SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:4
¶ Y partieron del monte de Hor, camino del mar Bermejo, para rodear la tierra de Edom; y el alma del pueblo fue angustiada en el camino.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And they journeyed from Mount Hor , etc.] After the battle with the king of Arad, and the defeat of him: by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom ; which lay by it, and from whence it had the name of the Red sea, Edom signifying red; and by the way of that the Israelites must needs go, to go round that country: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way ; because it was going back instead of going forward to Canaan’s land, and because of the length of the way; it was a round about way they were going; when, could they have been admitted to have passed through the country of Edom, the way would have been short; or had they pursued their victory over the Canaanite, they would have gone directly into the land; and this perhaps was what fretted, vexed, and discouraged them, that they were obliged to go back, and take such a circuit, when they had such an opportunity of entering; and they might be distressed also with the badness and the roughness of the way, the borders of Edom being rocky and craggy: it is in the original text, “their soul or breath was short” f300 ; they fetched their breath short, being weary and faint with travelling, or through anger, as angry persons do, when in a great passion: so the people of God travelling through the wilderness of this world are often discouraged, because of the difficulties, trials, and troubles they meet with in the way, from sin, Satan, and the world, and are fretful and impatient; but though they are led about and walk in a round about way, and in a rough way, yet in a right way to the city of their habitation, ( <19A707> Psalm 107:7).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-9 - The children of Israel were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom. They speak discontentedly of what God had done for them, an distrustfully of what he would do. What will they be pleased with, who manna will not please? Let not the contempt which some cast on the wor of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantia bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eterna life, whoever may call it light bread. We see the righteous judgmen God brought upon them for murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them which bit or stung many to death. It is to be feared that they woul not have owned the sin, if they had not felt the smart; but they relen under the rod. And God made a wonderful provision for their relief. The Jews themselves say it was not the sight of the brazen serpent tha cured; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord tha healed them. There was much gospel in this. Our Saviour declared, Jo 3:14, 15, that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whatsoever believeth in him, shoul not perish. Compare their disease and ours. Sin bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. Compare the application of their remedy an ours. They looked and lived, and we, if we believe, shall not perish It is by faith that we look unto Jesus, Heb 12:2. Whosoever looked however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place was certainly and perfectly cured. The Lord can relieve us from danger and distresses, by means which human reason never would have devised Oh that the venom of the old serpent, inflaming men's passions, an causing them to commit sins which end in their eternal destruction were as sensibly felt, and the danger as plainly seen, as the Israelites felt pain from the bite of the fiery serpents, and feare the death which followed! Then none would shut their eyes to Christ, or turn from his gospel. Then a crucified Saviour would be so valued, tha all things else would be accounted loss for him; then, without delay and with earnestness and simplicity, all would apply to him in the appointed way, crying, Lord, save us; we perish! Nor would any abus the freeness of Christ's salvation, while they reckoned the price whic it cost him.
Original Hebrew
ויסעו 5265 מהר 2023 ההר 2022 דרך 1870 ים 3220 סוף 5488 לסבב 5437 את 853 ארץ 776 אדום 123 ותקצר 7114 נפשׁ 5315 העם 5971 בדרך׃ 1870
