1. When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them.
2. Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: ‘If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.’
3. The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.
4. They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go round Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
5. they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!’
6. Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
7. The people came to Moses and said, ‘We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.