Numbers 21 4

Numbers 21:4 kjv

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

Numbers 21:4 nkjv

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.

Numbers 21:4 niv

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;

Numbers 21:4 esv

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.

Numbers 21:4 nlt

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 4 Meaning

Numbers 21:4 describes a new phase in the Israelites' wilderness journey after leaving Mount Hor. Due to a necessary detour around Edom's territory, which refused them passage, the path became arduous. Consequently, the people's patience waned, and their spirits became short, leading to impatience and discouragement along the difficult route.

Numbers 21 4 Context

Numbers chapter 21 immediately follows the death of Aaron on Mount Hor and the subsequent initial victory over the Canaanites in Arad (Num 20:22-29, 21:1-3). The broader context is the Israelites' prolonged wilderness wanderings, now in their 40th year, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. Their path led them to request passage through Edom, a neighboring nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother. Edom adamantly refused, even mobilizing its army to block their way (Num 20:14-21). God commanded Israel not to engage in conflict with Edom. This forced Israel into a difficult and lengthy detour southward, away from the more direct route. This unforeseen complication, combined with the cumulative weariness of decades in the desert and the physical hardship of the route, led to the immediate reaction described in verse 4.

Numbers 21 4 Word analysis

• From Mount Hor (מֵהֹר הָהָר, me-Hor ha-Har):
  • Word: "Hor" (הֹר, Hor). "Ha-Har" means "the Mountain." Literally "Mount of the Mountain."
  • Significance: A geographically significant location. It was the place where Aaron, the high priest, had died and was buried, marking a significant transition in leadership and the generation. Leaving Mount Hor represents moving on from a moment of both solemnity and continued purpose.
• they set out (וַיִּסְעוּ, vayis'u):
  • Word: A verb meaning "to journey," "to break camp."
  • Significance: Highlights continued movement. The journey itself is central to their identity and God's testing.
• by the way to the Red Sea (דֶּרֶךְ יַם-סוּף, derech Yam-Suph):
  • Word: "Way" (דֶּרֶךְ, derech) signifies "route," "road," or "path." "Red Sea" (יַם-סוּף, Yam-Suph) literally "Sea of Reeds," which was the sea they crossed during the Exodus.
  • Significance: This indicates a significant southward detour, away from the more direct route through Edom, making the journey longer and more arduous. The phrase "Red Sea" here doesn't refer to the crossing point during the Exodus but a southern extension or branch of it, directing them further into arid regions.
• to go around the land of Edom (לְסֹב אֶת-אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם, l'sov et-eretz Edom):
  • Word: "Go around" (לְסֹב, l'sov) implies circling or bypassing. "Land of Edom" (אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם, eretz Edom) is the territory of Esau's descendants.
  • Significance: This was the primary reason for the lengthy detour. Edom's refusal of passage, backed by armed force, forced Israel to take an extremely indirect route, stretching their patience. God commanded Israel to avoid conflict with Edom, indicating a divine principle of non-aggression with certain kin.
• And the people (וַתִּקְצַר נֶפֶשׁ הָעָם, va-tiqtsar nefesh ha-am):
  • Phrase: "the soul of the people was shortened" or "their spirit became short." This is the core expression of their emotional state.
  • Significance: This idiom, katsar nefesh, perfectly captures their growing frustration, impatience, and loss of morale. It speaks to a deep internal weariness and lack of perseverance, a spiritual as much as physical exhaustion. It implies a breaking point for their endurance.
• became impatient on the way (בַּדָּרֶךְ, ba-darekh):
  • Word: "On the way" (ba-darekh).
  • Significance: This directly links their impatience to the specific circumstances of the journey itself – its length, difficulty, and the recent setback (the detour). It was not just an internal disposition but provoked by the concrete hardship of the path God had led them on.

Numbers 21 4 Bonus section

The "Red Sea" (Yam Suph) mentioned here likely refers to the Gulf of Aqaba or a branch thereof, not the Gulf of Suez associated with the Exodus crossing. This emphasizes their prolonged travel in the arid southern region, further from their destination. The psychological burden of constant nomadic life, reliance on daily manna, and the emotional toll of forty years in the wilderness significantly contributed to their short temper and quick discouragement, rather than being mere weakness, but a chronic lack of deep, enduring faith. This katsar nefesh is contrasted throughout Scripture with patience, endurance, and quiet trust in the Lord's timing and wisdom. It is a recurring motif used to teach later generations about the dangers of spiritual weariness leading to open rebellion.

Numbers 21 4 Commentary

Numbers 21:4 serves as the critical setup for one of the most memorable judgment-and-healing narratives in the wilderness. The people's impatience, denoted by katsar nefesh, encapsulates the Israelites' chronic spiritual ailment throughout their wilderness wanderings: a profound lack of faith and perseverance when faced with prolonged hardship or unforeseen obstacles. The arduous detour around Edom, though divinely mandated, was perceived as an unnecessary burden. This short-sightedness prevented them from trusting God's overarching plan and provision, which had sustained them for nearly forty years. Their impatience, a precursor to murmuring and rebellion, signifies a deeper discontent not just with the route, but with God's leadership through Moses and His ongoing care. This internal dissatisfaction ultimately invited the Lord's judgment, as described in subsequent verses, highlighting the spiritual danger of losing heart in God's prescribed path, however difficult it may seem. This instance provides a sobering example for believers about the necessity of endurance and faith during times of trial.