Numbers 20:21

Numbers 20:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
• New International Version (NIV)Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.

Context of Numbers 20:21

19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.” 20But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them. 22After they had set out from Kadesh, the whole congregation of Israel came to Mount Hor. 23And at Mount Hor, near the border of the land of Edom, the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

Numbers 20:21 word by word

וַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀ אֱד֗וֹם נְתֹן֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֲבֹ֖ר בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥ט יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵעָלָֽיו׃ פRead the interlinear

• So Edomאֱדוֹם'ĕdôm 'ĕdôm · EdomH123
• refusedמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985
• to allowנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• to passעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• through their territoryגְּבוּלgebûl gebûl · border: areaH1366
• turned awayנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
• from themעַל‛al · uponH5921

Cross-references for Numbers 20:21

• Deuteronomy 2:27“Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left.
• Deuteronomy 2:4and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
• Deuteronomy 23:7Do not despise an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not despise an Egyptian, because you lived as a foreigner in his land.
• Judges 11:18Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

Commentaries on Numbers 20:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border - Though every king has a right to refuse passage through his territories to any strangers; yet in a case like this, and in a time also in which emigrations were frequent and universally allowed, it was both cruelty and oppression in Edom to refuse a passage to a comparatively unarmed and inoffensive multitude, who were all their own near kinsmen. It appears however that it was only the Edomites…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-21You may not travel through our land: Just as their ancestor Esau did not trust Jacob, the Edomites now did not trust Jacob’s descendants (Genesis 27:36). Therefore, Israel had to turn around and find another way to approach Canaan (compare Deuteronomy 2:4–6).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. 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.)Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 20:21

• Edomites
• Inhospitableness
• Israel

In the dictionaries

• Edom
• Israel
• Edom; Edomites
• Edom, Edomite, Idumea
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Exodus
• Meribah
• Refuse
• Aaron

Commentaries on Numbers 20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings