Numbers 20:21

21 Edom refused to let Israel go through their territory. So Israel turned away from them.

Numbers 20:21 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his country,
&c.] Notwithstanding their near relation to each other, and the fair promises Israel made:

wherefore Israel turned away from him:
patiently bearing the refusal, and not resenting it; being ordered, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, by the Word of heaven, not to make war with them, because the time was not yet come to take vengeance on Edom by their hands; and to the same purpose the Targum of Jerusalem.

Numbers 20:21 In-Context

19 The people of Israel replied, "We'll go along the main road. We and our livestock won't drink any of your water. If we do, we'll pay for it. We only want to walk through your country. That's all we ask."

20 Again the people of Edom answered, "You can't pass through here." Then the people of Edom came out against them. They came with a large and powerful army.

21 Edom refused to let Israel go through their territory. So Israel turned away from them.

22 The whole community of Israel started out from Kadesh. They arrived at Mount Hor.

23 It was near the border of Edom. There the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said,