Numbers 21 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 21 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• These events occurred at the tail end of the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – God selected Moses to lead the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan.

• King of Arad – He lived in the Negeb and opposed the Israelites entering Canaan.

• Sihon – King of the Amorites.

• Og – King of Bashan.

WHERE:

• The Israelites went from Mount Hor around Edom and Moab and camped at Pisgah, which was near the border of the Amorites and Moabites (21:20; 23:14).

OUTLINE:

• ISRAEL DEFEATS THE KING OF ARAD (21:1-3):

  • The king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.

  • Israel made a vow to the Lord asking for His help.

  • God aided them and they destroyed the cities of the king of Arad.

• THE BRONZE SERPENT (21:4-9):

  • As the Israelites travelled from Mount Hor around the land of Edom, they started complaining to Moses about their food, water, and hardships in the wilderness.

  • God was angry with their ungratefulness and sent poisonous serpents into the camp.

  • The people immediately repented and asked Moses to pray to the Lord for forgiveness.

  • God told Moses to make a “fiery serpent” that the Israelites could look at and be healed.

  • Moses made the serpent out of bronze, put it in the camp, and all the people who were bitten looked at the serpent and were healed.

• THE ISRAELITES CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY TO CANAAN (21:10-20):

  • The Israelites travelled until they arrived on the east side of Moab.

  • From there, they moved to the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.

  • They made several other stops before arriving at Mount Pisgah.

• ISRAEL DEFEATS SIHON AND THE AMORITES (21:21-30):

  • Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, requesting permission to pass through his land.

  • He refused their request and brought an army out to fight the Israelites.

  • Israel defeated Sihon and took possession of all his territory.

• ISRAEL DEFEATS KING OG AND THE PEOPLE OF BASHAN (21:31-35):

  • King Og of Bashan brought his army to fight with the Israelites at Edrei.

  • Israel defeated Og “until he had no survivors left.”

APPLICATION:

• The bronze serpent on the pole was a shadow of Jesus.

• Jesus compared Himself to the serpent in Mark 3.

• Joh 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

• The only way to be saved from the consequences of our rebellion (sin) is to look to Jesus, who was lifted up on a cross.  

• If an Israelite refused to look on the serpent, the poison would run through their body and killed them.

• If we refuse to look to Jesus, the poison of sin will result in our spiritual death.

• How foolish are we if we refuse the grace offered to us?

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: