Numbers 20:14

Translations

Modern

From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

Traditional

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:

Literal

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has found us,

Latin

Misit interea nuntios Moyses de Cades ad regem Edom, qui dicerent: Hæc mandat frater tuus Israël: Nosti omnem laborem qui apprehendit nos,

Original

Hebrew

English

From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

Notes

Numbers 20:14–21

Israel tried to make peace with Edom, but they did not succeed. The two nations had not had contact since the time when Esau (also called Edom) and Jacob (also called Israel) buried their father Isaac(Genesis 35:29; 36:6–8; see also Genesis 32:28).

Moses sent a formal message to the king of Edom. His request followed the style of official letters used in that time. While Israel often fought with the Canaanites and other groups, they spoke politely to Edom because the two peoples were related (see also Deuteronomy 2:4; 23:7).

Even so, family ties were not strong enough to remove the old tension between Jacob and Esau (Genesis 27:41).

Numbers 20:14–21:35

The Israelites started their journey to the promised land here. They moved from Kadesh, leaving the Sinai peninsula. They entered the area east of the Jordan River, known as Transjordan. They approached the promised land from the east, taking a less direct route (see 14:25; compare Deuteronomy 2:2–6).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses

Related verses

Judges 11:16–17
But when Israel came up out of Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
Deuteronomy 23:7
Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
Genesis 36:31–39
These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:
Joshua 9:9
“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,
Malachi 1:2
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved,
Genesis 32:3–4
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
Deuteronomy 2:4–25
…and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
Obadiah 1:10–12
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever.
Exodus 18:8
Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Edom: Descendants of Esau; enemy nation southeast of Israel Kadesh: An important oasis in the Wilderness of Zin

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Deuteronomy, Book of Edom, Edomites Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea Massah and Meribah Meribah Mount Hor Numbers, Book of Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Ambassadors: Sent by Moses to Edom Edomites: Kings of Israel: are Refused Passage Through the Country of: Edom Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin: The King of Edom Refuses a Passage The Edomites were Called: Brethren of Israel The Edomites: Afterwards had Kings

Numbers 20:14

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Related verses?