Numbers 20:14-21
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Edom Denies Passage
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel(A) says, ‘You know all the hardships that have overtaken us. 15 Our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, but the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly. 16 When we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice, sent an angel,[a](B) and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your territory. 17 Please let us travel through your land. We won’t travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water. We will travel the King’s Highway; we won’t turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.’”(C)
18 But Edom answered him, “You must not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”
19 “We will go on the main road,” the Israelites replied to them, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price.(D) There will be no problem; only let us travel through on foot.”
20 Yet Edom insisted, “You must not travel through.” And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people.[b] 21 Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 20:16 Or a messenger
- Numbers 20:20 Lit with numerous people and a strong hand
Numbers 20:14-21
Lexham English Bible
14 From Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: “Thus your brother Israel has said, ‘You know all the hardship that has found us; 15 our ancestors[a] went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time,[b] and the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors.[c] 16 Then we cried to Yahweh, and he heard our voice; he sent an angel and brought us out from Egypt. And look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us go through your land. We will not go through a field or vineyard, and we will not drink water from a well. We will go along the road of the king; we will not turn aside right or left until we have gone through your territory.’”
18 Then Edom said to him, “You will not pass through us[d] lest we will go out[e] to meet you with the sword.” 19 The Israelites[f] said to him, “We will go up on the main road, and if we[g] and our livestock[h] drink your water, we will pay for it.[i] It is only a small matter; let us pass through on our feet.”[j] 20 But he said, “You will not go through.” And Edom went out to meet them[k] with a large army and a strong hand. 21 So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, and Israel turned aside from him.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 20:15 Or “fathers”
- Numbers 20:15 Literally “many days”
- Numbers 20:15 Or “fathers”
- Numbers 20:18 Hebrew “me”
- Numbers 20:18 Hebrew “I will go out”
- Numbers 20:19 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Numbers 20:19 Hebrew “I”
- Numbers 20:19 Hebrew “my livestock”
- Numbers 20:19 Hebrew “I will give their worth”
- Numbers 20:19 Hebrew “I will go through on my feet”
- Numbers 20:20 Hebrew “him”
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