Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:17
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink [of] the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s [high] way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
17. the king’s way ] A main trade-route through the country. In modern Palestine such a route is known by the name of darb es-suln or ‘Sultan’s way.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Num 20:17
We will go by the kings highway.
The kings highway
They meant that, however tempting was the fruit of the fields, however fascinating the byways, however inviting the sparkling water in the wells might seem, they would keep to the bard-beaten thoroughfares that ran north and south of the country, by which travellers had passed in ages now gone by. Now, without doubt, such words have a spiritual and typical meaning.
I. Of the nation at large. Israel pronounced them unanimously as a nation, and we, as the English nation, may well re-echo them after all these hundreds of years. And it is well for us to bear in mind that whole nations must stand up for God as well as individuals. Numbers can never make a sin less grievous.
II. They are words, too, that may be hoped for from the mouth of the church. God is essentially a God of :law and order. The Church must go by the Kings highway.
III. But as with the nation and with the Church, so with the individual, they are words that are appropriate in the mouth–
1. Of the young Christian, starting off on lifes journey, just going into the world. Happy, aye thrice happy, he who, with dogged determination, says, We will go by the Kings highway.
2. So, too, they are suited especially to the penitent. He, too, must look into the future and resolve to go by the Kings highway. And here we must pause to notice that the individual highway consists–
(1) Of morals. We must take the code of Gods commandments, showing our duty to God and man, and walk in the way of Gods commandments.
(2) Of faith. Ethics alone are not sufficient; there must be a firm basis of Church doctrine, something on which the soul of man may lean for comfort in distress.
IV. Lastly, we are not alone in our efforts to go by the Kings highway; we are cheered by the examples of all the saints whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life. In conclusion, I would add that the Kings highway leads to the city of the Great King. (W. O. Parish.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Wells, or pits, which any of you have digged for your private use, to wit, without paying for it, Num 20:19; Deu 2:6; but only of the waters of common rivers, which are free to all passengers, and will not be prejudicial to thee.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. we will go by the king’shighwayprobably Wady-el-Ghuweir [ROBERTS],through which ran one of the great lines of road, constructed forcommercial caravans, as well as for the progress of armies. Theengineering necessary for carrying them over marshes or mountains,and the care requisite for protecting them from the shifting sands,led to their being under the special care of the state. Hence theexpression, “the king’s highway,” which is of greatantiquity.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country,…. 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 c now report it is; [See comments on Mal 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.
c See Shaw’s Travels, 4. 438. Ed. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) We will go by the kings highway.It is supposed that this military road led through the broad Wady el Ghuweir, which is celebrated for its excellent pasture and its numerous springs. (See Keil in loc.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Not pass through fields vineyards The promises made in this verse were specific commands given by Jehovah. The Edomites were exempted from conquest or annoyance by Israel on his journey because they are “your brethren, the children of Esau.” The command also was, “Distress not the Moabites,” because they are “the children of Lot,” more distant kindred of Israel. See Deu 2:4-6; Deu 2:9; Gen 19:36-37.
Water of the wells Wells or cisterns are of great value in a country where man and beast are dependent during the greater part of the year upon the reservoirs filled in the rainy season. Hence the charge, given in Deuteronomy, “Ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.” This sounds strangely in the ears of the Western nations. Still more surprising is the lament of captive Israel, “We have drunken our water for money,” paid to foreign despots who have seized our wells and cisterns. Lam 5:4.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 20:17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink [of] the water of the wells: we will go by the king’s [high] way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
Ver. 17. We will not pass. ] So should a Christian bespeak the world. Let us pass through thy country; we will neither touch nor taste of thy cares, but go by the king’s highway, that good old way that God hath scored out unto us, until we arrive at the key of Canaan, at the kingdom of heaven.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
wells. Hebrew. beer. See note on Gen 21:19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Num 21:1, Num 21:22-24, Deu 2:1-4, Deu 2:27, Deu 2:29
Reciprocal: Gen 24:49 – that I Gen 27:39 – the fatness Deu 1:2 – by the way 2Sa 14:19 – turn 2Ch 20:10 – whom thou
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 20:17. The wells Or pits, which any of you have digged for your private use, not without paying for it, Num 20:19; but only of the water of common rivers, which are free to all passengers. No mans property ought to be invaded, under colour of religion. Dominion is founded in providence, not in grace.