וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְאָכִ֣ים ׀ אֶל־מֶלֶךְ֩ אֱד֨וֹם ׀ לֵאמֹ֜ר אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֣א בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ וְלֹ֤א שָׁמַע֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֱד֔וֹם וְגַ֨ם אֶל־מֶ֧לֶךְ מוֹאָ֛ב שָׁלַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אָבָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּקָדֵֽשׁ׃
Pagkatapos ay nagpadala ang Israel ng mga sugo sa hari ng Edom upang sabihin, “Pakisuyo, paraanin mo ako sa iyong lupain”; ngunit hindi nakinig ang hari ng Edom. Nagpadala rin siya sa hari ng Moab, ngunit ayaw rin nito. Kaya nanatili ang Israel sa Kades.
Midrash Lekach Tov
And Israel settled in Shittim. Balak and all his people of Pethor took counsel and said, "We have no choice but to seek the advice of Balaam." Balaam... Balaam gave his advice. Balak came to curse the people of Israel. It is written in one place (Joshua 24:9), "And he fought against Israel." And in another place (Judges 11:17), "If we fight with them." But he came to fight, and it did not go well. Immediately they went and entrusted their daughters, as our sages said regarding the "remembered above" matter. Therefore, it is said, "And Israel settled in Shittim, and the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab." And it says (Numbers 31:16), "These caused the children of Israel to sin." Weren't they brought from Midian? Rather, it teaches us that Midian and Moab were in this advice that Balaam gave in order to cause Israel to stumble. When Israel saw that Balaam had no power to curse them, they immediately fell into immorality, and 24,000 of them perished. "In Shittim" means that they engaged in foolishness. As it is also said (Proverbs 7:7), "The adulterous woman lacks sense." Another interpretation: "And Israel settled in Shittim." Whenever the term "settling" is mentioned, it is a language of distress. It is said regarding Cain (Genesis 4:16), "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod." (Genesis 37:1) "And Jacob settled." Joseph was sold. (Exodus 32:6) "And the people sat down to eat and drink." And they handed over Joseph. (Exodus 32:6) "And the people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to play." And Israel settled in Shittim, and there were deaths, and the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. They made profane what was once holy. "The daughters of Moab" refers to the plains of Moab on the eastern side of the Jordan. For the wilderness of Jeshimon is to the west of the land of Moab, close to the Jordan, as it is a day's journey.
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 20:18:) “But Edom said unto him, “You shall not pass through me.’” This text is related to Ps. 120:7), “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.” Where is it shown that the Holy One, blessed be He, also told them that they would not permit you to pass, [that] everything is not due to them, but [that] it is I who wills it? Where it is stated (in Deut. 2:5), “Do not engage them in battle, for I will not give you [enough of their land for (even) the sole of a foot to tread on].” And it is written (in Numb 20:21), “So Edom would not let [Israel cross their territory].” And afterwards, they sent [a request] to the king of Moab, and he would not let [Israel cross his territory either]. And even though it is not explained here, behold it is explained in Judges. [This] teaches that it was all [said] with the holy spirit. As there was no one lighter in all [the speakers] then Jephthah, and [yet] he explained [it]. It is so stated (in Jud. 11:17), “Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Allow us to cross your country’; [but the king of Edom would not consent; they also sent a mission to the king of Moab, and he refused].” And Moses also indicated [this], as stated (in Deut. 2:29), “As the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir did for me, [and the Moabites who dwell in Ar].”
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: So said your brother Israel: You know all the travail that we have encountered” (Numbers 20:14).
“Moses sent messengers…So said your brother Israel” – this is what the verse said: “He who does not gossip with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor tolerates disgrace for his relative” (Psalms 15:3). The way of the world is that a person who engages in commerce with another and he angered him, he withdraws from him and does not wish to see him. Moses, even though he was punished by means of Israel, as it is stated: “They provoked at the waters of Meriva, and Moses suffered [on their account]” (Psalms 106:32), he did not remove their burden from upon him,52The midrash interprets the end of the verse as, “he does not consider himself to be disgraced on account of his relative,“ rather, he continues to work on behalf of his relative. but rather, he “sent messengers.”
“Our ancestors descended to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, and the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors” (Numbers 20:15)
“You know all the travail that we have encountered” (Numbers 20:14) – he said to him: ‘You know that when the Holy One blessed be He said: “Know, that your descendants will be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved to them, and they will oppress them, four hundred years” (Genesis 15:13), we were enslaved, but you are a free man.’ “Our ancestors descended” – it was due to that oppression. This is analogous to two brothers, where a promissory note was issued against their grandfather and one of them paid it off. Sometime later, one began asking to borrow an item from his brother. He said to him: ‘You know that that debt was on both of us, but it is I who repaid it. Do not reject me regarding the item that I am asking to borrow.’
“Our ancestors descended to Egypt” – what is the nature of the ancestors here, as it is stated: “And the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors”? It is because anytime that Israel is in distress, they too, are in distress.
“Please, let us pass through your land; we will not pass through a field or through a vineyard, and we will not drink well water; we will go on the king’s way; we will not turn right or left until we pass your border” (Numbers 20:17).
“Please, let us pass through your land…[we will not drink] well water” – it should have said “water of pits.”53Well is singular, but pits is plural. The Torah teaches you etiquette, that one who goes to a land that is not his and has [enough for] his needs in his possession, he should not eat from what is in his possession, but rather, his shall be placed aside and he should purchase from the storekeeper in order to benefit him. So, Moses said to him: ‘The well accompanies us and we eat manna; do not say that we are an imposition upon you. You will be earning income for yourself’; so, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “You shall purchase food from them with silver” (Deuteronomy 2:6). Moses said to them: ‘Loosen your purse strings, so they will not say: They were slaves, they are poor. Show them your wealth, and they will know that you did not lose because of the enslavement. “Afterward they will emerge with great wealth” (Genesis 15:14) – and they will know that you are lacking nothing, and it is not from your own that you are giving, as it is stated: “For the Lord your God blessed you…these forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing”’ (Deuteronomy 2:7).
