14 And Moses H4872 sent H7971 messengers H4397 from Kadesh H6946 unto the king H4428 of Edom, H123 Thus saith H559 thy brother H251 Israel, H3478 Thou knowest H3045 all the travail H8513 that hath befallen H4672 us:
But when Israel H3478 came up H5927 from Egypt, H4714 and walked H3212 through the wilderness H4057 unto the Red H5488 sea, H3220 and came H935 to Kadesh; H6946 Then Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto the king H4428 of Edom, H123 saying, H559 Let me, I pray thee, pass through H5674 thy land: H776 but the king H4428 of Edom H123 would not hearken H8085 thereto. And in like manner they sent H7971 unto the king H4428 of Moab: H4124 but he would H14 not consent: and Israel H3478 abode H3427 in Kadesh. H6946
Thou shalt not abhor H8581 an Edomite; H130 for he is thy brother: H251 thou shalt not abhor H8581 an Egyptian; H4713 because thou wast a stranger H1616 in his land. H776
And Jacob H3290 sent H7971 messengers H4397 before him H6440 to Esau H6215 his brother H251 unto the land H776 of Seir, H8165 the country H7704 of Edom. H123 And he commanded H6680 them, saying, H559 Thus shall ye speak H559 unto my lord H113 Esau; H6215 Thy servant H5650 Jacob H3290 saith H559 thus, I have sojourned H1481 with Laban, H3837 and stayed there H309 until now:
And these are the kings H4428 that reigned H4427 in the land H776 of Edom, H123 before H6440 there reigned H4427 any king H4428 over the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And Bela H1106 the son H1121 of Beor H1160 reigned H4427 in Edom: H123 and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Dinhabah. H1838 And Bela H1106 died, H4191 and Jobab H3103 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 of Bozrah H1224 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Jobab H3103 died, H4191 and Husham H2367 of the land H776 of Temani H8489 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Husham H2367 died, H4191 and Hadad H1908 the son H1121 of Bedad, H911 who smote H5221 Midian H4080 in the field H7704 of Moab, H4124 reigned H4427 in his stead: and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Avith. H5762 And Hadad H1908 died, H4191 and Samlah H8072 of Masrekah H4957 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Samlah H8072 died, H4191 and Saul H7586 of Rehoboth H7344 by the river H5104 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Saul H7586 died, H4191 and Baalhanan H1177 the son H1121 of Achbor H5907 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Baalhanan H1177 the son H1121 of Achbor H5907 died, H4191 and Hadar H1924 reigned H4427 in his stead: and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Pau; H6464 and his wife's H802 name H8034 was Mehetabel, H4105 the daughter H1323 of Matred, H4308 the daughter H1323 of Mezahab. H4314
And Moses H4872 told H5608 his father in law H2859 all that the LORD H3068 had done H6213 unto Pharaoh H6547 and to the Egyptians H4714 for Israel's H3478 sake, H182 and all the travail H8513 that had come H4672 upon them by the way, H1870 and how the LORD H3068 delivered H5337 them.
And command H6680 thou the people, H5971 saying, H559 Ye are to pass H5674 through the coast H1366 of your brethren H251 the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwell H3427 in Seir; H8165 and they shall be afraid H3372 of you: take ye good H3966 heed H8104 unto yourselves therefore: Meddle H1624 not with them; for I will not give H5414 you of their land, H776 no, not so much as a foot H7272 breadth; H4096 H3709 because I have given H5414 mount H2022 Seir H8165 unto Esau H6215 for a possession. H3425 Ye shall buy H7666 meat H400 of them for money, H3701 that ye may eat; H398 and ye shall also buy H3739 water H4325 of them for money, H3701 that ye may drink. H8354 For the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath blessed H1288 thee in all the works H4639 of thy hand: H3027 he knoweth H3045 thy walking H3212 through this great H1419 wilderness: H4057 these forty H705 years H8141 the LORD H3068 thy God H430 hath been with thee; thou hast lacked H2637 nothing. H1697 And when we passed H5674 by from our brethren H251 the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwelt H3427 in Seir, H8165 through the way H1870 of the plain H6160 from Elath, H359 and from Eziongaber, H6100 we turned H6437 and passed H5674 by the way H1870 of the wilderness H4057 of Moab. H4124 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Distress H6696 not the Moabites, H4124 neither contend H1624 with them in battle: H4421 for I will not give H5414 thee of their land H776 for a possession; H3425 because I have given H5414 Ar H6144 unto the children H1121 of Lot H3876 for a possession. H3425 The Emims H368 dwelt H3427 therein in times past, H6440 a people H5971 great, H1419 and many, H7227 and tall, H7311 as the Anakims; H6062 Which H1992 also were accounted H2803 giants, H7497 as the Anakims; H6062 but the Moabites H4125 call H7121 them Emims. H368 The Horims H2752 also dwelt H3427 in Seir H8165 beforetime; H6440 but the children H1121 of Esau H6215 