4. The Israelites left Mount Hor and went on the road toward the Gulf of Aqaba. They did this to go around the country of Edom. But the people became impatient on the way.
5. They grumbled at God and Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? We will die in this desert! There is no bread! There is no water! And we hate this terrible food!”
6. So the Lord sent them poisonous snakes. They bit the people, and many of the Israelites died.
7. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we grumbled at you and the Lord. Pray that the Lord will take away these snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze snake. And put it on a pole. If anyone is bitten, he should look at it. Then he will live.”
9. So Moses made a bronze snake. And he put it on a pole. Then when a snake bit anyone, he looked at the bronze snake and lived.
10. The Israelites went and camped at Oboth.
11. They went from Oboth to Iye Abarim. This was in the desert east of Moab.
12. From there they went and camped in the Zered Valley.
13. From there they went and camped across the Arnon. This was in the desert just inside the Amorite country. The Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites.
14. That is why the Book of the Wars of the Lord says:“. . . and Waheb in Suphah, and the ravines,the Arnon,
15. and the slopes of the ravinesthat lead to the settlement of Ar.These places are at the border of Moab.”
16. The Israelites went from there to Beer. A well is there where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people. I will give them water.”