How our fathers went down into Egypt ,.... Jacob and his twelve sons, with their children: and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time ; even the space of four hundred and thirty years, Exodus 12:40 . and the Egyptians vexed us and our fathers ; used them ill, brought them into bondage, and made their lives bitter, laid heavy tasks and burdens upon them, as well as slew their male children, see Exodus 1:7 . read more
And when we cried unto the Lord ,.... By reason of their bondage, and to be delivered from it, Exodus 2:24 , he heard our voice ; their prayer to him, as the Targum of Jonathan, for help and deliverance, Exodus 2:24 , and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt ; one of the ministering angels, as the same Targum, and so Aben Ezra; though he observes that some interpret it of Moses, as do Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and Ben Melech, which is not likely; since Moses is the... read more
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country ,.... That being the nearest and shortest way to the land of Canaan, from the place where they now were: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards ; to harm them, and injure any man in his private property, by gathering the fruit of them, if the season of the year for it, or by trampling them down: neither will we drink of the water of the wells ; which private persons had dug, for the watering of their fields and... read more
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
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
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
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
We will go by the king's high-way - This is the first time this phrase occurs; it appears to have been a public road made by the king's authority at the expense of the state. read more
Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border - Though every king has a right to refuse passage through his territories to any strangers; yet in a case like this, and in a time also in which emigrations were frequent and universally allowed, it was both cruelty and oppression in Edom to refuse a passage to a comparatively unarmed and inoffensive multitude, who were all their own near kinsmen. It appears however that it was only the Edomites of Kadesh that were thus unfriendly... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 20:14-21
We have here the application made by Israel to the Edomites. The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel now lay encamped was through the country of Edom. Now, I. Moses sends ambassadors to treat with the king of Edom for leave to pass through his country, and gives them instructions what to say, Num. 20:14-17. 1. They are to claim kindred with the Edomites: Thus saith thy brother Israel. Both nations descended from Abraham and Isaac, their common ancestors; Esau and Jacob, the two... read more