Chapter 38—The Journey Around Edom
This chapter is based on
Numbers 20:14-29
;
21:1-9
.
The encampment of Israel at Kadesh was but a short distance
from the borders of Edom, and both Moses and the people greatly
desired to follow the route through this country to the Promised Land;
accordingly they sent a message, as God had directed them, to the
Edomite king—
“Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath
befallen us: how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt
in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
and when we cried unto the Lord, He heard our voice, and sent an
Angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in
Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. Let us pass, I pray thee,
through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through
the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will
go by the king’s highway, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the
left, until we have passed thy borders.”
To this courteous request a threatening refusal was returned: “Thou
shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.”
Surprised at this repulse, the leaders of Israel sent a second appeal
to the king, with the promise, “We will go by the highway: and if I and
my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without
doing anything else, go through on my feet.”
“Thou shalt not go through,” was the answer. Armed bands of
Edomites were already posted at the difficult passes, so that any peace-
ful advance in that direction was impossible, and the Hebrews were
forbidden to resort to force. They must make the long journey around
the land of Edom.
Had the people, when brought into trial, trusted in God, the Captain
of the Lord’s host would have led them through Edom, and the fear
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of them would have rested upon the inhabitants of the land, so that,
instead of manifesting hostility, they would have shown them favor.
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