1
And it came to pass that when the king of the Canaanites, which dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies, then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners.
2
And Israel vowed a vow unto YHVHa and said: If thou wilt, indeed, deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.
3
And YHVH did hearken unto the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities.
4
¶ And it came to pass that Israel journeyed from the mountain by the way of the path along the sea, to compass the land of Edom; and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
5
And the people spake against Elohima and against Moses: Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread; neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6
And it came to pass that YHVH was sore in His wrath against them, and sent fiery serpentsa among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died;
7
Therefore, the people came to Moses and said: We have sinned, for we have spoken against YHVH and against thee; pray unto YHVH that he take away the serpents from us!
8
And Moses prayed on behalf of the people.
9
¶ And it came to pass that YHVH said unto Moses: Make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live;
10
But they who shall not look, these shall parish, and this shall be as a sign unto my children, Israel, of the easiness of my ways, should they hear and head my Voicea.
11
And it came to pass that Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten one of Israel, when they beheld the serpent of brass, they lived;
12
But if they would not look, for the simpleness of the task, them they were taken to the gravea.