374
Patriarchs and Prophets
The ancestors of Edom and Israel were brothers, and brotherly
kindness and courtesy should exist between them. The Israelites were
forbidden, either then or at any future time, to revenge the affront
given them in the refusal of passage through the land. They must not
expect to possess any part of the land of Edom. While the Israelites
were the chosen and favored people of God, they must heed the restric-
tions which He placed upon them. God had promised them a goodly
inheritance; but they were not to feel that they alone had any rights
in the earth, and seek to crowd out all others. They were directed,
in all their intercourse with the Edomites, to beware of doing them
injustice. They were to trade with them, buying such supplies as were
needed, and promptly paying for all they received. As an encourage-
ment to Israel to trust in God and obey His word they were reminded,
“The Lord thy God hath blessed thee; ... thou hast lacked nothing.”
Deuteronomy 2:7
. They were not dependent upon the Edomites, for
they had a God rich in resources. They must not by force or fraud seek
to obtain anything pertaining to them; but in all their intercourse they
should exemplify the principle of the divine law, “Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself.”
Had they in this manner passed through Edom, as God had pur-
posed, the passage would have proved a blessing, not only to them-
selves, but to the inhabitants of the land; for it would have given them
an opportunity to become acquainted with God’s people and His wor-
ship and to witness how the God of Jacob prospered those who loved
and feared Him . But all this the unbelief of Israel had prevented. God
had given the people water in answer to their clamors, but He permitted
their unbelief to work out its punishment. Again they must traverse
the desert and quench their thirst from the miraculous spring, which,
had they but trusted in Him , they would no longer have needed.
Accordingly the hosts of Israel again turned toward the south, and
made their way over sterile wastes, that seemed even more dreary after
a glimpse of the green spots among the hills and valleys of Edom.
From the mountain range overlooking this gloomy desert, rises Mount
Hor, whose summit was to be the place of Aaron’s death and burial.
When the Israelites came to this mountain, the divine command was
addressed to Moses—
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