Numbers 20:14-21
Modern English Version
Edom Denies Israel Passage
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom,
“Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has found us, 15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians distressed us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.
“And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through the fields or the vineyards, or drink of the water of the wells. We will travel the king’s highway. We will not turn to the right hand nor the left, until we have passed through your territory.”
18 Edom said to him,
“You will not pass through me, lest with the sword I come out against you.”
19 The children of Israel said to him,
“We will travel the highway, and if we and our livestock drink of your water, then we will pay for it. I will only go through on my feet without doing anything else.”
20 He said,
“You will not go through.”
And Edom came out against them with many people and with a strong hand. 21 Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
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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.
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- 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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