Numbers 20:1-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:18

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. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:19

And the children of Israel said unto him ,.... The messengers sent by the children of Israel made answer to the king of Edom: we will go by the highway ; we desire no other favour but that of the public road; we propose not to go through any part of the country that is enclosed and cultivated, to do any damage to it: if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it ; as it was usual, and still is, to buy water in those countries near the Red sea, where it is scarce. We... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:20

And he said, thou shall not go through ,.... Which is an absolute and peremptory denial: and Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand ; the king raised the militia of his country, and came at the head of a powerful army to hinder their passing into it; being fearful and jealous, lest such a large body as they were should seize on his country, or spoil it, not relying on their promises; and this might arise also from the old grudge of Esau against Jacob, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:21

Notwithstanding their near relation to each other, and the fair promises Israel made: wherefore Israel turned away from him : patiently bearing the refusal, and not resenting it; being ordered, as the Targum of Jonathan expresses it, by the Word of heaven, not to make war with them, because the time was not yet come to take vengeance on Edom by their hands; and to the same purpose the Targum of Jerusalem. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:22

And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh ,.... Not directly, but after they had continued there some time, and had furnished themselves with provisions for their journey, which they bought of the Edomites, see Judges 11:17 , "the whole congregation" is observed to Journey from hence, not one of them being lost by the king of Edom's coming out against them; these went out complete and perfect, safe and sound: and came unto Mount Hor ; which,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:23

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor ,.... When they were at the foot of that mountain, in the valley adjoining to it: by the coast of the land of Edom ; which they were still upon the borders of, and were going round it, not being permitted to go through it: saying ; as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:24

Aaron shall be gathered unto his people ,.... That is, shall die, for this phrase is a periphrasis of death, and is used in common both of good and bad men, and designs death in general, without regard to persons and places men go to at death: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel ; the land of Canaan; and Aaron the priest, and so Moses the lawgiver, not being suffered to enter into that land, show the weakness and imperfection of the law,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:25

Take Aaron and Eleazar his son ,.... His eldest son, who was to succeed him in the priesthood, and did: and bring them up unto Mount Hor ; to the top of it, they being now at the foot of it, where the people of Israel lay encamped. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:26

And strip Aaron of his garments ,.... His priestly garments, as the Targum of Jonathan, and so Jarchi: and put them upon Eleazar his son ; thereby declaring him to be high priest in his father's stead: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there ; the phrase of gathering to his people is here explained of his dying. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:27

And Moses did as the Lord commanded ,.... Though it must be very cutting, distressing, and afflicting to him, to part with a brother so dear to him, and who had been so many years a companion of him, and a partner with him in the care and government of the people of Israel; but it being the Lord's will, he submits unto it, and faithfully and readily obeyed his orders, as he always did: and they went up into Mount Hor , in the sight of all the congregation; that is, Moses, Aaron, and... read more

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