Numbers 20:18

Numbers 20:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
• New International Version (NIV)But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”

Context of Numbers 20:18

16But when we cried out to the Lord, he heard us and sent an angel who brought us out of Egypt. Now we are camped at Kadesh, a town on the border of your land. 17Please let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won’t even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king’s road and never leave it until we have passed through your territory.” But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!” 19The Israelites answered, “We will stay on the main road. If our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us pass through your country. That’s all we ask.” 20But the king of Edom replied, “Stay out! You may not pass through our land.” With that he mobilized his army and marched out against them with an imposing force.

Numbers 20:18 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֱד֔וֹם לֹ֥א תַעֲבֹ֖ר בִּ֑י פֶּן־בַּחֶ֖רֶב אֵצֵ֥א לִקְרָאתֶֽךָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Edomאֱדוֹם'ĕdôm 'ĕdôm · EdomH123
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, Thou shalt not passעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• by me, lest I come outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• againstקִרְאָהqir'âh · befallH7125
• thee with the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719

Commentaries on Numbers 20:18

• 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. 1-291. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 20:18

• Edomites
• Inhospitableness
• Israel

In the dictionaries

• Edom
• Edom; Edomites
• Edom, Edomite, Idumea
• Exodus
• Meribah
• Refuse
• Aaron
• Agrapha
• Chronicles, Books of
• Chronology of the Old Testament

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