Numbers 20:21

Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage— Grotius censures this conduct of the Edomites, as contrary to equity and the law of nations; by which the highways, as well as the seas and rivers of all countries, ought to be free for all who have a mind to pass through them upon just occasions; insomuch, that he thinks the denial of this was an equitable ground of the war with the Amorites, mentioned ch. 21: as it might have been with Edom and Moab, had not God prohibited it. See De Jure, B. & P. lib. 2: cap. 2: sect. 13. But Gronovius, on the contrary, shews, that princes have a right to deny this liberty for their people's security. And this we find to have been the general sense of mankind; as appears by various examples, cited by Gronovius in his Notes on Grotius, and by Selden in his Mare Clausum, lib. 1: cap. 20. But granting the king of Edom had a right to refuse the Israelites a passage through his country, as indeed they themselves acknowledge, in begging him to grant them that liberty, yet he appears blameable in refusing so reasonable a request, after they had given him such strong assurances that they had no hostile intention against him, and that they would secure him against all damage; and if, notwithstanding those assurances, he was still afraid of them, he might have insisted on their giving him hostages. To refuse a petition thus qualified, was contrary to the principles of humanity and justice, especially considering the ties of consanguinity which subsisted between the two nations, with which plea the Israelites enforced their petition.

REFLECTIONS.—As the nearest way to Canaan now lay through the territories of Edom, Moses sent ambassadors to beg leave to pass through that land. 1. The message they brought was friendly and reasonable; they urge their kindred as a plea of favor. Near relations are doubly bound to every mutual act of kindness. They mention their sufferings from Egypt, and their mercies from God, both to excite a compassionate concern for their past vexations, and to engage them to assist those to whom God had shewed such peculiar favor. It is as much our interest as our duty to be kind to those who have God for their friend. They condescend to humble entreaty, though sufficiently able to force a passage unasked if they chose it. But power must never be employed to work injustice. Finally, they engage to do no damage, but to pay even for the water they drank; and to make no stay in the country, but with all speed march by the high-road to the borders of Canaan. Note; They who are marching to Heaven go straight forward in the high-road of holiness, and desire nothing in Edom, the world of sin, but a safe passage out of it. 2. They receive a peremptory refusal from the king of Edom; and, to enforce it, he draws out his people to the frontiers to oppose them: jealous of such a numerous army, lest they should seize the country; or inheriting the family feud of Esau, and willing to disappoint them of the inheritance they sought in Canaan. Note; (1.) No quarrels so lasting and inveterate as those of near relations. (2.) If we are the people of God, we must not wonder though we meet with the greatest un-kindness from those of whom we might reasonably expect the greatest affection.