“We will go on the king’s way” – as we will muzzle our animals. “We will not turn right or left” – this is the most difficult of all, as they said to him: In all of our surroundings we have permission to kill and pillage, but within your borders, “we will not turn right or left.”
“Edom said to him: You shall not pass through me, lest I come out toward you with the sword” (Numbers 20:18).
“Edom said to him: You shall not pass through me” – this is what the verse said: “I am peace; but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalms 120:7). From where is it derived that this is what the Holy One blessed be He said to him, that: ‘They will not allow you to pass, and it is not all from them, because it is I who wants it,’ as it is stated: “Do not provoke them, for I will not give you from their land” (Deuteronomy 2:5), and it is written: “Edom refused to allow Israel” (Numbers 20:21). Then they sent to the king of Moav, and he was unwilling. Although it is not explicit here, it is explicit in Judges, teaching that it is all in the Divine Spirit, as there was no one among all of them of insignificant stature as Yiftaḥ,54Everything written in the Bible was written with the Divine Spirit, and since Yiftaḥ’s statement is quoted it is certainly a correct description of what had occurred even though he was of insignificant stature. and he stated it explicitly, as it is stated: “Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: Please let me pass through your land; but the king of Edom would not heed. They also sent to the king of Moav, but he was unwilling” (Judges 11:17). Moses also intimated: “Like the children of Esau, who live in Seir, [and the Moavites, who live in Ar,] did for me” (Deuteronomy 2:29).
“Moses sent messengers…So said your brother Israel” – this is what the verse said: “He who does not gossip with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor tolerates disgrace for his relative” (Psalms 15:3). The way of the world is that a person who engages in commerce with another and he angered him, he withdraws from him and does not wish to see him. Moses, even though he was punished by means of Israel, as it is stated: “They provoked at the waters of Meriva, and Moses suffered [on their account]” (Psalms 106:32), he did not remove their burden from upon him,52The midrash interprets the end of the verse as, “he does not consider himself to be disgraced on account of his relative,“ rather, he continues to work on behalf of his relative. but rather, he “sent messengers.”
“Our ancestors descended to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt many years, and the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors” (Numbers 20:15)
“You know all the travail that we have encountered” (Numbers 20:14) – he said to him: ‘You know that when the Holy One blessed be He said: “Know, that your descendants will be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved to them, and they will oppress them, four hundred years” (Genesis 15:13), we were enslaved, but you are a free man.’ “Our ancestors descended” – it was due to that oppression. This is analogous to two brothers, where a promissory note was issued against their grandfather and one of them paid it off. Sometime later, one began asking to borrow an item from his brother. He said to him: ‘You know that that debt was on both of us, but it is I who repaid it. Do not reject me regarding the item that I am asking to borrow.’
“Our ancestors descended to Egypt” – what is the nature of the ancestors here, as it is stated: “And the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors”? It is because anytime that Israel is in distress, they too, are in distress.
“Please, let us pass through your land; we will not pass through a field or through a vineyard, and we will not drink well water; we will go on the king’s way; we will not turn right or left until we pass your border” (Numbers 20:17).
“Please, let us pass through your land…[we will not drink] well water” – it should have said “water of pits.”53Well is singular, but pits is plural. The Torah teaches you etiquette, that one who goes to a land that is not his and has [enough for] his needs in his possession, he should not eat from what is in his possession, but rather, his shall be placed aside and he should purchase from the storekeeper in order to benefit him. So, Moses said to him: ‘The well accompanies us and we eat manna; do not say that we are an imposition upon you. You will be earning income for yourself’; so, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “You shall purchase food from them with silver” (Deuteronomy 2:6). Moses said to them: ‘Loosen your purse strings, so they will not say: They were slaves, they are poor. Show them your wealth, and they will know that you did not lose because of the enslavement. “Afterward they will emerge with great wealth” (Genesis 15:14) – and they will know that you are lacking nothing, and it is not from your own that you are giving, as it is stated: “For the Lord your God blessed you…these forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing”’ (Deuteronomy 2:7).
“We will go on the king’s way” – as we will muzzle our animals. “We will not turn right or left” – this is the most difficult of all, as they said to him: In all of our surroundings we have permission to kill and pillage, but within your borders, “we will not turn right or left.”
“Edom said to him: You shall not pass through me, lest I come out toward you with the sword” (Numbers 20:18).
“Edom said to him: You shall not pass through me” – this is what the verse said: “I am peace; but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalms 120:7). From where is it derived that this is what the Holy One blessed be He said to him, that: ‘They will not allow you to pass, and it is not all from them, because it is I who wants it,’ as it is stated: “Do not provoke them, for I will not give you from their land” (Deuteronomy 2:5), and it is written: “Edom refused to allow Israel” (Numbers 20:21). Then they sent to the king of Moav, and he was unwilling. Although it is not explicit here, it is explicit in Judges, teaching that it is all in the Divine Spirit, as there was no one among all of them of insignificant stature as Yiftaḥ,54Everything written in the Bible was written with the Divine Spirit, and since Yiftaḥ’s statement is quoted it is certainly a correct description of what had occurred even though he was of insignificant stature. and he stated it explicitly, as it is stated: “Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying: Please let me pass through your land; but the king of Edom would not heed. They also sent to the king of Moav, but he was unwilling” (Judges 11:17). Moses also intimated: “Like the children of Esau, who live in Seir, [and the Moavites, who live in Ar,] did for me” (Deuteronomy 2:29).