succeeded H3423 them, when they had destroyed H8045 them from before H6440 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead; as Israel H3478 did H6213 unto the land H776 of his possession, H3425 which the LORD H3068 gave H5414 unto them. Now rise up, H6965 said I, and get you over H5674 the brook H5158 Zered. H2218 And we went over H5674 the brook H5158 Zered. H2218 And the space H3117 in which we came H1980 from Kadeshbarnea, H6947 until we were come over H5674 the brook H5158 Zered, H2218 was thirty H7970 and eight H8083 years; H8141 until all the generation H1755 of the men H582 of war H4421 were wasted out H8552 from among H7130 the host, H4264 as the LORD H3068 sware H7650 unto them. For indeed the hand H3027 of the LORD H3068 was against them, to destroy H2000 them from among H7130 the host, H4264 until they were consumed. H8552 So it came to pass, when all the men H582 of war H4421 were consumed H8552 and dead H4191 from among H7130 the people, H5971 That the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto me, saying, H559 Thou art to pass over H5674 through Ar, H6144 the coast H1366 of Moab, H4124 this day: H3117 And when thou comest nigh H7126 over against H4136 the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 distress H6696 them not, nor meddle H1624 with them: for I will not give H5414 thee of the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 any possession; H3425 because I have given H5414 it unto the children H1121 of Lot H3876 for a possession. H3425 (That also was accounted H2803 a land H776 of giants: H7497 giants H7497 dwelt H3427 therein in old time; H6440 and the Ammonites H5984 call H7121 them Zamzummims; H2157 A people H5971 great, H1419 and many, H7227 and tall, H7311 as the Anakims; H6062 but the LORD H3068 destroyed H8045 them before H6440 them; and they succeeded H3423 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead: As he did H6213 to the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwelt H3427 in Seir, H8165 when he destroyed H8045 the Horims H2752 from before H6440 them; and they succeeded H3423 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead even unto this day: H3117 And the Avims H5761 which dwelt H3427 in Hazerim, H2699 even unto Azzah, H5804 the Caphtorims, H3732 which came forth H3318 out of Caphtor, H3731 destroyed H8045 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead.) Rise ye up, H6965 take your journey, H5265 and pass over H5674 the river H5158 Arnon: H769 behold, H7200 I have given H5414 into thine hand H3027 Sihon H5511 the Amorite, H567 king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and his land: H776 begin H2490 to possess H3423 it, and contend H1624 with him in battle. H4421 This day H3117 will I begin H2490 to put H5414 the dread H6343 of thee and the fear H3374 of thee upon the nations H6440 H5971 that are under the whole heaven, H8064 who shall hear H8085 report H8088 of thee, and shall tremble, H7264 and be in anguish H2342 because of thee. H6440
And they said H559 unto him, From a very H3966 far H7350 country H776 thy servants H5650 are come H935 because of the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 thy God: H430 for we have heard H8085 the fame H8089 of him, and all that he did H6213 in Egypt, H4714
For thy violence H2555 against thy brother H251 Jacob H3290 shame H955 shall cover H3680 thee, and thou shalt be cut off H3772 for ever. H5769 In the day H3117 that thou stoodest H5975 on the other side, in the day H3117 that the strangers H2114 carried away captive H7617 his forces, H2428 and foreigners H5237 entered H935 into his gates, H8179 and cast H3032 lots H1486 upon Jerusalem, H3389 even thou wast as one H259 of them. But thou shouldest not have looked H7200 on the day H3117 of thy brother H251 in the day H3117 that he became a stranger; H5235 neither shouldest thou have rejoiced H8055 over the children H1121 of Judah H3063 in the day H3117 of their destruction; H6 neither shouldest thou have spoken H6310 proudly H1431 in the day H3117 of distress. H6869
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 20
Commentary on Numbers 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Nu 20:1-29. The Death of Miriam.
1. Then came the children of Israel … into the desert of Zin in the first month—that is, of the fortieth year (compare Nu 20:22, 23, with Nu 33:38). In this history only the principal and most important incidents are recorded, those confined chiefly to the first or second and the last years of the journeyings in the wilderness, thence called Et-Tih. Between Nu 19:22 and Nu 20:1 there is a long and undescribed interval of thirty-seven years.
the people abode in Kadesh—supposed to be what is now known as Ain-el-Weibeh, three springs surrounded by palms. (See on Nu 13:26). It was their second arrival after an interval of thirty-eight years (De 2:14). The old generation had nearly all died, and the new one encamped in it with the view of entering the promised land, not, however, as formerly on the south, but by crossing the Edomite region on the east.
