- 1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb,
heard that the Israelites were coming along the way of Atharim,
he engaged them in battle and took some of them captive. -
Israel then made this vow to the LORD: "If you deliver this
people into my hand, I will doom their cities." - 2 Later, when
the LORD heeded Israel's prayer and delivered up the Canaanites,
they doomed them and their cities. Hence that place was named
Hormah. - From Mount Hor they set out on the Red Sea road, to
by-pass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by
the journey, - 3 the people complained against God and Moses,
"Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert,
where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this
wretched food!" - 4 In punishment the LORD sent among the people
saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died.
- Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned in
complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the
serpents from us." So Mose