Jueces 11:17

17 enviaron mensajeros al rey de Edom para pedirle que les permitiera pasar por su tierra. Pero su petición fue denegada. Entonces le pidieron lo mismo al rey de Moab, pero él tampoco los dejó pasar por su tierra. Por eso el pueblo de Israel se quedó en Cades.

Jueces 11:17 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 11:17

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.

Jueces 11:17 In-Context

15 «Esto es lo que dice Jefté: Israel no robó ninguna tierra ni a Moab ni a Amón.

16 Cuando los israelitas llegaron a Cades, en su viaje desde Egipto, después de cruzar el mar Rojo,

17 enviaron mensajeros al rey de Edom para pedirle que les permitiera pasar por su tierra. Pero su petición fue denegada. Entonces le pidieron lo mismo al rey de Moab, pero él tampoco los dejó pasar por su tierra. Por eso el pueblo de Israel se quedó en Cades.

18 »Finalmente, se fueron rodeando por el desierto los territorios de Edom y Moab. Viajaron a lo largo de la frontera oriental de Moab y acamparon al otro lado del río Arnón. Pero ni una sola vez cruzaron el río Arnón para entrar en Moab, porque el Arnón era la frontera de Moab.

19 »Después Israel envió mensajeros al rey Sehón, de los amorreos, quien reinaba desde Hesbón, a fin de pedirle permiso para atravesar su territorio y llegar a su destino.