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Numbers 21 · a question people ask

What is "The Book of the Wars of the LORD"?

In the text

Numbers quotes a few words from it about "the valleys of the Arnon" (21:14-15), and this is the only place the Bible names it. It isn't one of the books of the Bible, and the Bible says nothing more about it. The Bible quotes other books this way too: "Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar?" (Joshua 10:13; also 2 Samuel 1:18).

The verses

“Therefore it is said in The Book of the Wars of the LORD, “Vaheb in Suphah, the valleys of the Arnon, the slope of the valleys that incline toward the dwelling of Ar, leans on the border of Moab.””
Numbers 21:14-15 · World English Bible
“The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day.”
Joshua 10:13 · World English Bible
“(and he commanded them to teach the children of Judah the song of the bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):”
2 Samuel 1:18 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Numbers 21

Numbers 21: Look and live

The people called the food they had "this disgusting food" (21:5). The LORD had Moses set a bronze serpent on a pole, and the bitten who looked at it lived (21:7-9). Hezekiah later broke it because Israel burned incense to it (2 Kings 18:4). And Jesus said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up" (John 3:14).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions