Numbers 20:18
But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "~1446 BC", "title": "Israel Exits Egypt", "description": "After 400 years of slavery, the Israelites are miraculously led out of Egypt by God through Moses, beginning their journey to the Promised Land.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1406 BC", "title": "Israel Arrives at Kadesh", "description": "The Israelites reach the borders of the Promised Land at Kadesh Barnea, but after spying out the land and rebelling, they are condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1405 BC", "title": "Moses Requests Passage Through Edom", "description": "Nearing the end of their 40-year wilderness journey, Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom (descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother) requesting peaceful passage through their territory.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "c. 1405 BC", "title": "Edom Refuses Passage", "description": "The king of Edom vehemently denies Moses' request, threatening military action with his army if the Israelites attempt to pass through his land.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1405 BC", "title": "Israel Diverts Course", "description": "Following Edom's hostile refusal, Israel is forced to turn away and takes a different, longer route, eventually reaching Mount Hor.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "Late 8th Century BC", "title": "Prophecy Against Edom", "description": "The prophet Obadiah delivers a prophecy of judgment against Edom for its brutal actions against Israel during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, highlighting their historical hostility.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Edom's refusal to grant passage wasn't just a political decision; it was a deeply rooted rejection rooted in historical animosity stemming from the sibling rivalry of Esau and Jacob, a conflict that God himself had ordained would shape their futures." }
The Israelites, having just celebrated the memorial of their redemption at Passover and mourned Aaron's death, are at Kadesh, on the border of Edom. Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom, requesting peaceful passage through their land, emphasizing their shared ancestry and God's guidance through their difficult journey from Egypt. Edom's king flatly refuses, threatening military force if they attempt to cross.
Imagine asking your own family for a simple favor, only to be met with a threat. That’s precisely what happened when Israel, desperate for a safe passage, turned to their relatives, the Edomites.
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Moses, leading the Israelites, sent messengers to the king of Edom, appealing to their shared ancestry. He presented their request with a spirit of peace, promising to stick to the main roads and not disturb their land or resources.
A Plea for Peace
Israel emphasized their difficult journey and appealed to any sense of kinship, stating, 'Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the hardship that has befallen us.' They asked only to pass through Edom's territory, promising no damage and offering to pay for any water consumed.
Edom's Harsh Reply
Despite the peaceful overtures and the deep historical connection (both nations descended from Isaac, brothers Jacob and Esau), Edom responded with immediate hostility. The verse tells us clearly: 'But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”' This was not just a refusal; it was a military threat, born out of fear or perhaps long-held animosity.
Why would a brother nation greet a desperate plea with a drawn sword? Edom's reaction reveals a deep-seated fear and suspicion that overshadowed their familial bonds.
The Edomites’ response was driven by a potent mix of fear and perhaps a historical grudge against their Israelite cousins.
Policy of Protection
Commentators suggest Edom’s refusal was an act of 'policy,' a measure to protect themselves from such a large and potentially disruptive host. They feared that allowing Israel passage, even with promises of peace, could lead to invasion or plundering of their lands. Their focus was on their own security and the preservation of their territory.
Deep-Seated Animosity
Beyond immediate policy, there was likely a historical animosity stemming from the conflict between Jacob and Esau. Genesis 27:41 notes that Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing. This ancient resentment may have resurfaced, fueling their distrust and making them unwilling to extend any help or even simple passage to their kin.
This situation highlights how fear and historical grievances can twist relationships, causing people to act defensively and hostilely, even towards those with whom they share deep connections.
Understand the original words
Edom · Hebrew Proper Noun
The descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob; they represent a brother-nation to Israel that maintained a stance of hostility and refusal toward God’s people during their wilderness journey.
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A tool of war, often symbolizing judgment, conflict, and the exertion of human or divine power in the face of perceived threats or iniquity.
