Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 20:14-21
2). The Appeal to Edom (Numbers 20:14).
The incident at Meribah was followed by an appeal to Edom to be allowed to use the King's Highway through their territory. Compare here Deuteronomy 2:4. The march on Yahweh's land had begun in earnest. But in the event they were required to skirt the territory and were not allowed through. God's presence with His people was not a guarantee that they would face no problems, only that He would help them to overcome them in one way or the other. The reference to Kadesh being on the borders of Edom would support the idea that this was a different Kadesh (‘holy place') from Kadesh-barnea as the latter was in the heart of the Negeb.
This incident was firstly a reminder to Israel of the obstacles that lay ahead. They had to recognise that they were not going to be welcomed in their project. Even a brother tribe refused them assistance. It would be tougher later. But secondly it stressed to Israel that they were not there as aggressors and seekers of spoil. The Canaanites (including the Amorites) were there for the taking for Yahweh's judgment was coming on them. But with neighbouring tribes they were to seek peace not aggression. This was stressed in Deuteronomy 2 in respect of Edom, Moab and Ammon.
All Christians have to face constant attack. Sometimes, as here, the way to fight it is to avoid the place of testing, and go around it. ‘Abstain from every form of evil' (1 Thessalonians 5:22). ‘Flee youthful desires' (1 Timothy 2:22). In the battle of the flesh avoidance is often a primary weapon. At other times when the battle is in the mind flight is of little use, then we have to stand and fight, ‘take to you the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand' (Ephesians 6:13), just as Israel would be required to stand against the enemies of God, against Arad and the Canaanites (Numbers 21:1). In the battle of the mind we cannot flee, but must stand firm on the promises of God, as Jesus did during His temptations.
Analysis.
a Moses' request to be allowed through peaceably (Numbers 20:14).
b Edom's refusal and threat (Numbers 20:18).
c Israel try again and lay out terms of passage (Numbers 20:19).
b Edom still refuses and make clear their threat (Numbers 20:20).
a The request being refused, Israel turn away peaceably (Numbers 20:21).
The Request To Be Allowed Through Peaceably (Numbers 20:14).
‘And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the trouble that has befallen us, how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers.'
It was to Moses' credit that having learned that he himself would not be allowed to enter the land there was no hint of his refusing to go forward so as to bring God's people there. We are probably to see from this that he recognised how grievously he had been at fault. He had learned the lesson of obedience. It would mean that his usefulness could continue. Indeed that lesson came in useful in this next incident. Without it he might well have smitten Edom with the rod of God. But he had learned obedience.
Here (at God's command - Deuteronomy 2:2) he sent messengers to Edom with just that advance in mind. Note the contrast of the description here with Numbers 20:5. This description was the truer picture of what life in Egypt had been like.
The words in which Moses expressed his request were typical of a diplomatic letter of the time as witnessed at El Amarna, Alalakh and Mari. It was addressed to the king of Edom, contained the formula ‘thus says' (compare Numbers 22:16), provided the identity of the sender, claimed kinship, outlined their problem, and made a plea for response.
He pointed out that Israel were brothers to Edom (Jacob was Esau's brother, and Esau had established himself in Edom), and reminded them that Canaan was their real home. They were not coming to make trouble. They were going home. They had a right to be on the way there. He also sought to draw on Edom's sympathy by reminding them how Israel had, as they well knew, suffered in Egypt, and how they had been treated. This knowledge of what Edom was aware of may well suggest that he knew that the two tribal groups had maintained contact with each other through the years.
His words are also an almost incidental confirmation of what we know of Israel's history, and are in conformity with the Exodus account. They ring true.
‘And when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt. And, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the furthest extent of your border.'
Moses' aim was to indicate why they, with such a large force, were almost on Edom's borders, and explained precisely where they were camped. He knew that Edomite scouts would already have reported back their presence. He wanted it known that they had no ill intent. They were there because Yahweh had heard their pleas, and had sent His angel (ml‘k - a messenger) to bring them out of Egypt. They were thus there on Yahweh's instructions. His message also contained the gentle hint that not to assist them would be to go against Yahweh. And all knew what that entailed for news of His activities would have gone before them (Exodus 15:14; Numbers 14:14; Joshua 2:9).
‘Let us pass, I pray you, through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells. We will go along the king's highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.'
So he made the reasonable plea that they be allowed to pass along the King's Highway. That was a recognised trade route that led through Edom towards the land on the east of the Jordan and up towards Damascus. Its length was marked by early bronze age settlements and fortresses, some of which are know to have been occupied at this time. It was called the King's Highway, partly because it was the way used by travelling kings and was suitable for the travel of larger bodies of people.
He promised that while passing along it Israel would be totally circumspect. They would use their own provisions and would not trespass on Edomite property or springs. They would pass right through Edom without straying right or left.
Edom's Refusal and Threat (Numbers 20:18).
‘And Edom said to him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.'
Edom's reply was a firm ‘no'. If they did seek to pass through they would be met with the sword. Edom's armies would positively resist them. Edom were taking no chances with such a large body of people.
Patiently Israel Tried Again and Laid Out The Terms of Peaceable Passage (Numbers 20:19).
‘And the children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my cattle, then will I give its price. Let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.'
The messengers were again sent to the king of Edom, on behalf of the whole of Israel. But the change to the first person indicates the hand of Moses. The promise was repeated that they would go through peaceably, and it was added that they would pay for anything that they required. All they wanted was passage through.
Edom Still Refuse and Make Clear Their Threat (Numbers 20:20)
‘And he said, You shall not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.'
The king of Edom again refused permission, but recognising that his refusal might result in warlike action from the advancing host, moved to his borders with a display of strength, at the points where he knew they might make the attempt. If they wanted to come through, they would have to fight every step of the way. With its mountain passes Edom was fairly easy to defend in that area.
The Request Being Refused, Israel Turned Away Peaceably (Numbers 20:21)
‘Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, for which reason Israel turned away from him.'
Moses was clearly determined not to antagonise a related tribe. He possibly recognised how sensible it would be to maintain good relations with those who lived on the borders of Canaan. They would not want them interfering during the invasion. Furthermore he was under Yahweh's strict instructions (Deuteronomy 2:4). And he had learned at Meribah that he must not misuse the rod of Yahweh. War would be a waste of time as Israel were forbidden to occupy the land of a brother tribe, a tribe who themselves had received the land from Yahweh. By this the point was got over to the people that the land that Yahweh did wish them to occupy was specific and fixed. They were there on Yahweh's business. They should therefore receive a certain amount of assurance from the fact that Yahweh had previously given land in the area, whose inhabitants were still in safe occupation of it, and were protected by Him.
Thus Moses was recognising (and being made to recognise) that they were not there as aggressors to take into possession any land they liked, but were there under the command of God to take only the land that He had given them.
However, the blunt statement in Numbers 20:21 contains a double entendre. Had Edom been more helpful it might have made a great difference to relations in the future. As it was Israel ‘turned away from Edom'. The opportunity of a lasting friendship had been lost so that later Israel would have no hesitation in invading Edom (Numbers 24:18). But in the context the main point was that they did not seek to force their way through. They took another route. Note how the historicity of this whole incident is confirmed in Judges 11:16.