Numbers 20:19

19 And the children of Israel said unto him, "We will go by the highway; and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it. I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet."

Numbers 20:19 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 20:19

And the children of Israel said unto him
The messengers sent by the children of Israel made answer to the king of Edom:

we will go by the highway;
we desire no other favour but that of the public road; we propose not to go through any part of the country that is enclosed and cultivated, to do any damage to it:

if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it;
as it was usual, and still is, to buy water in those countries near the Red sea, where it is scarce. We are told ^F4, that at Suess, a city on the extremity of the Red sea, there is no water nearer than six or seven hours journey towards the north east, which is brought from thence on camels; and a small vessel of it is sold for three or four medinas, and a larger vessel for eight or ten, according to the demand for it; a medina is an Egyptian piece of money, worth about three halfpence of our English money:

I will only (without doing anything else) go through on my feet;
as fast as I can, without saying anything to the inhabitants to terrify and distress them, and without doing them any injury. Some render it, I will only go "with my footmen" ^F5; foot soldiers, an army on foot, as Israel were.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 See a Journal from Cairo to Mount Sinai, p. 10, 11. Ed. 2.
F5 (ylgrb) "cum meo exercitu pedestri"; so some in Fagius & Vatablus.

Numbers 20:19 In-Context

17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells. We will go by the king's highway; we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left until we have passed thy borders.'"

18 And Edom said unto him: "Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword."

19 And the children of Israel said unto him, "We will go by the highway; and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it. I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet."

20 And he said, "Thou shalt not go through." And Edom came out against him with many people and with a strong hand.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border. Therefore Israel turned away from him.