Keraia
Numbers 20

Numbers 20:17

Edom Refuses Passage · Numbers 20:14–21
Read Numbers 20

Translations

Modern
Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
Traditional
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
Literal
Let us pass, please, through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink the water of a well. We will go along the Highway of the King; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until that we have passed through your territory.”
Latin
…obsecramus ut nobis transire liceat per terram tuam. Non ibimus per agros, nec per vineas; non bibemus aquas de puteis tuis: sed gradiemur via publica, nec ad dexteram nec ad sinistram declinantes, donec transeamus terminos tuos.

Original

Hebrew
English
Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

Notes

Numbers 20:17

  • We will not … drink water from any well: Edom was a very dry land. Food and water were limited, and there was not enough to support such a large group of Hebrew travelers.

  • We will stay on the King’s Highway: This road is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, but its exact path is not fully known (also 21:22). It was an official road used for government business, trade, and the movement of armies.

    Along this road, travelers could find towns, food, and water between the Red Sea and Damascus. The road remained important during Roman times and even later. It was different from another route farther east called the Desert Highway, which was much harder and less welcoming for travelers.

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

Places

King's Highway: An ancient trade route through Edom and Moab

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Deuteronomy, Book of Edom, Edomites Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea King’s Highway Massah and Meribah Meribah Mount Hor Numbers, Book of Rabbah of the Ammonites Travel Wilderness Wanderings

Topics

Grape: Cultivated in Vineyards by the Edomites Highways: Called the King's Highway 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 Roads: Built by Rulers The Edomites: Country of: Traversed by Roads Wells: Strangers not to Draw From, Without Permission