1. And when king Arad the Canaanite, who was living toward the south, had heard this, namely, that Israel had arrived by the way of spies, he fought against them. And proving to be the victor, he led away prey from them.
2. But Israel, obliging himself by a vow to the Lord, said: "If you deliver this people into my hand, I will wipe away their cities."
3. And the Lord heard the prayers of Israel, and he delivered the Canaanite, who they put to death, overthrowing his cities. And they called the name of that place Hormah, that is, Anathema.
4. Then they set out from mount Hor, by the way that leads to the Red Sea, to circle around the land of Edom. And the people began to tire of their journey and hardships.
5. And speaking against God and Moses, they said: "Why did you lead us away from Egypt, so as to die in the wilderness? Bread is lacking; there are no waters. Our soul is now nauseous over this very light food."
6. For this reason, the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, which wounded or killed many of them.
7. And so they went to Moses, and they said: "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray, so that he may take away these serpents from us." And Moses prayed for the people.
8. And the Lord said to him: "Make a bronze serpent, and place it as a sign. Whoever, having been struck, gazes upon it, shall live."
9. Therefore, Moses made a bronze serpent, and he placed it as a sign. When those who had been struck gazed upon it, they were healed.
10. And the sons of Israel, setting out, made camp at Oboth.
11. Having departed from there, they pitched their tents at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness, which looks out toward Moab, opposite the eastern region.
12. And moving from there, they arrived at the Torrent of Zared.
13. Having left that place behind, they then made camp opposite Arnon, which is in the desert, and which juts out at the borders of the Amorite. For certainly Arnon is at the limit of Moab, dividing the Moabites and the Amorites.
14. About this place, it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord: "As he did at the Red Sea, so will he do at the Torrents of Arnon."
15. The stones of the torrents were bent, so that they might rest in Ar and lie back within the borders of the Moabites.
16. Beyond that place appeared a well, about which the Lord said to Moses: "Gather the people together, and I will give them water."
17. Then Israel sang this verse: "Let the well rise up." They sang: