Numbers 20:12-24 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 20:1-13

After thirty-eight years? tedious marches, or rather tedious rests, in the wilderness, backward towards the Red Sea, the armies of Israel now at length set their faces towards Canaan again, and had come not far off from the place where they were when, by the righteous sentence of divine Justice, they were made to begin their wanderings. Hitherto they had been led about as in a maze or labyrinth, while execution was doing upon the rebels that were sentenced; but they were now brought into the... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 20:22-29

The chapter began with the funeral of Miriam, and it ends with the funeral of her brother Aaron. When death comes into a family, it often strikes double. Israel had not improved the former affliction they were under, by the death of the prophetess, and therefore, soon after, God took away their priest, to try if they would lay that to heart. This happened at the very next stage, when they removed to Mount Hor, fetching a compass round the Edomites? country, leaving it on their left hand.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:12

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron ,.... Out of the cloud, where his glory appeared, and still continued: because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel ; that Moses and Aaron committed an evil which was displeasing to the Lord is certain, but what that was is variously represented. Some say their sin was, that the order was to speak to the rock, whereas it was smitten, and not spoken to; but why then was Moses bid to take the rod with him, if it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:13

This is the water of Meribah ,.... Or "strife": this is the name by which the water had in this place, and from this rock, was called; and which is the same name given to the place at Horeb, where a rock had been smitten, and water had flowed, as now, the first year they came out of Egypt; and to distinguish this from that, this is sometimes called Meribah-Kadesh, Deuteronomy 32:51 , this being at Kadesh, as that was at Rephidim: because the children of Israel strove with the Lord :... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:14

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom ,.... This country was sometimes governed by kings, and sometimes by "dukes", see Genesis 36:14 . At the time of the passage of the Israelites through the Red sea, we read of the dukes of Edom, Exodus 15:15 , and here, thirty nine years after, of a king of Edom, but who he was is not certain. Bishop Usher takes him to be the same with Hadar, the last of the race of kings mentioned in Genesis 36:39 , to him Moses sent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:15

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:16

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:17

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

John Gill

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 20:1-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 20:14-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 20:22-29

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:17

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

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