Numbers 20:14–21 — Edom’s king refuses the Israelis’ passage

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Num 20:14–21

20:14 Edom’s king refuses the Israelis’ passage

14 Then from there in Kadesh, Mosheh (Moses) sent messengers to Edom’s king to ask him, “This message is from your Israeli relatives. You are already aware of all the hardship that we’ve been through—15 how our ancestors went down to Mitsrayim (Egypt) and lived there for many years, but then the Mitsrim (Egyptians) mistreated them. 16 However, when we cried out to Yahweh and he heard us and sent a messenger and brought us out of Mitsrayim, and now we’re in Kadesh town at the southern border of your territory. 17 Now please let us pass through your country. We won’t go through the countryside or the vineyards, and we won’t drink water from any well. We’ll stay on the king’s highway without turning to the right or the left, until after we’ve exited at your northern border.

18 But Edom’s king replied, “You can’t pass through my country. If you do try to enter, I’ll send my swordsmen out against you.”

19 The Israelis reiterated, “We’ll stay on the highway, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, then we’ll pay what it’s worth so that’s no big deal. Just let us walk through.”

20 Again the king responded, “You may not pass through.”

Then Edom sent a large, heavily-armed contingent to intimidate them, 21 and because they’d been refused passage through their territory, the Israelis turned around and went via a longer, less direct route.

Show matching OET Literal Version passage

Read the Literal Version in context

14 And_ Mosheh _he _sent messengers from_Qādēsh to the _king _of ʼEdōm thus your(ms)_brother/kindred Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _says you you _know DOM all _of the_hardship which it_has _come _upon _us.

15 And_ ancestors _of_our _they _went _down to_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_we _dwelt in_Miʦrayim days many and_they _did _harm to/for_us Miʦrayim and_to_ancestors _of_our.

16 And_we _cried _out to YHWH and_he/it _listened voice _of_our and_he _sent an _messenger and_he_brought _us _out from_Miʦrayim and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE we are_in_Qādēsh (the)_city _of the _outskirt[s]_of your _territory _of_your.

17 Let _us _pass please in_land _of_your not we _will _pass in_a _field and_in_a _vineyard and_not we _will _drink water _of a _well the _way _of the_king we _will _go not we _will _turn _aside right _hand and_left _hand until that we _will _pass _through territory _of_your.

18 And_he/it _said to_him/it ʼEdōm not you _will _pass in_me lest with_sword I _should _come _out to_meet_you.

19 And_they _said to_him/it the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel)[fn] on_highway we _will _go _up and_if waters _of_your I and_livestock _of_my we _will _drink and_I _will _give price _of_their only there_is_not a _thing on_feet _of_my let _me _pass _through.

20 And_he/it _said not you _will _pass _through and_ ʼEdōm _he/it _went _out to_meet_him with_a _people massive and_with_a _hand strong.

21 And_it _refused ʼEdōm to _permit DOM Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to _pass in_territory _of_its and_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _it _turned _aside from_on_it.

20:19 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

OET-RV by cross-referenced section NUM 20:14

Edom’s king refuses the Israelis’ passage

Num 20:14–21