Edom Refuses Passage
Numbers 20:14-21
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation
Num.20.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- משה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מלאכים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מקדש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אדום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- ידעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- התלאה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מצאתנו: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 20:17 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the same episode: Moses' formal request to the king of Edom to allow Israel to pass, using similar language about passing through his land and not molesting anything.
- Deuteronomy 2:4-5 (thematic): Retells and frames the Edom episode later: Israelites described as passing through 'the coast of your brethren the children of Esau,' and the record that Edom refused them passage — echoes the fraternal language ('brethren') and diplomatic approach.
- Numbers 21:21-22 (structural): Parallel diplomatic formula: Israel sends messengers to a neighboring king (Sihon) asking to pass through his land. Similar pattern of envoy, request for peaceful passage, and hostile refusal leading to conflict.
- Obadiah 1:10 (thematic): Prophetic indictment of Edom for violence against 'thy brother Jacob.' Provides a thematic background for Edom–Israel relations: fraternal language and hostility that underlies episodes like Moses' appeal to the Edomite king.
Alternative generated candidates
- Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying, 'Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has come upon us.'
- And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: Thus says your brother Israel, 'You know all the hardship that has found us.'
Num.20.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וירדו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אבתינו: NOUN,m,pl,suff:1pl
- מצרימה: NOUN,prop,pl,m,abs
- ונשב: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,pl
- במצרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ימים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- וירעו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- לנו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
- מצרים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ולאבתינו: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1,pl
Parallels
- Gen.46:3-4 (thematic): Jacob and his household ‘went down to Egypt’ at God’s direction; parallels the motif and language of the patriarchs’ descent into Egypt.
- Deut.26:5 (quotation): The liturgical confession recalls ‘my father went down to Egypt and lived there as an alien,’ closely echoing the wording and tradition of ancestors sojourning in Egypt.
- Exod.1:8-14 (thematic): A new Egyptian king oppresses Israel and imposes harsh bondage—direct parallel to Numbers’ statement that ‘the Egyptians ill‑treated us and our fathers.’
- Ps.105:23-25 (verbal): The psalm recounts Israel’s entry into Egypt, their multiplication and Egyptian hostility (‘he turned their hearts to hate his people’), echoing the narrative of affliction in Egypt.
- Acts 7:6-7 (allusion): Stephen’s speech retells Israel’s descent into and oppression in Egypt (including the promise of affliction and later deliverance), alluding to the same ancestral experience described in Numbers 20:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Our fathers went down to Egypt and sojourned there many days, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.'
- Our fathers went down to Egypt and sojourned there many days; the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and with our fathers.
Num.20.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונצעק: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,pl
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- קלנו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1,pl
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מלאך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצאנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+1,pl
- ממצרים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והנה: ADV
- אנחנו: PRON,1,pl
- בקדש: PREP
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- קצה: NOUN,m,sg,cs
- גבולך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 23:20 (verbal): God: "Behold, I send an angel before thee... to bring thee into the place" — a close verbal/theological parallel about God sending an angel to lead and bring Israel out/into the land.
- Exodus 14:19–20 (verbal): Narrative of the angel of God going before/behind Israel at the Red Sea — parallels the role of an angel in Israel's deliverance from Egypt mentioned in Num 20:16.
- Psalm 34:6–7 (thematic): "This poor man cried... and the LORD heard him... The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him" — combines the themes of crying to God, God hearing, and angelic protection/delivery found in Num 20:16.
- Deuteronomy 2:4–5 (structural): Retells the itinerary and diplomatic request to pass through neighboring territory (including Kadesh/Seir) and the refusal of the peoples — a structural parallel to the context and location referenced in Num 20:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'We cried to the LORD, and the LORD heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and now we are in Kadesh, the town at the edge of your border.'
- So we cried to the LORD, and he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and now we are at Kadesh, the edge of your border.
Num.20.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נעברה: VERB,qal,impf,1,common,pl
- נא: PART
- בארצך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2ms,pref:PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- נעבר: VERB,qal,impf,1,common,pl
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובכרם: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- נשתה: VERB,qal,impf,1,common,pl
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- באר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- דרך: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- נלך: VERB,qal,impf,1,common,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- נטה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ימין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ושמאול: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נעבר: VERB,qal,impf,1,common,pl
- גבולך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
Parallels
- Numbers 20:14-16 (quotation): Immediate context: the same speech to the king of Edom asking permission to pass along the king's road, not turning off into fields or drinking water — essentially the same wording and request.
- Numbers 21:21-23 (thematic): A parallel incident: Israel requests passage through the Amorite king Sihon's land. The motif of seeking peaceful transit through foreign territory and being refused (leading to conflict) mirrors the Edom episode.
- Deuteronomy 2:1-6 (thematic): God's later instructions about Edom: do not provoke or harass them and purchase food and water from them. This passage thematically and legally frames Israel’s relations with Edom and contrasts the request in Num 20:17.
- Joshua 1:7-8 (verbal): Uses the same idiom about not turning to the right or to the left, a verbal parallel emphasizing strict, straight conduct — here applied to obedience and leadership rather than passage through territory.
Alternative generated candidates
- 'Let us pass through your land; we will not pass through any field or vineyard, and we will not drink water from a well. We will go along the king's highway; we will not turn to the right hand or to the left until we have passed beyond your border.'
- Please let us pass through your land; we will not pass through any field or vineyard, we will not drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed beyond your border.
