Numbers 20 14

Numbers 20:14 kjv

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:

Numbers 20:14 nkjv

Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardship that has befallen us,

Numbers 20:14 niv

Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: "This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us.

Numbers 20:14 esv

Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:

Numbers 20:14 nlt

While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent ambassadors to the king of Edom with this message: "This is what your relatives, the people of Israel, say: You know all the hardships we have been through.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 14 Meaning

Numbers 20:14 records Moses initiating a diplomatic plea to the king of Edom from Kadesh. Moses, representing the nation Israel, appeals to their shared family heritage as brothers, referencing their ancestor Jacob (Israel) and Esau (ancestor of Edom). He presents Israel’s journey through the wilderness as a period of profound "hardship," assuming Edom's awareness of their history and struggles. This verse sets the stage for a critical encounter where Israel seeks peaceful passage through Edomite territory to reach the Promised Land.

Numbers 20 14 Context

Numbers chapter 20 opens with the death of Miriam and a renewed lack of water, leading to the people's intense complaining. This triggers the pivotal moment where Moses and Aaron err by striking the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded, resulting in God's declaration that they will not enter the Promised Land. Immediately following this severe judgment, the narrative shifts to Israel's geographical progression towards Canaan. Kadesh, a significant historical encampment, being near the border of Edom, necessitates a diplomatic approach. Moses' message to Edom is crucial as Edom controlled a vital trade route, the "King's Highway," which Israel desired to use for passage. This message precedes the Edomite refusal and Aaron's death on Mount Hor, indicating the people are indeed nearing the end of their wilderness journey.

Numbers 20 14 Word analysis

• And Moses sent messengers (וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה מַלְאָכִים – vayyishlaḥ Moshe mal’akhim):
  • וַיִּשְׁלַח (vayyishlaḥ): "And he sent." Denotes Moses initiating an action immediately following previous events. As leader, Moses employs diplomatic strategy before resorting to force, respecting regional authorities.
  • מֹשֶׁה (Moshe): Moses, the divinely appointed leader and intercessor of Israel. His leadership is pivotal in all national decisions, here in diplomacy.
  • מַלְאָכִים (mal’akhim): "Messengers." In this context, human emissaries dispatched on a specific mission. The same term can mean "angels," hinting at God's invisible hand in human affairs.
• from Kadesh (מִקָּדֵשׁ – miqadēsh):
  • מִקָּדֵשׁ (miqadēsh): "From Kadesh." Kadesh-Barnea, a significant encampment site where Israel previously failed to enter Canaan due to unbelief. Its mention underscores Israel's decades-long journey and their present position near their destination's border.
• to the king of Edom (אֶל־מֶלֶךְ אֱדוֹם – el-meleḵ ’Ĕḏōwm):
  • אֶל (el): "To." Indicates the direct recipient of the diplomatic overture.
  • מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ): "King." Formal address, demonstrating respect for sovereign authority and adherence to proper protocol for international relations.
  • אֱדוֹם (’Ĕḏōwm): "Edom." The nation descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother. The name means "red," likely referencing Esau's complexion or the region's distinctive red sandstone.
• 'Thus says your brother Israel: (כֹּה אָמַר אָחִיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל – koh ’āmar ’akhikha Yisrael):
  • כֹּה אָמַר (koh ’āmar): "Thus says." A standard, weighty introductory phrase in ancient Near Eastern diplomatic messages, akin to a formal declaration, borrowing solemnity from prophetic pronouncements.
  • אָחִיךָ (’akhikha): "Your brother." This is the cornerstone of Moses' appeal, emphasizing shared ancestry from Isaac and Jacob/Esau. It is an appeal to the bonds of kinship, common cultural expectations of reciprocal assistance, and humanitarian sympathy among related peoples.
  • יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael): "Israel." Jacob's new name ("struggles with God"), here representing the collective covenant nation. It invokes God's name and relationship with His people as the source of their identity.
• You know all the hardship (יָדַעְתָּ אֵת כָּל־הַתְּלָאָה – yadatta et kol-hattel'aah):
  • יָדַעְתָּ (yadatta): "You know." An appeal to the Edomite king's assumed knowledge or common awareness of Israel's journey and plight. It seeks to build empathy on shared understanding of historical events.
  • כָּל־הַתְּלָאָה (kol-hattel'aah): "All the hardship."
    • כָּל (kol): "All." Denotes the totality and profound nature of their trials.
    • הַתְּלָאָה (hattel'a’ah): From the root la'ah meaning "to be weary," signifies exhausting toil, distress, or rigorous difficulty. This encompasses the wilderness wandering, their trials, and the discipline they faced, suggesting a cumulative burden.
• that has befallen us, (אֲשֶׁר מְצָאָתָנוּ – ’asher metsa'atannu):
  • אֲשֶׁר (’asher): "Which/that." A relative pronoun linking the hardship to its recipients.
  • מְצָאָתָנוּ (metsa'atannu): "Has found us" or "has come upon us." Implies experiences that arrived unexpectedly or inescapably. This subtly acknowledges the providential nature of their trials, avoiding direct blame and maintaining a posture of vulnerability.

Numbers 20 14 Bonus section

The specific choice of the Hebrew term "תְּלָאָה" (tᵉla'ah) for "hardship" in this verse is significant. It implies a wearing-out, a wearying journey, which subtly points to the forty years of wandering that God imposed upon Israel as a consequence of their disobedience and lack of faith, particularly after the report of the spies at Kadesh. While the Edomite king might interpret this "hardship" as general historical tribulations, Moses and the Israelites understand it profoundly as the arduous period of divine judgment and purification. Thus, Moses' diplomatic plea is infused with an underlying awareness of God's hand in their journey, a reality not directly explained to the pagan Edomite king, but known and accepted by Israel. This humility and recognition of divine discipline inform the tone of their request for passage.

Numbers 20 14 Commentary

Numbers 20:14 opens a critical juncture in Israel's journey, showcasing Moses' prudent diplomatic approach. Faced with the formidable kingdom of Edom, controlling crucial trade routes, Moses chose persuasion over force. The message strategically appeals to the deep-seated understanding of kinship between nations tracing lineage to brothers, Jacob and Esau, evoking a sense of familial obligation and empathy. By acknowledging Edom’s assumed awareness of Israel's extensive "hardship" – a concise term encompassing their enslavement in Egypt, their arduous wilderness wandering, and divine discipline – Moses carefully frames their need for peaceful passage. This demonstrates leadership that is both shrewd and reliant on ancient cultural norms. However, Edom’s subsequent, outright refusal, despite this carefully constructed and humble plea, reveals an enduring animosity that transcends familial ties, establishing a precedent for future conflict between these "brother" nations in biblical history. The request also highlights God's command to respect Edom's sovereignty (Deut 2:4-5), showcasing Israel's obedience even when facing potential hostility from family.