Numbers 20:17

Num 20:17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink [of] the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s [high] way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

Ver. 17. We will not pass.] So should a Christian bespeak the world. Let us pass through thy country; we will neither touch nor taste of thy cares, but go by the king’s highway, that good old way that God hath scored out unto us, until we arrive at the key of Canaan, at the kingdom of heaven.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Num_20:17

We will go by the kings highway.

The kings highway

They meant that, however tempting was the fruit of the fields, however fascinating the byways, however inviting the sparkling water in the wells might seem, they would keep to the bard-beaten thoroughfares that ran north and south of the country, by which travellers had passed in ages now gone by. Now, without doubt, such words have a spiritual and typical meaning.

I. Of the nation at large. Israel pronounced them unanimously as a nation, and we, as the English nation, may well re-echo them after all these hundreds of years. And it is well for us to bear in mind that whole nations must stand up for God as well as individuals. Numbers can never make a sin less grievous.

II. They are words, too, that may be hoped for from the mouth of the church. God is essentially a God of :law and order. The Church must go by the Kings highway.

III. But as with the nation and with the Church, so with the individual, they are words that are appropriate in the mouth--

1. Of the young Christian, starting off on lifes journey, just going into the world. Happy, aye thrice happy, he who, with dogged determination, says, We will go by the Kings highway.

2. So, too, they are suited especially to the penitent. He, too, must look into the future and resolve to go by the Kings highway. And here we must pause to notice that the individual highway consists--

(1) Of morals. We must take the code of Gods commandments, showing our duty to God and man, and walk in the way of Gods commandments.

(2) Of faith. Ethics alone are not sufficient; there must be a firm basis of Church doctrine, something on which the soul of man may lean for comfort in distress.

IV. Lastly, we are not alone in our efforts to go by the Kings highway; we are cheered by the examples of all the saints whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life. In conclusion, I would add that the Kings highway leads to the city of the Great King. (W. O. Parish.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Num 20:17. The wells — Or pits, which any of you have digged for your private use, not without paying for it, Num 20:19; but only of the water of common rivers, which are free to all passengers. No man’s property ought to be invaded, under colour of religion. Dominion is founded in providence, not in grace.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20:17 We won’t even drink water from your wells: Edom is very dry; food and water were too scarce to provide for this substantial number of Hebrew immigrants. • We will stay on the king’s road: The “King’s Highway” (also 21:22) is well known in the Old Testament, though its exact route is not certain. As its name indicates, this route was maintained for official purposes, including the movement of troops and trade. Along this trail, travelers could find settlements, food, and water between the Red Sea and Damascus. The route remained important into Roman and even modern times. This royal road contrasted with a much less hospitable route farther to the east called the Desert Highway.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Or, highway.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

we will go by the king's highway--probably Wady-el-Ghuweir [ROBERTS], through which ran one of the great lines of road, constructed for commercial caravans, as well as for the progress of armies. The engineering necessary for carrying them over marshes or mountains, and the care requisite for protecting them from the shifting sands, led to their being under the special care of the state. Hence the expression, "the king's highway," which is of great antiquity.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 17. We will go by the king's high-way] This is the first time this phrase occurs; it appears to have been a public road made by the king's authority at the expense of the state.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(17) We will go by the king’s highway.—It is supposed that this military road led through the broad Wady el Ghuweir, which is celebrated for its excellent pasture and its numerous springs. (See Keil in loc.)

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17. the king’s way] A main trade-route through the country. In modern Palestine such a route is known by the name of darb es-sulṭân or ‘Sultan’s way.’

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Edom said unto him,.... The king of Edom replied to Israel, represented by the messengers sent in their name:

thou shall not pass by me; through my country:

lest I come out against thee with the sword; or with those that use the sword, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; that is, with an army of soldiers with their drawn swords in their hands, to slay them as enemies.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Wells, or pits, which any of you have digged for your private use, to wit, without paying for it, Num 20:19; Deu 2:6; but only of the waters of common rivers, which are free to all passengers, and will not be prejudicial to thee.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

17. Not pass through… fields… vineyards — The promises made in this verse were specific commands given by Jehovah. The Edomites were exempted from conquest or annoyance by Israel on his journey because they are “your brethren, the children of Esau.” The command also was, “Distress not the Moabites,” because they are “the children of Lot,” more distant kindred of Israel. See Deu_2:4-6; Deu_2:9; Gen_19:36-37.

Water of the wells — Wells or cisterns are of great value in a country where man and beast are dependent during the greater part of the year upon the reservoirs filled in the rainy season. Hence the charge, given in Deuteronomy, “Ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.” This sounds strangely in the ears of the Western nations. Still more surprising is the lament of captive Israel, “We have drunken our water for money,” paid to foreign despots who have seized our wells and cisterns. Lam_5:4.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country. Moses desired to march through Seir eastwards and northeastwards, so as to reach the country beyond Jordan. If the northern portion of the wilderness of Paran was at this time held by the king of Edom, it would be through this region that Israel would first seek to make their way from Kadesh to the Arabah; thence the broad and easy pass of the Wady Ghuweir would lead them through Mount Seir (properly so called) to the plains of Moab. Through the fields, or through the vineyards. These words attest the change for the worse in the condition of these regions. Even in the Wady Ghuweir, although springs and pasturage are abundant, fields and vineyards hardly exist. Neither will we drink, i.e., as appears from verse 19, without obtaining leave and making payment. By the king"s highway. The state road used for military purposes.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The wells - Or, pits, which any of you have digged for your private use, not without paying for it, ver. 19, but only of the waters of common rivers, which are free to all passengers. No man's property ought to be invaded, under colour of religion. Dominion is founded in providence, not in Grace.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Connecting Statement:

The messengers continue speaking to the king of Edom.

We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left

Here "turn aside" represents leaving the road. AT: "We will not leave the road in any direction" (See: Metonymy)

the king's highway

This is the main road that connects Damascus in the north to the Gulf of Aqabah in the south.

translationWords

vineyard

cistern

turn

hand

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

נעברה נא בארצך LET US PASS, I PRAY THEE, THROUGH THY COUNTRY — You have no right to lay claim to the land of Israel as an inheritance, just the same as you have not paid the debt (see Rashi v. 14); render us therefore a little assistance by permitting us to pass through your land.

ולא נשתה מי באר NEITHER WILL WE DRINK OF THE WATER OF THE SPRINGS — He should have said “water of the cisterns (בורות)”; but this was what Moses meant to say: Although we have manna to eat, and a well of which to drink, (that which followed them through the wilderness), we will not drink of it, but we will buy food and water from you to your advantage. From here we may learn a rule for a guest (one lodging in an inn): although he has in his possession something to eat, he should yet purchase something from the local tradesman in order to benefit his host (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 12).

דרך המלך נלך וגו׳ WE WILL KEEP TO THE KING’S HIGHWAY etc. — we will muzzle our cattle, and so they will not turn aside into the fields on this side or that to eat (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 12).

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

The king’s road. We will travel on that road which the king commands us to travel on, as is accustomed with every king: They allow passage to an army of their allies, by sending a guide with them, so that the soldiers will not harm the residents of the land as they pass through.

Sforno on the Tanakh — English translation: “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

We will not pass through any field or vineyard so as not to destroy them, and we will not even drink from your well water.

We will travel by the king’s road. It could be explained: The road upon which the king travels. Or an alternative explanation: We will travel on the road that the king commands, and this refers to the king of Edom.

Ibn Ezra on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0); and “Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah - trans. by M. Friedlander, 1873” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.