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
Common English Bible
The Israelites confront Edom
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “This is what your brother Israel says: ‘You know all the adversity that has happened to us. 15 How our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived in Egypt for a long time. The Egyptians oppressed us as they had our ancestors, 16 and we cried out to the Lord. He heard our voice, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt. Now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. 17 Please let us cross through your land. We won’t pass through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will walk on the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have crossed your border.’”
18 Edom said to him, “You won’t cross through, or I will come out against you with a sword.”
19 The Israelites said to him, “We’ll go up by the road. If we drink from your water, either we or our livestock, we’ll pay for it. It’s a small matter. We would only ask to cross on foot.”
20 But he said, “You won’t cross.” Then Edom came out against them with a powerful army and a strong hand. 21 Edom refused to allow Israel to cross his border. And Israel turned away from him.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible