Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of
Edom
The history of which may be read in ( Numbers
20:14 )
saying, let me, I pray thee, pass through thy
land;
the land of Edom, from the south to the north of it, according to
Jarchi, which was the nearest and shortest way to the land of
Canaan; so far were the Israelites from invading and seizing upon
the properties of others, that they would not attempt to set
their foot in another's country without leave; which they asked
in an humble manner, promising to do no injury to any, but pay
for whatever they ate and drank in their passage:
but the king of Edom would not hearken
thereto; or grant their request, but refused them passage through
his country:
and in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab, but he
would not
consent;
that they should pass through his country, which lay, as Jarchi
says, at the end of the land of Edom, to the west of it, and to
the south of Canaan; and though we nowhere else read of their
sending messengers to the king of Moab, and of the denial he made
them, it is not at all to be doubted of, and the Jewish
commentators observe, that it is clearly intimated by Moses, (
Deuteronomy 2:29 )
as the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, and the
Moabites which
dwelt in Ar, did unto me;
which they interpret thus, as the children of Esau would not
suffer Israel to pass through their land, when desired of them,
so neither would the Moabites, when the same request was made to
them:
and Israel abode in Kadesh;
quietly and peaceably, and did not attempt to force their way
through either country, but continued in Kadesh some little time
to consider what way they should take, and to wait for divine
direction.