~1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites, after centuries of slavery, are dramatically freed from Egypt under Moses' leadership. This event marks the beginning of their 40-year journey through the wilderness.
c. 1406 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
Due to their disobedience, the Israelites wander in the Sinai desert for 40 years. This period, which included a generation's lifespan, ends with their approach to the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Israel's Request to Edom
At Kadesh, Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom, requesting peaceful passage through their land on the direct route to Canaan, highlighting their shared ancestry.
c. 1406 BC
Edom's Hostile Refusal
The king of Edom flatly refuses passage, threatening military action with his army if the Israelites attempt to cross, forcing Israel to take a longer, more circuitous route.
c. 1406 BC
Journey Around Edom
Israel is forced to turn away from Edom and begins a long journey around the Edomite territory, eventually reaching Mount Hor.
c. 1406 BC
Death of Aaron
At Mount Hor, on the border of Edom, Aaron the high priest dies, signifying a transition of leadership and a somber moment in the wilderness journey.
Similar to Edom's refusal, Jephthah also pleads for passage through the king of Edom's land, highlighting a recurring theme of nations denying Israel safe passage despite their shared ancestry.
Deuteronomy 2:4-8This passage directly recounts God's command to Moses to not provoke Edom, even though Edom refused them passage, showing God's sovereign plan even in the face of rejection.
Obadiah 1:10-14This prophecy explicitly condemns Edom's actions against their 'brother Israel,' detailing their hostile refusal and predicting judgment for their lack of compassion.
Psalm 106:32-33This psalm reflects on Israel's journey, noting how they provoked God at Meribah when their request for passage through Edom was denied, illustrating the spiritual implications of such encounters.
gillNumbers 20:18: "And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword."
And Edom said unto him,.... The king of Edom replied to Israel, represented by the messengers sent in their name: thou shall not pass by me; through my country: lest I come out against thee with the sword; or with those that use the sword, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; that is, with an army of soldiers with their drawn swords in their hands, to slay them as enemies.
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…
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "~1446 BC", "title": "Israel Exits Egypt", "description": "After 400 years of slavery, the Israelites are miraculously led out of Egypt by God through Moses, beginning their journey to the Promised Land.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1406 BC", "title": "Israel Arrives at Kadesh", "description": "The Israelites reach the borders of the Promised Land at Kadesh Barnea, but after spying out the land and rebelling, they are condemned to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1405 BC", "title": "Moses Requests Passage Through Edom", "description": "Nearing the end of their 40-year wilderness journey, Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom (descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother) requesting peaceful passage through their territory.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "c. 1405 BC", "title": "Edom Refuses Passage", "description": "The king of Edom vehemently denies Moses' request, threatening military action with his army if the Israelites attempt to pass through his land.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 1405 BC", "title": "Israel Diverts Course", "description": "Following Edom's hostile refusal, Israel is forced to turn away and takes a different, longer route, eventually reaching Mount Hor.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "Late 8th Century BC", "title": "Prophecy Against Edom", "description": "The prophet Obadiah delivers a prophecy of judgment against Edom for its brutal actions against Israel during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, highlighting their historical hostility.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Edom's refusal to grant passage wasn't just a political decision; it was a deeply rooted rejection rooted in historical animosity stemming from the sibling rivalry of Esau and Jacob, a conflict that God himself had ordained would shape their futures." }
The Israelites, having just celebrated the memorial of their redemption at Passover and mourned Aaron's death, are at Kadesh, on the border of Edom. Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom, requesting peaceful passage through their land, emphasizing their shared ancestry and God's guidance through their difficult journey from Egypt. Edom's king flatly refuses, threatening military force if they attempt to cross.
The Israelites, having just celebrated the memorial of their redemption at Passover and mourned Aaron's death, are at Kadesh, on the border of Edom. Moses sends messengers to the king of Edom, requesting peaceful passage through their land, emphasizing their shared ancestry and God's guidance through their difficult journey from Egypt. Edom's king flatly refuses, threatening military force if they attempt to cross.
"But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”" — { "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "~1446 BC", "title": "Israel Exits Egypt", "description": "After 400 years of slavery, the Israelites are miraculous…
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