:and he cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Jahazיָ֑הְצָהYa.he.tzahH3096,and foughtוַיִּלָּ֖חֶםvai.yi.La.chemH3898against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃be.Yis.ra.'ElH3478.

24And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478smoteוַיַּכֵּ֥הוּvai.ya.Ke.huH5221him with the edgeלְפִי־le.fi-H6310of the swordחָ֑רֶבCha.revH2719,and possessedוַיִּירַ֨שׁvai.yi.RashH3423his landאַרְצ֜וֹ'ar.TzoH776from Arnonמֵֽאַרְנֹ֗ןme.'ar.NonH769unto Jabbokיַבֹּק֙ya.BokH2999,even unto the childrenבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Ammonעַמּ֔וֹןa.MonH5983:for the borderגְּב֖וּלge.VulH1366of the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Ammonעַמּֽוֹן׃a.MonH5983wasstrongעַ֔ז'AzH5794.

25And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478tookוַיִּקַּח֙vai.yi.KachH3947all these citiesהֶעָרִ֖יםhe.'a.RimH5892:and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478dweltוַיֵּ֤שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in all the citiesעָרֵ֣י'a.ReiH5892of the Amoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִ֔יha.'e.mo.RiH567,in Heshbonבְּחֶשְׁבּ֖וֹןbe.chesh.BonH2809,and in all the villagesבְּנֹתֶֽיהָ׃be.no.Tei.haH1323thereof.

26For Heshbonחֶשְׁבּ֔וֹןchesh.BonH2809wasthe cityעִ֗יר'IrH5892of Sihonסִיחֹ֛ןsi.ChonH5511the kingמֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֖יha.'e.mo.RiH567,who had foughtנִלְחַ֗םnil.ChamH3898against the formerהָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹןha.ri.ShonH7223kingבְּמֶ֤לֶךְbe.Me.lekhH4428of Moabמוֹאָב֙mo.'AvH4124,and takenוַיִּקַּ֧חvai.yi.KachH3947all his landאַרְצ֛וֹ'ar.TzoH776out of his handמִיָּד֖וֹmi.ya.DoH3027,even unto Arnonאַרְנֹֽן׃'ar.NonH769.

27Wherefore they that speak in proverbsהַמֹּשְׁלִ֖יםha.mo.she.LimH4911sayיֹאמְר֥וּyo.me.RuH559,Comeבֹּ֣אוּBo.'uH935into Heshbonחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹןchesh.BonH2809,let the cityעִ֥יר'irH5892of Sihonסִיחֽוֹן׃si.ChonH5511be builtתִּבָּנֶ֥הti.ba.NehH1129and preparedוְתִכּוֹנֵ֖ןve.ti.ko.NenH3559:

28For there is a fireאֵשׁ֙'eshH784gone outיָֽצְאָ֣הya.tze.'AhH3318of Heshbonמֵֽחֶשְׁבּ֔וֹןme.chesh.BonH2809,a flameלֶהָבָ֖הle.ha.VahH3852from the cityמִקִּרְיַ֣תmi.kir.YatH7151of Sihonסִיחֹ֑ןsi.ChonH5511:it hath consumedאָֽכְלָה֙'a.khe.LahH398Arעָ֣ר'arH6144of Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124, andthe lords of the high placesH1181of Arnonאַרְנֹֽן׃'ar.NonH769.

29Woeאוֹי־'o-H188to thee, Moabמוֹאָ֔בmo.'AvH4124!thou art undoneאָבַ֖דְתָּ'a.Vad.taH6,O peopleעַם־'am-H5971of Chemoshכְּמ֑וֹשׁke.Mo.oshH3645:he hath givenנָתַ֨ןna.TanH5414his sonsבָּנָ֤יוba.NavH1121that escapedפְּלֵיטִם֙pe.lei.TimH6412,and his daughtersוּבְנֹתָ֣יוu.ve.no.TavH1323,into captivityבַּשְּׁבִ֔יתba.she.VitH7622unto Sihonסִיחֽוֹן׃si.ChonH5511kingלְמֶ֥לֶךְle.Me.lekhH4428of the Amoritesאֱמֹרִ֖י'e.mo.RiH567.

30We have shotוַנִּירָ֛םva.ni.RamH3384at them; Heshbonחֶשְׁבּ֖וֹןchesh.BonH2809is perishedאָבַ֥ד'a.VadH6even unto Dibonדִּיב֑וֹןdi.VonH1769,and we have laid them wasteוַנַּשִּׁ֣יםva.na.ShimH8074even unto Nophahנֹ֔פַחNo.fachH5302, which reachethunto Medebaמֵֽידְבָֽא׃Mei.de.Va'H4311.

31Thus Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478dweltוַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙vai.Ye.shevH3427in the landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִֽי׃ha.'e.mo.RiH567.

32And Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חvai.yish.LachH7971to spy outלְרַגֵּ֣לle.ra.GelH7270Jaazerיַעְזֵ֔רya'.ZerH3270,and they tookוַֽיִּלְכְּד֖וּvai.yil.ke.DuH3920the villagesבְּנֹתֶ֑יהָbe.no.Tei.haH1323thereof, and drove outוַיּ֖וֹרֶשׁvai.yi.reshH3423the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֥יha.'e.mo.RiH567that were there.

33And they turnedוַיִּפְנוּ֙vai.yif.NuH6437and went upוַֽיַּעֲל֔וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927by the wayדֶּ֖רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of Bashanהַבָּשָׁ֑ןha.ba.ShanH1316:and Ogעוֹג֩'OgH5747the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Bashanהַבָּשָׁ֨ןha.ba.ShanH1316went outוַיֵּצֵ֣אvai.ye.Tze'H3318againstH7125them, he, and all his peopleעַמּ֛וֹa.MoH5971,to the battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֖הla.mil.cha.MahH4421at Edreiאֶדְרֶֽעִי׃'ed.Re.'iH154.

34And Yhwhיְהוָ֤הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Mosesמֹשֶׁה֙mo.ShehH4872,Fearתִּירָ֣אti.Ra'H3372him not: for I have deliveredנָתַ֧תִּיna.Ta.tiH5414him into thy handבְיָדְךָ֞ve.ya.de.KhaH3027,and all his peopleעַמּ֖וֹa.MoH5971,and his landאַרְצ֑וֹ'ar.TzoH776;and thou shalt doוְעָשִׂ֣יתָve.'a.Si.taH6213to him as thou didstעָשִׂ֗יתָ'a.Si.taH6213unto Sihonלְסִיחֹן֙le.si.ChonH5511kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of the Amoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִ֔יha.'e.mo.RiH567,which dweltיוֹשֵׁ֖בyo.ShevH3427at Heshbonבְּחֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃be.chesh.BonH2809.

35So they smoteוַיַּכּ֨וּvai.ya.KuH5221him, and his sonsבָּנָיו֙ba.NavH1121,and all his peopleעַמּ֔וֹa.MoH5971,until there was noneבִּלְתִּ֥יbil.TiH1115leftהִשְׁאִֽיר־hish.'ir-H7604him aliveשָׂרִ֑ידsa.RidH8300:and they possessedוַיִּֽירְשׁ֖וּvai.yi.re.ShuH3423his landאַרְצֽוֹ׃'ar.TzoH776.

Commentaries on Numbers 21