Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to miss how much Israel is trying to appeal to relationship here, reminding the king of Edom that they are "brother Israel." This wasn't just a political request; it was a plea rooted in their shared ancestry, a reminder of the familial bond between Jacob and Esau, hoping to leverage that connection for safe passage.
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Israelites, now gathered at Kadesh on the border of Edom, are seeking to journey toward the Promised Land by the most direct route. Moses sends a diplomatic message to the king of Edom, appealing to their shared ancestry as brothers descended from Esau and Jacob, and reminding him of all the hardships Israel has endured. This plea is the prelude to a request for safe passage through Edomite territory.
Imagine needing something desperately and trying to win someone over. How do you start the conversation?
Moses, facing a critical need for passage through Edom, doesn't just demand. He begins by appealing to a shared heritage.
The 'Brother' Card
When you're asking for help, sometimes the best argument is simply showing how much you've been through.
After establishing their familial link, Moses immediately pivots to the difficult journey Israel had endured.
The Weight of Wanderings
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Understand the original words
tela'ah · Hebrew Noun
A state of suffering, difficulty, or distress; used in scripture to describe trials or burdens that test the endurance and faith of God's people.
The plea to the king of Edom, calling them 'brother Israel,' is a poignant reminder of the deep familial connection between the two nations through Jacob and Esau. This request, however, is made against the backdrop of decades of hardship in the wilderness, a history the Edomites were likely aware of, setting the stage for a pivotal refusal that shaped Israel's path.
~1446 BC
Israel Departs Egypt
After 400 years of slavery and a miraculous Exodus led by Moses, the Israelites leave Egypt with God's mighty hand.
~1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
The Israelites spend 40 years wandering in the desert as a consequence of their disobedience, during which they endure numerous hardships and challenges.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Arrival at Kadesh
The Israelites arrive at Kadesh, a town on the border of Edom, after nearly 40 years in the wilderness. They are now near the Promised Land but need to pass through Edomite territory.
c. 1406 BC
Edom Refuses Passage
The King of Edom, a descendant of Esau (Jacob's twin brother), refuses to grant the Israelites passage through his land, forcing them to detour. This refusal highlights ongoing tension between the two nations.
c. 1406 BC
Journey to Mount Hor
Following Edom's refusal, the Israelites turn away and eventually journey to Mount Hor, where Aaron the priest will die.
This passage highlights the deep-seated animosity and resentment Esau (Edom) held towards Jacob (Israel) due to the stolen blessing, which provides context for Edom's later refusal to grant passage to Israel, despite the plea of kinship.
Judges 11:17This verse shows Israel making a similar request for passage to the king of Edom (and later Moab), demonstrating a pattern of seeking peaceful passage through ancestral lands that was consistently denied.
Jeremiah 49:7-10This prophecy against Edom reflects on their pride and lack of compassion, directly referencing their failure to help their 'brother' Israel during their time of need, thus explaining the divine judgment that would follow.
Deuteronomy 2:4-6This passage records God's direct command to Moses to avoid conflict with Edom and to take a longer route, underscoring that while Israel appealed to kinship, God Himself ordained the course of action, acknowledging Edom's right to their land.
gillNumbers 20:14: "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:"
And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom,.... This country was sometimes governed by kings, and sometimes by "dukes", see Genesis 36:14 . At the time of the passage of the Israelites through the Red sea, we read of the dukes of Edom, Exodus 15:15 , and here, thirty nine years after, of a king of Edom, but who he was i…
calvinNumbers 20:14-22: "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:"
Et clamavimus ad Jehovam, qui exaudivit vocem nostram, et misit angelum qui nos eduxit ex AEgypto. Et ecce, sumus in Cades, urbe in extremitate termini tui.
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…
It's easy to miss how much Israel is trying to appeal to relationship here, reminding the king of Edom that they are "brother Israel." This wasn't just a political request; it was a plea rooted in their shared ancestry, a reminder of the familial bond between Jacob and Esau, hoping to leverage that connection for safe passage.
The Israelites, now gathered at Kadesh on the border of Edom, are seeking to journey toward the Promised Land by the most direct route. Moses sends a diplomatic message to the king of Edom, appealing to their shared ancestry as brothers descended from Esau and Jacob, and reminding him of all the hardships Israel has endured. This plea is the prelude to a request for safe passage through Edomite territory.
The Israelites, now gathered at Kadesh on the border of Edom, are seeking to journey toward the Promised Land by the most direct route. Moses sends a diplomatic message to the king of Edom, appealing to their shared ancestry as brothers descended from Esau and Jacob, and reminding him of all the hardships Israel has endured. This plea is the prelude to a request for safe passage through Edomite territory.
"Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:" — It's easy to miss how much Israel is trying to appeal to relationship here, reminding the king of Edom that they are "brother Israel." This wasn't just a political request; it was a plea rooted in th…
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Last reviewed October 2026