SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:17
Te rogamos que pasemos por tu tierra; no pasaremos por labranza, ni por viña, ni beberemos agua de pozos; por el camino real iremos, sin apartarnos a diestra ni a siniestra, hasta que hayamos pasado tu término.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Numbers 20:17
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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 17. Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country , etc.] That being the nearest and shortest way to the land of Canaan, from the place where they now were: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards ; to harm them, and injure any man in his private property, by gathering the fruit of them, if the season of the year for it, or by trampling them down: neither will we drink of the water of the wells ; which private persons had dug, for the watering of their fields and vineyards, and for other uses, at least without paying for it; or only of the waters of the rivers, common to all passengers; from hence it appears, that the country of Edom was not then such a barren country as in later times, and as travellers now report it is; (see Gill on “ Malachi 1:3”) we will go by the king’s highway ; not the way in which the king used to walk, or which he should order them to walk in, as Aben Ezra; but the public roads, common to all his subjects, and travellers to walk in by his allowance; and such roads are now called by us the king’s highway: we will not turn to the right hand, or to the left ; to do any injury to any person’s property, but go straight forward: until we have passed thy borders ; from one to another, and got quite through the country.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 14-21 - The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped, wa through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returne with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive damage by the Israelites And had this numerous army been under any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself, there might have been cause for thi jealousy. But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred revived, when the blessing was about to be inherited. We mus not think it strange, if reasonable requests be denied by unreasonabl men, and if those whom God favours be affronted by men.
Original Hebrew
נעברה 5674 נא 4994 בארצך 776 לא 3808 נעבר 5674 בשׂדה 7704 ובכרם 3754 ולא 3808 נשׁתה 8354 מי 4325 באר 875 דרך 1870 המלך 4428 נלך 1980 לא 3808 נטה 5186 ימין 3225 ושׂמאול 8040 עד 5704 אשׁר 834 נעבר 5674 גבלך׃ 1366