Num.20.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- אדום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תעבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- פן: CONJ
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg
- אצא: VERB,qal,impf,1,c,sg
- לקראתך: PREP,NOUN,m,sg,cs,suff,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 20:21 (quotation): Immediate parallel in the same episode: Edom explicitly refuses Israel passage and repeats the threat, ‘Thou shalt not pass through my land… I will go out against thee with the sword.’
- Numbers 21:21-23 (verbal): Parallel episode with Sihon king of the Amorites: Israel requests peaceful passage, Sihon refuses and ‘went out against Israel’ with his forces — same request/refusal and threat dynamic.
- Deuteronomy 2:4-5 (thematic): God’s instruction about the territory of Esau/Seir (do not provoke or take their land) acknowledges Edom’s separate possession and explains the expectation of denial of passage — thematically tied to Edom’s refusal.
- Obadiah 1:10-14 (thematic): Prophetic condemnation of Edom for violence and betrayal toward Israel (Jacob). Though later and polemical, it thematically reflects Edom’s hostile treatment of Israel exemplified by refusing them passage.
Alternative generated candidates
- But Edom said to him, 'You shall not pass through by me—if you do, I will come out against you with the sword.'
- But Edom said to him, 'You shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with the sword.'
Num.20.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במסלה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- נעלה: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- ואם: CONJ
- מימיך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- נשתה: VERB,qal,impf,1,NA,pl
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- ומקני: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,NA,sg
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- מכרם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,pl
- רק: PRT
- אין: PART,neg
- דבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברגלי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,NA,sg
- אעברה: VERB,qal,impf,1,NA,sg
Parallels
- Deut.2:4-6 (structural): Moses' later retelling instructs Israel not to provoke Esau/Seir and to go by the king's highway — closely parallels the request to pass peacefully and to use the highway rather than occupy Edomite land.
- Gen.33:8-11 (thematic): Jacob's encounter with Esau: he offers gifts and requests peaceful passage. Both passages show negotiation/offering of goods to secure safe transit through related territory.
- Obad.1:10-14 (allusion): Obadiah denounces Edom for violence toward and refusing help to Israel (and for plundering). This condemns the same Edomite hostility manifested when they refused Israel passage in Numbers 20.
- Ezek.35:3-8 (thematic): Ezekiel's oracle against Mount Seir/Edom accuses Edom of enmity and rejoicing over Israel's calamity; thematically parallels Edom's refusal and hostile stance toward Israel's movement in Numbers 20.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Israelites replied, 'We will go by the king's highway. If we drink of your water, I and my livestock, I will pay for it; only let us pass through on foot.'
- The people of Israel said to him, 'We will go by the highway; if I and my livestock drink of your water, what shall I give you? We will only pass through on foot.'
Num.20.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תעבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אדום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לקראתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m
- בעם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כבד: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- וביד: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חזקה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Deut.2:4-5 (structural): God instructs Israel not to harass the descendants of Esau and assigns Mount Seir to them—background legal/territorial framework for the refusal of passage by Edom.
- Num.21:21-23 (thematic): Israel requests passage through another king's land (Sihon); he refuses and fights—parallel episode of denied passage and hostile response.
- Gen.33:14-16 (thematic): Esau (ancestor of Edom) offers Jacob peaceful passage and hospitality—contrasts with Edom's later refusal and hostility in Numbers 20.
- Obad.1:10-14 (allusion): Prophetic denunciation of Edom for violence and betrayal against Jacob/Israel, echoing Edom's hostile stance and aggression toward Israel.
- Amos 1:11 (thematic): God condemns Edom for pursuing and destroying the house of his brother—reinforces the theme of Edom's violent refusal to show kinship to Israel.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said, 'You shall not pass through.' So Edom came out to meet him with a large and strong force.
- He said, 'You shall not pass.' So Edom came out against him with a large company and with a mighty hand.
Num.20.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וימאן: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אדום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בגבלו: PREP
- ויט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 2:4-5 (structural): Deuteronomy retells the same episode: Israel is told to pass by the land of Esau (Edom) and not to harass them because Mount Seir was given to Esau—explains and re-narrates Edom's refusal and Israel's route.
- Numbers 21:21-22 (verbal): A closely parallel narrative formula: Israel sends messengers asking to pass through a neighboring king's land (here Sihon) and is refused—same diplomatic request/denial pattern as with Edom.
- Deuteronomy 2:26-29 (verbal): Deuteronomy's account of Israel’s request to Sihon (not to pass through fields/vineyards but by the king's highway) echoes the wording and motif of a requested peaceful passage and subsequent refusal.
- Obadiah 1:10-14 (thematic): Prophetic denunciation of Edom’s hostility to Israel—themes of refusal, violence, and betrayal toward Israel connect to Edom’s denial of passage and broader antagonism.
- Genesis 36:1-8 (allusion): Background material on Esau/Edom (genealogy and settlement in Seir) provides the ethnic/geographical context for Edom’s claim to the territory Israel sought to cross and underlies the refusal in Numbers 20:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, and Israel turned away from him.
- Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; so Israel turned away from him.
Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying, “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has befallen us.
Our ancestors went down to Egypt and sojourned there many days; the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and with our ancestors.
We cried to the LORD, and the LORD heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and now we are at Kadesh, a city at the edge of your border.
Let us pass through your land; we will not pass through field or vineyard, we will not drink water from any well; we will go by the king’s highway and will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed your border. But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.” And the Israelites said to him, “We will go along the highway; if we drink of your water, we and our livestock, we will pay for it; let us only pass on foot.”
He said, “You shall not pass.” And Edom came out against him with a strong force and with a mighty hand.
Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; so Israel turned away from him.