Miriam died there—four months before Aaron [Nu 33:38].
2-13. there was no water for the congregation—There was at Kadesh a fountain, En-Mishpat (Ge 14:7), and at the first encampment of the Israelites there was no want of water. It was then either partially dried up by the heat of the season, or had been exhausted by the demands of so vast a multitude.
6. Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly—Here is a fresh ebullition of the untamed and discontented spirit of the people. The leaders fled to the precincts of the sanctuary, both as an asylum from the increasing fury of the highly excited rabble, and as their usual refuge in seasons of perplexity and danger, to implore the direction and aid of God.
8. Take the rod—which had been deposited in the tabernacle (Nu 17:10), the wonder-working rod by which so many miracles had been performed, sometimes called "the rod of God" (Ex 4:20), sometimes Moses' (Nu 20:11) or Aaron's rod (Ex 7:12).
10. [Moses] said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?—The conduct of the great leader on this occasion was hasty and passionate (Ps 106:33). He had been directed to speak to the rock [Nu 20:8], but he smote it twice [Nu 20:11] in his impetuosity, thus endangering the blossoms of the rod, and, instead of speaking to the rock, he spoke to the people in a fury.
11. the congregation drank, and their beasts—Physically the water afforded the same kind of needful refreshment to both. But from a religious point of view, this, which was only a common element to the cattle, was a sacrament to the people (1Co 10:3, 4)—It possessed a relative sanctity imparted to it by its divine origin and use.
12. The Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, &c.—The act of Moses in smiting twice betrayed a doubt, not of the power, but of the will of God to gratify such a rebellious people, and his exclamation seems to have emanated from a spirit of incredulity akin to Sarai's (Ge 18:13). These circumstances indicate the influence of unbelief, and there might have been others unrecorded which led to so severe a chastisement.
13. This is the water of Meribah—The word "Kadesh" is added to it [De 32:51] to distinguish it from another Meribah (Ex 17:7).
14-16. Moses sent messengers … to the king of Edom—The encampment at Kadesh was on the confines of the Edomite territory, through which the Israelites would have had an easy passage across the Arabah by Wady-el-Ghuweir, so that they could have continued their course around Moab, and approached Palestine from the east [Roberts]. The Edomites, being the descendants of Esau and tracing their line of descent from Abraham as their common stock, were recognized by the Israelites as brethren, and a very brotherly message was sent to them.
17. we will go by the king's highway—probably Wady-el-Ghuweir [Roberts], through which ran one of the great lines of road, constructed for commercial caravans, as well as for the progress of armies. The engineering necessary for carrying them over marshes or mountains, and the care requisite for protecting them from the shifting sands, led to their being under the special care of the state. Hence the expression, "the king's highway," which is of great antiquity.
19. if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it—From the scarcity of water in the warm climates of the East, the practice of levying a tax for the use of the wells is universal; and the jealousy of the natives, in guarding the collected treasures of rain, is often so great that water cannot be procured for money.
21. Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, &c.—A churlish refusal obliged them to take another route. (See on Nu 21:4; De 2:4; and Jud 11:18; see also 1Sa 14:47; 2Sa 8:14, which describe the retribution that was taken.)
22. the children of Israel … came unto mount Hor—now Gebel Haroun, the most striking and lofty elevation in the Seir range, called emphatically "the mount" [Nu 20:28]. It is conspicuous by its double top.
24-28. Aaron shall be gathered unto his people—In accordance with his recent doom, he, attired in the high priest's costume, was commanded to ascend that mountain and die. But although the time of his death was hastened by the divine displeasure as a punishment for his sins, the manner of his death was arranged in tenderness of love, and to do him honor at the close of his earthly service. His ascent of the mount was to afford him a last look of the camp and a distant prospect of the promised land. The simple narrative of the solemn and impressive scene implies, though it does not describe, the pious resignation, settled faith, and inward peace of the aged pontiff.
26. strip Aaron of his garments—that is, his pontifical robes, in token of his resignation. (See Isa 22:20-25).
put them on his son—as the inauguration into his high office. Having been formerly anointed with the sacred oil, that ceremony was not repeated, or, as some think, it was done on his return to the camp.
28. Aaron died there in the top of the mount—(See on De 10:6). A tomb has been erected upon or close by the spot where he was buried.
29. When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead—Moses and Eleazar were the sole witnesses of his departure (Nu 20:28). According to the established law, the new high priest could not have been present at the funeral of his father without contracting ceremonial defilement (Le 21:11). But that law was dispensed with in the extraordinary circumstances. The people learned the event not only from the recital of the two witnesses, but from their visible signs of grief and change; and this event betokened the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood (Heb 7:12).
they mourned for Aaron thirty days—the usual period of public and solemn mourning. (See on De 34:8).