Reading 1, Numbers 21:4-94 They left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. 5 They spoke against God and against Moses, 'Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the desert? 6 At this, God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. 7 The people came and said to Moses, 'We have sinned by speaking against Yahweh and against you. Moses interceded for the people,8 and Yahweh replied, 'Make a fiery serpent and raise it as a standard.