Bible Strands
Judges 11:17
Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Israel sends diplomatic envoys to the kings of Edom and Moab requesting temporary passage through their lands, but both rulers refuse, leaving the Israelite camp stationed at Kadesh. This occurs after the Exodus departure from Egypt and immediately precedes the wilderness route that skirts Moab's border at the Arnon.
The words — וַיִּשְׁלַח (va-yishlach) means "and he sent," marking the formal dispatch of the delegation. אֶעְבְּרָה (e-everah) translates "let me pass," framing the request strictly as transit rather than settlement.
The thread — The identical mission to Edom is recorded in Numbers 20:14 from Kadesh and echoed in the Deuteronomy 2:4 command to traverse Esau's territory. The diplomatic dead-end at Kadesh directly explains the detour described in Judges 11:18 that bypasses Edom and Moab.
Why it lands — The text records that political refusal can dictate Israel's immediate geography without halting the broader journey. It asks the reader to accept blocked requests as factual boundary markers rather than divine setbacks.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.
Cross-references
- Numbers 20:1 In the first month, the whole congregation of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin and stayed in Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
- Numbers 20:14 From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us,
- Deuteronomy 2:4 and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.
- Deuteronomy 2:29 just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.”
- Joshua 24:9 Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,