Numbers 20:21

21 Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and 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 "We will go on the main road," the Israelites replied to them, "and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price. There will be no problem; only let us travel through on foot."

20 Yet Edom insisted, "You must not travel through." And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people.

21 Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

22 After they set out from Kadesh, the entire Israelite community came to Mount Hor.

23 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor on the border of the land of Edom,