Edom Denies Passage

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel(A) says, ‘You know all the hardships that have overtaken us. 15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, but the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly. 16 When we cried out to the Lord, he heard our plea,[a] and sent an angel,[b](B) and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your territory. 17 Please let us travel through your land. We won’t travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water. We will travel the King’s Highway; we won’t turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.’”(C)

18 But Edom answered him, “You will not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

19 “We will go on the main road,” the Israelites replied to them, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay its price.(D) There will be no problem; only let us travel through on foot.”

20 Yet Edom insisted, “You may not travel through.” And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people.[c] 21 Edom refused to allow Israel to travel through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:16 Lit voice
  2. 20:16 Or a messenger
  3. 20:20 Lit with numerous people and a strong hand

Edom Denies Israel Passage

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh(A) to the king of Edom,(B) saying:

“This is what your brother Israel says: You know(C) about all the hardships(D) that have come on us. 15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt,(E) and we lived there many years.(F) The Egyptians mistreated(G) us and our ancestors, 16 but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard our cry(H) and sent an angel(I) and brought us out of Egypt.(J)

“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.(K) 17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.(L)

18 But Edom(M) answered:

“You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.(N)

19 The Israelites replied:

“We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock(O) drink any of your water, we will pay for it.(P) We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”

20 Again they answered:

“You may not pass through.(Q)

Then Edom(R) came out against them with a large and powerful army. 21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory,(S) Israel turned away from them.(T)

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Command the people: You are about to travel through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so be very careful. Don’t provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a foot of it,[a] because I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his possession.(A) You may purchase food from them, so that you may eat, and buy water from them to drink.(B) For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands.(C) He has watched over your journey through this immense wilderness. The Lord your God has been with you these past forty years, and you have lacked nothing.’(D)

Journey past Moab

“So we bypassed our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road and from Elath and Ezion-geber.(E) We traveled along the road to the Wilderness of Moab. The Lord said to me, ‘Show no hostility toward Moab, and do not provoke them to battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, since I have given Ar as a possession to the descendants of Lot.’”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 2:5 Lit land as far as the width of a sole of a foot

Give the people these orders:(A) ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau,(B) who live in Seir.(C) They will be afraid(D) of you, but be very careful. Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.(E) You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched(F) over your journey through this vast wilderness.(G) These forty years(H) the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.(I)

So we went on past our relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from(J) the Arabah(K) road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber,(L) and traveled along the desert road of Moab.(M)

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar(N) to the descendants of Lot(O) as a possession.”

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