Numbers 20:19
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.
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”
- KJV
- And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
- WEB
- The children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”
- ASV
- And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet.
- DARBY
- And the children of Israel said to him, We will go by the high way; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then I will pay for it: I will only, without anything else, go through on my feet.
- BLB
- And the sons of Israel said to him, “We will go on the highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, I will give their price. Only nothing more—let me pass through on foot.”
- ÅB
- Da sa Israels barn til ham: Vi skal følge landeveien, og dersom vi eller vår buskap drikker av ditt vann, så vil jeg gi deg vederlag for det. Det er ikke stort jeg ber om; jeg vil bare dra igjennom på min fot.
- OTB
- Israelittene sa til ham: “Vi vil gå langs hovedveien, og hvis vi eller vårt buskap drikker noe av ditt vann, skal vi betale for det. Vi ønsker bare å passere gjennom til fots—ikke noe mer.”
- B1930
- Da sa Israels barn til ham: Vi skal følge landeveien, og dersom vi eller vår buskap drikker av ditt vann, så vil jeg gi dig vederlag for det. Det er ikke stort jeg ber om; jeg vil bare dra igjennem på min fot.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 2:28
Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;
Read in contextDeuteronomy 2:6
Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.
Read in contextExodus 12:38
And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
Read in context