Numbers 20 15

Numbers 20:15 kjv

How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

Numbers 20:15 nkjv

how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.

Numbers 20:15 niv

Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors,

Numbers 20:15 esv

how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers.

Numbers 20:15 nlt

Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there a long time, and we and our ancestors were brutally mistreated by the Egyptians.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 15 Meaning

Numbers 20:15 describes Israel's recounting to Edom of their ancestors' descent into Egypt, their extended stay there, and the severe affliction they endured under Egyptian rule. This forms a core part of Moses's diplomatic plea, emphasizing their shared heritage and the profound suffering Israel experienced, appealing for empathetic consideration for safe passage through Edomite territory.

Numbers 20 15 Context

Numbers chapter 20 primarily details significant events occurring near the end of Israel's forty-year wilderness journey at Kadesh-barnea. It begins with the death of Miriam, followed by the people's renewed complaining about lack of water, leading to Moses and Aaron's sin at Meribah (striking the rock instead of speaking to it). This transgression results in their being forbidden from entering the Promised Land. Immediately after these events, Moses dispatches messengers to the king of Edom, seeking permission to pass through Edomite territory on the "King's Highway." Verse 15 is part of this diplomatic appeal. Israel's journey from Egypt has led them to Edom, their kin descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. Moses attempts to leverage this kinship and Israel's long history of suffering and divine deliverance as a basis for Edom to grant safe passage, aiming to avoid conflict. The historical context underscores that this period is crucial; Israel is at the doorstep of the Promised Land, facing geographical and political challenges, where alliances and appeals to shared history were strategic.

Numbers 20 15 Word analysis

• how our fathers (וַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ – va'avoteinu): "Fathers" here signifies their ancestors, starting from Jacob who descended into Egypt, extending to the generations that suffered there. It emphasizes the deep historical roots and continuity of their collective experience and suffering, binding past generations to the present one. It underscores a shared historical identity.
• went down (יָרְדוּ – yarədū): The Hebrew verb "to go down" is significant. It implies a descent into a place, often one of subservience or challenge, contrasting with "going up" (עָלָה – ʿālâ) which signifies ascent, often to a place of power or honor (e.g., to the Promised Land or to Jerusalem). Here, it marks the beginning of their subjugation.
• to Egypt (מִצְרָיִם – Mitsrayim): Refers to the land of Egypt, which serves as a foundational symbol in Israel's memory as both a place of refuge and severe oppression, from which God miraculously delivered them.
• and we lived (וַנֵּשֶׁב – vannēshev): From the root יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning "to sit, dwell, settle." It indicates that their presence in Egypt was not merely a brief sojourn but an established dwelling for a significant period. This permanence makes the subsequent harsh treatment more grievous.
• in Egypt (בְּמִצְרָיִם – bəmiṣrāyim): Reiterates the location, reinforcing the scene of their prolonged stay and subsequent affliction.
• a long time (יָמִים רַבִּים – yamim rabbim): Literally "many days," or "many years." This phrase highlights the duration of their residence and consequently, the extended period of their suffering. The emphasis on "long time" underscores the depth and enduring nature of the affliction, suggesting a weariness and sustained hardship that should evoke sympathy.
• and the Egyptians (וַיָּרֵעוּ לָנוּ וְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ – vayyarʿū lanu velaʾavoteinu): This phrase connects "Egyptians" with their actions. It is literally "and they did evil to us and to our fathers."
• treated us... harshly (וַיָּרֵעוּ לָנוּ – vayyarʿū lanu): From the root רָעַע (raʿaʿ), "to do evil, do wickedly, treat badly." This strong verb indicates not merely inconvenience or discomfort but deliberate and severe oppression, injustice, and active harm inflicted upon them. It implies moral wrong.
• and our fathers (וְלַאֲבֹתֵינוּ – velaʾavoteinu): Reinforces that the suffering was intergenerational, experienced by both the current generation's immediate forebears and the preceding ones who first settled in Egypt, further solidifying the communal memory of distress.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "how our fathers went down to Egypt": This phrase establishes the historical antecedent of their predicament, beginning with a strategic reference to their initial peaceful entry, underscoring that their ancestors were not invaders but sojourners. It also evokes the initial providence that brought Jacob's family there during a famine.
  • "and we lived in Egypt a long time": This emphasizes the duration and settled nature of their sojourn, indicating that their suffering was not fleeting but prolonged and deeply embedded in their experience, making their eventual cry for deliverance profound.
  • "and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers harshly": This pivotal phrase conveys the core of their historical grievance—the transition from peaceful settlement to cruel oppression. It underscores the severity of the treatment endured across generations, directly justifying their desire for divine intervention and now, the appeal for human empathy from Edom. The mention of "us and our fathers" solidifies the unbroken chain of historical trauma that defined their collective identity.

Numbers 20 15 Bonus section

• A Shared Human Narrative: The account of "going down" to a land for survival only to experience "harsh treatment" is a pattern often repeated in human history, connecting Israel's ancient experience to broader themes of displacement, xenophobia, and oppression endured by migrants and minorities throughout ages.
• Diplomatic Strategy: Moses's strategy here highlights a sophisticated understanding of ancient Near Eastern diplomacy. He does not threaten or demand, but appeals to shared history, suffering, and implied kinship. While ultimately unsuccessful with Edom (who refused passage), it demonstrates an attempt at peaceful resolution and a reliance on relational appeal over might, reflecting God’s preferred path of peace before conflict where possible.
• Prophetic Echo: The mistreatment endured by Israel in Egypt and God's hearing of their cries is a recurring pattern that foreshadows how God often responds to the cries of the oppressed, and how nations are held accountable for their treatment of God's people (Exod 3:7-9, Deut 26:7). Edom's subsequent rejection of this appeal becomes part of a broader prophetic narrative of judgment on nations who mistreat God's chosen.

Numbers 20 15 Commentary

Numbers 20:15 is a vital element in Moses’s diplomatic message to Edom. By detailing Israel's descent, long sojourn, and harsh treatment in Egypt, Moses appeals to Edom not just as a neighbor, but as "brother Israel" (Num 20:14). This appeal leverages their shared ancestral heritage through Abraham and Isaac (Jacob and Esau being sons of Isaac), hoping that this familial bond would elicit empathy for Israel's journey out of such immense suffering. The strategic recalling of Egyptian bondage, a foundational event in Israel's national identity, is a profound plea: "We were in slavery, God heard our cries and delivered us, and now we only ask for safe passage, not conquest, from our kinsmen." This historical recount underlines Israel's vulnerability and dependence on God’s previous mighty acts, hoping Edom would reciprocate with compassion. The verse illustrates the memory of affliction as a key component of Israel's self-perception and their narrative presented to others.