Numbers 21:18 (DRB)

Passage

The well, which the princes dug, and the chiefs of the people prepared by the direction of the lawgiver, and with their staves. And they marched from the wilderness to Mathana.

Nearby Context

Numbers 21:16 When they went from that place, the well appeared whereof the Lord said to Moses: Gather the people together, and I will give them water.

Numbers 21:17 Then Israel sung this song: Let the well spring up. They sung thereto:

Numbers 21:18 The well, which the princes dug, and the chiefs of the people prepared by the direction of the lawgiver, and with their staves. And they marched from the wilderness to Mathana.

Numbers 21:19 From Mathana unto Nahaliel: from Nahaliel unto Bamoth.

Numbers 21:20 From Bamoth, is a valley in the country of Moab, to the top of Phasga, which looked towards the desert.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "well", "princes", "chiefs", "people", "prepared", "direction", "lawgiver", and "staves". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "well" and "princes", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Then Israel sung this song Let the..." into verse 19's "From Mathana unto Nahaliel from Nahaliel unto...", so "well" and "princes" belong inside that flow. In Numbers context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "well" and "princes" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.