Numbers 20:20 kjv
And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
Numbers 20:20 nkjv
Then he said, "You shall not pass through." So Edom came out against them with many men and with a strong hand.
Numbers 20:20 niv
Again they answered: "You may not pass through." Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.
Numbers 20:20 esv
But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.
Numbers 20:20 nlt
But 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 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 2:4-8 | "You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau... Do not provoke them... For I have given Mount Seir to Esau..." | God instructs Israel not to fight Edom initially. |
| Gen 25:23 | The Lord said to Rebekah, "Two nations are in your womb... one people shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." | Prophetic tension between Jacob and Esau's descendants. |
| Gen 27:40 | By your sword you shall live, and over your brother you shall serve; but when you grow restive, you shall break his yoke from your neck. | Esau's prophecy, foreshadowing independence from Jacob. |
| Gen 32:3-6 | Jacob sent messengers... to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom... when Esau was coming to meet him... | Initial reconciliation attempt between Jacob and Esau. |
| Deut 23:7 | "You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother..." | Command to remember familial ties (often violated). |
| Obadiah 1:10-14 | "Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you... in the day of their disaster, you should not have gloated..." | Prophecy against Edom for mistreating Jacob/Israel. |
| Amos 1:11 | "Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword..." | God's judgment on Edom for relentless hostility. |
| Ezek 25:12-14 | "Thus says the Lord God: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah... I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel..." | Divine judgment for Edom's spite. |
| Mal 1:3 | "But Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a desolation and his heritage a wasteland for jackals of the wilderness." | God's ultimate rejection of Edom for their actions. |
| Exod 3:19 | "But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a strong hand." | Contrast: Pharaoh will not let Israel go by human might. |
| Exod 6:1 | "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out..." | Contrast: God's "strong hand" will make Pharaoh release Israel. |
| Exod 13:3 | Then Moses said to the people, "Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, from the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out..." | Israel delivered by God's "strong hand." |
| Jer 32:21 | "and brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror." | God's power in deliverance is reiterated as "strong hand." |
| Exod 13:17-18 | "When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines... lest the people change their minds when they see war..." | God often leads His people on circuitous paths to protect them. |
| Deut 1:44 | "Then the Amorites who lived in that hill country came out against you and chased you as bees do..." | Similar opposition to Israel in their journey. |
| Num 21:4-5 | "From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way." | Describes the actual detour necessitated by Edom's refusal. |
| Judg 11:17-18 | "Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land.’ But the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent likewise to the king of Moab, but he refused." | Another instance of Edom's refusal in Israel's history. |
| Psa 107:7 | "He led them by a straight way until they reached a city to dwell in." | Despite obstacles, God guides His people to their destination. |
| Phil 4:19 | "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." | God's provision and guidance are always sufficient, even through hard paths. |
| Heb 11:34 | "quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." | God's people can overcome powerful enemies with divine aid. |
Numbers 20 verses
Numbers 20 20 Meaning
Numbers 20:20 details Edom's hostile refusal to allow Israel passage through their territory on the King's Highway. This action, driven by animosity and a show of military strength, forced Israel to take a longer, more arduous route, demonstrating a clear breach of brotherly covenant stemming from Jacob and Esau. It underscores a significant early opposition Israel faced in their journey to the Promised Land.
Numbers 20 20 Context
Numbers Chapter 20 records several pivotal events near the end of Israel's wilderness wandering. It begins with the death of Miriam at Kadesh. The people then grumble for water, leading to Moses' disobedient striking of the rock instead of speaking to it, for which both he and Aaron are forbidden from entering the Promised Land. Immediately following this, Moses sends messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, requesting passage through their land on the King's Highway to bypass Edom's territory and enter Canaan. Israel promised to use only the highway and pay for any water or food consumed. However, Edom fiercely rejects this plea, reinforcing their refusal with military force. This refusal forces Israel to detour south, around Edom's mountainous region, leading to Aaron's death on Mount Hor as the chapter concludes. Historically, Edom was a distinct nation, descendants of Esau (Jacob's brother), with a deeply entrenched rivalry and animosity towards Israel, further intensified by their control of vital trade routes. Their mountainous territory, Mount Seir, provided significant natural defenses, making their refusal backed by a powerful army a formidable obstacle.
