Numbers 20:16

_AND MOSES SENT MESSENGERS FROM KADESH UNTO THE KING OF EDOM, THUS SAITH THY BROTHER ISRAEL, THOU KNOWEST ALL THE TRAVAIL THAT HATH BEFALLEN US:_ Moses sent messengers ... unto the king of Edom. The Edomite monarchy was elective, not hereditary-the electoral body being, as Kurtz (vol. 3:, p. 340) suggests, the Alluphim or 'dukes' of the clan (cf. Genesis 36:1 with Exodus 15:15). The encampment at Kadesh was on the confines of the Edomite territory, because it was close to Teman, which was the northern extremity of Idumea, and adjacent to Palestine (Joshua 15:1; Ezekiel 25:13), being another name for mount Paran. 'Now, if the

14-21 The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped, was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive damage by the Israelites. And had this numerous army been under any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself, there might have been cause for this jealousy. But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred revived, when the blessing was about to be inherited. We must not think it strange, if reasonable requests be denied by unreasonable men, and if those whom God favours be affronted by men....

AN ANGEL - See Genesis 12:7, note; Exodus 3:2, note. The term is to be understood as importing generally the supernatural guidance under which Israel was....

EXPOSITION THE LAST MARCH: FROM KADESH TO HOR (Numbers 20:1). NUMBERS 20:1 THEN CAME THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, EVEN THE WHOLE CONGREGATION. The latter words are emphatic here and in Numbers 20:22, and seem intended to mark the period of reassembly after the dispersion of nearly thirty eight years. Probably a portion of the tribes had visited Kadesh many times during those years, and perhaps it had never been wholly abandoned. INTO THE DESERT OF ZIN, _i.e; _if the western site be maintained for Kadesh, the Wady Murreh. See th

AND WHEN WE CRIED UNTO THE LORD,.... By reason of their bondage, and to be delivered from it, Exodus 2:24: HE HEARD OUR VOICE; their prayer to him, as the Targum of Jonathan, for help and deliverance, Exodus 2:24: AND SENT AN ANGEL, AND HATH BROUGHT US FORTH OUT OF EGYPT; one of the ministering angels, as the same Targum, and so Aben Ezra; though he observes that some interpret it of Moses, as do Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and Ben Melech, which is not likely; since Moses is the person that sent this message to the king of Edom, who would not easily understand it of him, if so he meant; nor would the mention of it be of any consequence and avail with him; whereas to understand it of some divine and heavenly agent, sent by the Lord on so important an affair, might make it the more rem

ANGEL (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _...

10. AT KADESH IN THE FORTIETH YEAR: MURMURING AND CONQUEST CHAPTER 20 _ 1. The death of Miriam (Numbers 20:1)_ 2. The murmuring of the people (Numbers 20:2) 3. The divine instruction (Numbers 20:6) 4. Moses' and Aaron's failure (Numbers 20:9) 5. Edom's refusal (Numbers 20:14) 6. The death of Aaron (Numbers 20:23) Between the nineteenth and twentieth chapter lies the unrecorded period of almost 38 years, th

ISRAELS ABORTIVE APPEAL TO EDOM (JE). Israel's desire to cross Edom was due to the wish to attack Canaan on the E. instead of on the S., where they had met with defeat (Numbers 14:45). As Kadesh was W. of Edom, the encompassing of the country (Numbers 21:4) involved a march from Kadesh to the SE. NUMBERS 20:16. BORDER: The term here means territory (_cf. Numbers 22:36_). Numbers 20:19. without. else: better, it is no great matter (of annoyance)....

BEHOLD. Figure of speech _Asterismos_ (App-6), to emphasize the importance of the place. See notes on Numbers 20:1....

_Permission to pass through Edom refused_. The Edomites occupied territory to the south of the Dead Sea, westward as far as Kadesh (Numbers 20:16) and southward as far as the eastern arm of the Red Sea (Numbers 21:4). The Israelites having failed long before to enter Canaan from the south, did not attempt it again (see, however, n. on Numbers 21:1-3), but proposed to enter it from the east. And if they could pass straight through Edom, their route would be greatly shortened. Edom's refusal forced them to work round the south of the hostile country, and then northwards along its eastern border....