Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 20:19
And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without [doing] any thing [else], go through on my feet.
19. without doing anything else] lit. ‘it is not a matter’; i.e. it is not a matter that can cause you any injury or annoyance; it is a mere nothing that we ask.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Children of Israel said unto him, i.e. their messengers replied unto them what here follows.
I will pay for it; for water was a scarce commodity in those parts.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. if I and my cattle drink of thywater, then I will pay for itFrom the scarcity of water in thewarm climates of the East, the practice of levying a tax for the useof the wells is universal; and the jealousy of the natives, inguarding the collected treasures of rain, is often so great thatwater cannot be procured for money.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the children of Israel said unto him,…. The messengers sent by the children of Israel made answer to the king of Edom:
we will go by the highway; we desire no other favour but that of the public road; we propose not to go through any part of the country that is enclosed and cultivated, to do any damage to it:
if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it; as it was usual, and still is, to buy water in those countries near the Red sea, where it is scarce. We are told d, that at Suess, a city on the extremity of the Red sea, there is no water nearer than six or seven hours journey towards the north east, which is brought from thence on camels; and a small vessel of it is sold for three or four medinas, and a larger vessel for eight or ten, according to the demand for it; a medina is an Egyptian piece of money, worth about three halfpence of our English money:
I will only (without doing anything else) go through on my feet; as fast as I can, without saying anything to the inhabitants to terrify and distress them, and without doing them any injury. Some render it, I will only go “with my footmen” e; foot soldiers, an army on foot, as Israel were.
d See a Journal from Cairo to Mount Sinai, p. 10, 11. Ed. 2. e “cum meo exercitu pedestri”; so some in Fagius & Vatablus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
19. And the children of Israel said unto him. It is doubtful whether or not the ambassadors were sent a second time, in order to remove all unjust suspicions, and to appease the ferocity (of the Edomites.) It is probable, however, that we have the relation of what was done in one and the same expedition. The sum is, that the Israelites tried every means, in order that a free and unmolested passage might be accorded them by the Edomites: whence their repulse might appear the more harsh and intolerable. But God, by this test, would prove the obedience of His people. As regards the Edomites, although by rashly taking up arms they would have drawn upon themselves just destruction, still God spared them for a time; not by freely pardoning them, but by deferring their punishment, as He is wont to do, until its due season.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(19) I will only, without doing anything else . . . Literally, Onlyit is nothinglet me pass through on my feet.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. The high way A causeway or raised way, as the single term signifies in the Hebrew. It is the same as the king’s way in Num 20:17, and was probably a road used for military purposes. See Mat 3:3, note. The Seventy render it, “We will pass along the mountains.”
Water pay for Says Dr. Thomson: “Water is often difficult to be had either for love or money. A friend of mine informed me, that passing through a part of the country east of the Jordan in the autumn, he could barely secure water absolutely necessary for his animals; and the article was so precious that all washing, even of his own face, was dispensed with for several days.”
Go through on my feet The Vulgate, “Only let us go through swiftly.” They would make no encampment nor incur needless delay.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 20:19. Without doing any thing else The Hebrew is only, not a word: to which the different versions give different senses. The meaning seems to be, “It is not a mere promise, or verbal declaration; but we will perform what we say.” Houbigant renders it, Nulla erit concertatio; there shall be no contest, no dispute. In which, says he, I partly follow the Vulgate; for it is very uncertain what this phrase means. The following expression, I will only go through, on my feet, signifies, I will only pass through, I will make what haste I can in passing: Je ne serai que passer.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
without doing any thing else. Hebrew “without a word”: i.e. without [saying] a word. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Deu 2:6, Deu 2:28
Reciprocal: 2Sa 20:13 – the highway