Numbers 20 20 Word analysis
- But Edom said: The conjunction "But" (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר wayyōʼmer) emphasizes a direct, oppositional response. "Edom" (ʾĔḏōm): Hebrew for "red," connected to Esau's ruddy complexion and the red lentil stew for which he sold his birthright. As descendants of Esau, Edom represents Israel's 'brother nation', highlighting the tragic and deep-seated animosity between these kindred peoples (Jacob and Esau's offspring). This fraternal connection makes their hostility particularly poignant and reflects a significant breach of expected kinship.
- 'You shall not pass through us,': A definitive and unyielding declaration. The Hebrew lōʾ ṯaʿăḇōr ("you shall not pass") is an emphatic prohibition, indicating a complete denial of passage. It signifies a refusal of aid and an assertion of sovereign control over their land, despite Israel's peaceful and reasonable request, backed by God's promise.
- and Edom came out against them: This is not just a verbal refusal; it escalates to active military deployment. The phrase indicates hostile intent and a clear threat of force, compelling Israel to avoid conflict.
- with a large army: Hebrew bĕḥa͡yil gāḏōl (בְּחַ֥יִל גָּד֖וֹל). Ḥa͡yil typically means "strength, wealth, army." Gāḏōl means "great, large." This highlights the significant military might Edom could muster. It suggests a well-organized and numerous force, presenting a formidable obstacle to Israel.
- and with a strong hand: Hebrew ûbĕyāḏ ḥāzāqāh (וּבְיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה). The phrase "strong hand" (yad ḥazaqa) is highly significant. In the Pentateuch, it is overwhelmingly used to describe the LORD's powerful action in delivering Israel from Egypt (e.g., Exod 3:19, 6:1, 13:3, 14). Here, Edom implicitly or explicitly attributes this powerful, coercive ability to themselves, claiming a strength that only belongs to God. This can be interpreted as a polemic, asserting human, national strength against God's chosen people, implicitly challenging divine sovereignty or presenting itself as a formidable force on par with divine intervention. It underscores Edom's arrogance and misplaced trust in their own might.
Numbers 20 20 Bonus section
The hostility of Edom documented here sets a precedent for their continuous antagonistic relationship with Israel throughout Old Testament history, culminating in fierce prophetic judgments from Obadiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Malachi, which ultimately pronounce God's desolation upon Edom due to their pride, violence, and treachery against their brother, Israel. The historical "King's Highway" (Numbers 20:17), the desired route, was a major ancient trade route, and control of it conferred significant economic and military advantages. Edom's refusal to allow Israel access solidified their control and exemplified their unwelcoming nature to outsiders, particularly Israel, cementing the Edomites' role as persistent antagonists in biblical narratives, stretching to the Idumeans of the Roman period.
Numbers 20 20 Commentary
Numbers 20:20 captures a pivotal moment demonstrating Edom's profound animosity toward Israel, originating from their shared ancestral line in Jacob and Esau. Edom's harsh and unwavering refusal, underscored by a show of considerable military force, highlights a deep-seated antagonism that persisted throughout biblical history. The Edomites not only verbalized their prohibition but actively prepared for conflict with a "large army and with a strong hand," directly challenging Israel's peaceful intent and asserting their own power. The use of "strong hand," a phrase primarily associated with Yahweh's powerful deliverance of Israel from Egypt, indicates Edom's pride and self-sufficiency, implicitly placing their human might in opposition to divine will for Israel's passage. This encounter served as an early indicator of the consistent opposition Israel would face from surrounding nations and revealed Edom's heart of hostility, laying a foundational narrative for later prophetic condemnations against them. Despite the setback, Israel, obeying God, chose to detour rather than engage in an uncommanded war, showcasing their continued reliance on divine leading even in the face of human resistance.