Bible Reading
April 15
The World English Bible
Apr.
15
Numbers
21, 22
Num
21:1 The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the South, heard
tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against
Israel, and took some of them captive.
Num
21:2 Israel vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, If you will indeed
deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their
cities.
Num
21:3 Yahweh listened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the
Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the
name of the place was called Hormah.
Num
21:4 They traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to
compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much
discouraged because of the way.
Num
21:5 The people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no
bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread.
Num
21:6 Yahweh sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the
people; and much people of Israel died.
Num
21:7 The people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we
have spoken against Yahweh, and against you; pray to Yahweh, that he
take away the serpents from us. Moses prayed for the people.
Num
21:8 Yahweh said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a
standard: and it shall happen, that everyone who is bitten, when he
sees it, shall live.
Num
21:9 Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it on the standard: and
it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to
the serpent of brass, he lived.
Num
21:10 The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in Oboth.
Num
21:11 They traveled from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the
wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrise.
Num
21:12 From there they traveled, and encamped in the valley of Zered.
Num
21:13 From there they traveled, and encamped on the other side of
the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that comes out of the border
of the Amorites: for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab
and the Amorites.
Num
21:14 Therefore it is said in the book of the Wars of Yahweh, "Vaheb
in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon,
Num
21:15 the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of
Ar, leans on the border of Moab."
Num
21:16 From there they traveled to Beer: that is the well of which
Yahweh said to Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give
them water.
Num
21:17 Then sang Israel this song: "Spring up, well; sing to it:
Num
21:18 the well, which the princes dug, which the nobles of the
people dug, with the scepter, and with their poles." From the
wilderness they traveled
to Mattanah;
Num
21:19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth;
Num
21:20 and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to
the top of Pisgah, which looks down on the desert.
Num
21:21 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
Num
21:22 Let me pass through your land: we will not turn aside into
field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells:
we will go by the king's highway, until we have passed your border.
Num
21:23 Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border: but
Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel
into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel.
Num
21:24 Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and possessed
his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon;
for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.
Num
21:25 Israel took all these cities: and Israel lived in all the
cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its towns.
Num
21:26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites,
who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his
land out of his hand, even to the Arnon.
Num
21:27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say, "Come to
Heshbon. Let the city of Sihon be built and established;
Num
21:28 for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of
Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of
the Arnon.
Num
21:29 Woe to you, Moab! You are undone, people of Chemosh! He has
given his sons as fugitives, and his daughters into captivity, to
Sihon king of the Amorites.
Num
21:30 We have shot at them. Heshbon has perished even to Dibon. We
have laid waste even to Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba."
Num
21:31 Thus Israel lived in the land of the Amorites.
Num
21:32 Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its towns, and
drove out the Amorites who were there.
Num
21:33 They turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king
of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at
Edrei.
Num
21:34 Yahweh said to Moses, Don't fear him: for I have delivered him
into your hand, and all his people, and his land; and you shall do to
him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.
Num
21:35 So they struck him, and his sons and all his people, until
there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.
Num
22:1 The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of
Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Num
22:2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the
Amorites.
Num
22:3 Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and
Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
Num
22:4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick
up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.
Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
Num
22:5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which
is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call
him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold,
they cover the surface of the earth, and they abide over against me.
Num
22:6 Please come now therefore curse me this people; for they are
too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may strike
them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he
whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.
Num
22:7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the
rewards of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and
spoke to him the words of Balak.
Num
22:8 He said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you
word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab
abode with Balaam.
Num
22:9 God came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?
Num
22:10 Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has
sent to me, saying,
Num
22:11 Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covers the
surface of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall
be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.
Num
22:12 God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not
curse the people; for they are blessed.
Num
22:13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of
Balak, Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to permit me to go with
you.
Num
22:14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said,
Balaam refuses to come with us.
Num
22:15 Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than
they.
Num
22:16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus says Balak the son
of Zippor, Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me:
Num
22:17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you
say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for
me.
Num
22:18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me
his house full of silver and gold, I can't go beyond the word of
Yahweh my God, to do less or more.
Num
22:19 Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may
know what Yahweh will speak to me more.
Num
22:20 God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, If the men have
come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I
speak to you, that you shall do.
Num
22:21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and
went with the princes of Moab.
Num
22:22 God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of
Yahweh placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he
was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
Num
22:23 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the way, with
his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned aside out of the
way, and went into the field: and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn
her into the way.
Num
22:24 Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow path between the
vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
Num
22:25 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she thrust herself to
the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he struck
her again.
Num
22:26 The angel of Yahweh went further, and stood in a narrow place,
where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the
left.
Num
22:27 The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under
Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with
his staff.
Num
22:28 Yahweh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam,
What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?
Num
22:29 Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have mocked me, I would
there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed you.
Num
22:30 The donkey said to Balaam, Am I not your donkey, on which you
have ridden all your life long to this day? was I ever wont to do so
to you? and he said, No.
Num
22:31 Then Yahweh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of
Yahweh standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he
bowed his head, and fell on his face.
Num
22:32 The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why have you struck your
donkey these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary,
because your way is perverse before me:
Num
22:33 and the donkey saw me, and turned aside before me these three
times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even
slain you, and saved her alive.
Num
22:34 Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, I have sinned; for I
didn't know that you stood in the way against me: now therefore, if
it displease you, I will get me back again.
Num
22:35 The angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, Go with the men; but only
the word that I shall speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balaam
went with the princes of Balak.
Num
22:36 When Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him
to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in
the utmost part of the border.
Num
22:37 Balak said to Balaam, Didn't I earnestly send to you to call
you? why didn't you come to me? am I not able indeed to promote you
to honor?
Num
22:38 Balaam said to Balak, Behold, I have come to you: have I now
any power at all to speak anything? the word that God puts in my
mouth, that shall I speak.
Num
22:39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath Huzoth.
Num
22:40 Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to
the princes who were with him.
Num
22:41 It happened in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and
brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from there
the utmost part of the people.
