Numbers 20:14-21

14 From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to ¹the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, 'You ²know all the hardship that has befallen us;

15 that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.

16 'But ³when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent ⁴an angel and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.

17 'Please ⁵let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king's highway, not turning to the right or left, until * we pass through your territory.' "

18 ⁶Edom, however, said to him, "You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you."

19 Again, the sons of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway, and if I and ⁷my livestock do drink any of your water, ⁸then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing * else."

20 But he said, "⁹You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against him with a heavy force and with a strong hand.

21 ¹⁰Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; ¹¹so Israel turned away from him.

Numbers 20:14-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 20

In this chapter is an account of the children of Israel coming to the wilderness of Zin, where Miriam died, and where wanting water they murmured, Nu 20:1-5, upon which Moses and Aaron applied to the Lord, who ordered Moses to speak to a rock, which should give forth water, and which being smitten by him, accordingly did, Nu 20:6-11, but Moses and Aaron, in their conduct of this affair, displeased the Lord, Nu 20:12,13, after this, Moses sent to the king of Edom to desire a passage through his country, which request was refused, Nu 20:14-21, upon Israel's coming to Mount Hor, Aaron, by order, went up to the mount, and, when stripped of his clothes, which were put on his son Eleazar, he died, lamented by all the people, Nu 20:22-29.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 36:31-39; Deuteronomy 2:4
• 2. Joshua 2:9, 10; Joshua 9:9, 10, 24
• 3. Exodus 2:23; Exodus 3:7
• 4. Exodus 14:19
• 5. Numbers 21:22
• 6. Numbers 24:18
• 7. Exodus 12:38
• 8. Deuteronomy 2:6, 28
• 9. Judges 11:17
• 10. Judges 11:17
• 11. Deuteronomy 2:8

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "me"
• [b]. Lit "give"
• [c]. Or "no great thing"
• [d]. Lit "people"