Numbers 21 16

Numbers 21:16 kjv

And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.

Numbers 21:16 nkjv

From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together, and I will give them water."

Numbers 21:16 niv

From there they continued on to Beer, the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together and I will give them water."

Numbers 21:16 esv

And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, "Gather the people together, so that I may give them water."

Numbers 21:16 nlt

From there the Israelites traveled to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to Moses, "Assemble the people, and I will give them water."

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 16 Meaning

This verse details a specific point in the Israelites' journey from the wilderness of Mount Hor to the plains of Moab. They arrived at a place called Beer, which is identified as the well about which the Lord had previously spoken to Moses. The divine instruction was for Moses to gather the people, and then the Lord would provide them with water at this location. It underscores God's continuing faithfulness and provision for His people during their arduous travels.

Numbers 21 16 Context

Numbers chapter 21 chronicles the latter part of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. It follows immediately after their severe judgment due to murmuring, leading to the plague of fiery serpents, and their subsequent healing by looking at the bronze serpent. This segment also details Israel's successful military victories over Arad and Sihon the Amorite as they began to approach the Promised Land. The journey from Mount Hor, where Aaron died (Num 20:22-29), had bypassed Edom (Num 20:21) and was moving through Moabite territory (Num 21:11). The mention of Beer is not merely a geographic note but marks a place of renewed divine provision for the weary nation, contrasting with the prior instances of God providing water after the people's intense complaining and rebellion.

Numbers 21 16 Word analysis

• And from thence (וּמִשָּׁם - ūmishsham): This adverbial phrase signals a continuation of their journey, directly linking this new movement to the preceding station or event. It indicates a progression in their wilderness itinerary, guided by God's pillar of cloud and fire.
• they went (נָסְעוּ - nāśe‘ū): A common verb used throughout the wilderness narrative, indicating the Israelites' regular movements from one encampment to another. It underscores their transient state under divine direction.
• to Beer (בְּאֵרָה - be’ērâ): A place name literally meaning "well" or "spring" in Hebrew. This specific name is significant because it directly describes the function of the location—a source of water crucial for the sustenance of a large population in the arid wilderness.
• that is the well (הִוא הַבְּאֵר - hiw’ habbe’ēr): This phrase provides immediate identification and clarification, confirming "Beer" as specifically a well. The definite article "the" emphasizes that this was not just any well, but a significant, divinely designated one.
• whereof the Lord spake unto Moses (אֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה - ’asher ’āmar Yahweh ’el-Moshe): This crucial part links the place and its purpose directly to God's prior revelation.
  • Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God, highlighting His faithfulness and commitment to His people, even amidst their struggles.
  • spake (אָמַר - ’āmar): Denotes a direct, deliberate utterance or command from God to Moses, indicating divine foresight and planning for their journey.
  • unto Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה - ’el-Moshe): Affirms Moses' unique role as the primary mediator and recipient of God's instructions for the nation.
• Gather the people together (אֱסֹף אֶת־הָעָם - ’ĕsof ’et-hā‘ām): This is a direct divine command to Moses, emphasizing orderly assembly. Unlike earlier incidents where Moses was to strike or speak to a rock, here the command is simply to gather the multitude, suggesting a reliance on God's pre-arranged provision.
• and I will give them water (וְאֶתְּנָה לָהֶם מָיִם - wə’ettenâ lāhem mayim): This is God's explicit promise of provision.
  • I will give (וְאֶתְּנָה - wə’ettenâ): The emphasis is on God as the sovereign Giver, confirming His continued commitment to sustaining His covenant people.
  • water (מָיִם - mayim): The indispensable life source in the desert.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And from thence they went to Beer": This opening phrase emphasizes the Israelites' progression under divine guidance, demonstrating that their journey was not random but directed toward specific, divinely appointed locations crucial for their survival. It marks a moment of positive advancement after previous hardships.
• "that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses": This phrase highlights God's pre-eminence and foreknowledge. It was not a coincidental discovery of a well but the fulfillment of a divine directive. This reinforces Moses' authority and his vital role as the recipient of God's revealed will for the nation. It assures the people that God remains actively involved in their pilgrimage, guiding and sustaining them according to His plan.
• "Gather the people together, and I will give them water": This divine command and promise encapsulates God's steadfast care. The command to "gather" suggests an orderly process and reliance on existing resources, unlike previous instances of purely miraculous water provision from barren rocks. This particular instruction hints at the unique nature of this provision, possibly involving human effort to draw water from an existing well as suggested by the subsequent "Song of the Well." God's direct promise, "I will give them water," ultimately affirms His unwavering commitment as the ultimate Provider for their every need, spiritual and physical.

Numbers 21 16 Bonus section

This incident at Beer precedes the unique passage of the "Song of the Well" (Num 21:17-18), where the princes of Israel are depicted as digging for water with their staves. This detail suggests that while God promised the water, He led them to a place where they would still participate in drawing it forth. This implies a partnership in God's provision—God designated the place, and Israel performed the necessary action to access the water. This stands in contrast to earlier, more direct "out of rock" miracles and hints at the maturation of the people on their journey, where divine direction often requires human cooperation or action. This "Song of the Well" is one of only two poetic excerpts from the "Book of the Wars of the Lord" mentioned in Numbers 21:14.

Numbers 21 16 Commentary

Numbers 21:16 is a quiet yet significant testimony to God's continuous and diverse methods of provision for His people in the wilderness. After a series of dramatic events, including God's judgment by fiery serpents and the preceding disputes over water at Meribah, this verse presents a calmer picture of divine care. The Israelites journeyed to "Beer," literally "the Well," indicating a pre-existent or known water source. The core significance lies in the fact that this specific location was already designated by the Lord Himself, communicated directly to Moses. Unlike the instances of water gushing miraculously from a barren rock, here the provision seems tied to a natural well, suggesting that God can also work through existing natural means which He ordains and blesses. The simple command to Moses, "Gather the people together, and I will give them water," reinforces God's faithful presence, His authority, and His steadfast commitment to sustaining His covenant community. This episode demonstrates that God's grace and provision are unwavering, whether manifested through extraordinary miracles or through His sovereign guidance to pre-ordained natural resources, all according to His perfect timing and plan.