Komentaryo sa Mga Bilang 20:14: Rashi, Kli Yakar, Ramban & Or HaChaim

אחיך ישראל THY BROTHER ISRAEL — What reason had he to mention here their brotherhood? But in effect he said to him: We are brothers, sons of Abraham to whom it was said, (Genesis 15:13) “know for a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger [in a land not theirs]”, and upon both of us, being of Abraham’s seed, was the duty of paying that debt (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 12).

Thus said your brother Israel, etc. You know all the hardship, etc. For this hardship was meant to be shared by you, to pay the debt of your descendants will be strangers [in a land not theirs], but we endured all the hardship, even your portion. He hinted at this in the word “hatela’ah” [hardship], tav equaling 400, corresponding to the 400 [years] of exile, plus [the numerical equivalent of the remaining letters being] 40 for their wandering in the desert, and the [letter] alef is not counted. And just as you have no share in paying the debt, you also have no share in the land, because it is as if we purchased your portion from you. So it is fitting that you too give the purchase into our hands and help us come to the land quickly.

AND MOSES SENT MESSENGERS FROM KADESH UNTO THE KING OF EDOM. Scripture did not mention the king’s name, because there was no necessity to do so. It did, however, mention Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, by name, because they were famous for their strength, and they had a name among¹⁹⁵See II Samuel 23:18. the nations; [therefore it stresses] that we should give thanks to Him, blessed be He, for having dealt wondrously with us, as it is said, To Him that smote great kings; for His mercy endureth for ever … Sihon king of the Amorites; for His mercy endureth for ever. And Og king of Bashan; for His mercy endureth for ever.¹⁹⁶Psalms 136:17-20. And it is customary for Scripture to mention the names of the great kings whose lands we inherited, just as it mentioned in [the Book of] Joshua the five kings of the Amorites:¹⁹⁷Joshua 10:5. Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem, and Hoham king of Hebron, and Piram king of Jarmuth, and Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon.¹⁹⁸Ibid., Verse 3. [It mentioned also] Jabin king of Hazor,¹⁹⁹Ibid., 11:1. but the rest of the kings it mentioned only by number,²⁰⁰Ibid., 12:9-24. not by name [because they were not famous for their strength]. Scripture states [here], And ‘Edom’ said unto him²⁰¹Verse 18. ‘Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.’ [and it does not say: “and ‘the king’ of Edom said”], because the whole people agreed with their ruler in his refusal [to allow the Israelites to pass through their land].

אתה ידעת את כל התלאה THOU KNOWEST ALL THE TRAVAIL — It was on this account that your father separated himself from our father, as it is said, (Genesis 36:6), "And he (Esau) went to another land on account of Jacob, his brother” — on account of the bond which devolved upon both of them, and he cast the whole of it upon Jacob (Genesis Rabbah 82:13; cf. Rashi on Genesis 36.7.2).