Numbers 20:14-21
English Standard Version
Edom Refuses Passage
14 (A)Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to (B)the king of Edom: “Thus says (C)your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 (D)how our fathers went down to Egypt, (E)and we lived in Egypt a long time. (F)And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And (G)when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and (H)sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 (I)Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, (J)or drink water from a well. We will go along the King's Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” 18 But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.” 19 And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, (K)and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, (L)then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” 20 But he said, (M)“You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. 21 Thus Edom (N)refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel (O)turned away from him.
Read full chapter
Numbers 20:14-21
International Standard Version
The Israelis Approach Edom
14 Later, Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom with this message: “This is what your relative Israel says: ‘You know all the hardships we’ve encountered.[a] 15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt, where we lived for many[b] years. But the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors viciously. 16 Then we cried to the Lord and he heard our voice, sending us a messenger who brought us out of Egypt. Now look! We’ve arrived in Kadesh, a city at the extreme end of your territory. 17 Permit us now to pass through your land. We won’t pass through your fields or vineyards, and we won’t drink water[c] from your wells. We’ll keep to the King’s Highway without turning either right or left until we have passed through your territory.’”
18 But Edom replied, “You are not to pass through my land.[d] If you do, I’ll come out and start a war with you.”
19 Then the Israelis replied, “Permit us to travel on the highway. If we and our cattle drink your water, we’ll pay the price you ask. Only please let us walk through, and nothing more.”[e]
20 But still he replied, “No. You’re not to pass through.” Then Edom went out to meet Moses with a vast army and a lot of military might.[f] 21 That’s how Edom refused Israel passage through their territory. So Israel turned away from there.[g]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 20:14 Lit. hardships that found us
- Numbers 20:15 The Heb. lacks many
- Numbers 20:17 Lit. waters
- Numbers 20:18 Lit. through me
- Numbers 20:19 Lit. through without anything
- Numbers 20:20 Lit. a mighty hand
- Numbers 20:21 Lit. him
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
