INumeri 21:1-9

UmKhanani, inkosi yase-Aradi, owayakhe eningizimu, wezwa ukuthi u-Israyeli uyeza ngendlela ese-Atharimi. Walwa no-Israyeli, wathumba abanye kubo. U-Israyeli wenza isifungo kuSimakade, wathi: “Uma ubanikela nokubanikela laba bantu esandleni sami, ngiyakuyichitha impela imizi yabo.” USimakade walilalela izwi lika-Israyeli, wanikela kuye amaKhanani, bawaqothula nemizi yawo; igama laleyo ndawo kwathiwa yiHorma. Basuka entabeni iHori ngendlela yoLwandle Lomhlanga ukuba bazungeze izwe lakwa-Edomi; inhliziyo yabantu yadikibala ngenxa yendlela. Abantu bagxibha uNkulunkulu noMose, bathi: “Nisikhuphuleleni eGibhithe ukuba sizofela ehlane na? Akukho sinkwa, namanzi lapha, futhi sesidiniwe yilesi sinkwa esiludlana.” USimakade wathumela izinyoka ezinesihlungu phakathi kwabantu bakwa-Israyeli, zabaluma, kwafa abantu abaningi kwa-Israyeli. Abantu baya kuMose, bathi: “Sonile, ngokuba sikhulume kabi ngawe nangoSimakade; sikhulekele kuSimakade ukuba asuse izinyoka kithi.” UMose wabakhulekela abantu. USimakade wathi kuMose: “Zenzele inyoka enesihlungu, uyiphanyeke ensikeni. Kuyothi lowo olunywe yinyoka, lapho eyibheka, asinde.” UMose wenza inyoka yethusi, wayiphanyeka ensikeni. Kwakuthi lapho umuntu elunywe yinyoka, bese ebheka inyoka yethusi, asinde.