Nu. 21: War; Bronze Snake

Well, a Canaanite king heard Israel was going to be passing through, so he attacked them and took some prisoners. Israel vowed to completely destroy their cities if God would deliver the Canaanites into their hands, which they did. Israel was not one to be trifled with. The Canaanite people suffered the recourse of the actions by the king. They would have reaped the benefit of Israelite slaves, so to feel bad for them is probably slightly misplaced. Sure, loss of life sucks. But God seemed willing to give Israel complete power over this nation. As though eliminating other nations would prevent further interference with Israel by other neighbors.

Shortly after this, Israel deviated from the straight and narrow, and spoke against God (not to God). They hated the food, the underabundance of water...basically everything. So God sent venomous snakes among them and "many Israelites died." Then they saw that they were dying, continuing in their panicked repentance as usual. So Moses prayed, and God had Moses make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten by a snake could look upon the bronze snake and live. Why did it have to be bronze? Bronze was already used for the wash basin, so the symbolism of cleanliness comes in...purification. But the snake has a less than appealing history this far in my reading, so its sort of an interesting juxtaposition to ponder. The snake was to identify was the problem the people were having, in order to save the people from the problem.

Then Israel moves on...Oboth, Iye Abarim, Zered Valley then to the border between Moab and the Amorites.

In verses 14 and 15, there's a reference to something called "The Book of Wars." I don't really have any idea what this is at this point in my reading. Anyway, here's what it says:

"...Waheb in Suphah and the ravines,
the Arnon and the slopes of the ravines
that lead to the site of Ar
and lie along the border of Moab."

I guess its some other document chronicling what Israel did. And also, it is apparently something said by God. Where is this "Book of Wars" and why haven't I heard of it?

Then they move on to Beer, where...fittingly, God gives Israel something to drink. So happy for this water, Israel makes up a song, and it goes a little something like this...

"Spring up, O well!
Sing about it, about the well that the princes dug,
that the nobles of the people sank—
the nobles with scepters and staffs."

It seems to refer to the Egyptian army drowning. Did a prince dig the Red Sea though? Whatzat mean?

After Beer, its off to Mattanah, to Nahaliel, to Bamoth, to "the valley in Moab where the top of Pisgah looks over the wasteland."

Then Israel demolishes Sihon and Og. They just wanted to pass through, but the king wouldn't let them be, and attacked them. God gave them victory, and they devastated the entire land and the cities of Sihon. So Israel settled there for the time being. Then Og from Bashan comes out and tries to fight them, but God tells Moses not to be afraid, because God has handed them over to him, and has Moses annihilate Og and his army as well, leaving no survivors. Israel took that land as well.

What an amazing thrill it must have been for Moses when God tells him that a leader and an army are handed over to him. Invincible! I wonder if Israel lost any men during this rout. I imagine the Bashanite swords turning to wussy rubber and not being able to do any harm to Israel. I imagine that kind of complete and total victory.