Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 11:17
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.
17. Abbreviated from Num 20:14-18 JE. Edom lay to the S. and S.E. of Palestine. There is no mention elsewhere of the embassy to Moab.
Let me, I pray thee ] The nation as a whole is personified, a not uncommon idiom; cf. Jdg 11:12, Jdg 20:23, Num 20:18 etc. In Jdg 11:19, Num 20:17; Num 20:19 the plur. and sing, interchange.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Peaceably, and did not revenge their unkindness and inhumanity, as they could have done.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom,…. The history of which may be read in Nu 20:14, c.
saying, let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land the land of Edom, from the south to the north of it, according to Jarchi, which was the nearest and shortest way to the land of Canaan; so far were the Israelites from invading and seizing upon the properties of others, that they would not attempt to set their foot in another’s country without leave; which they asked in an humble manner, promising to do no injury to any, but pay for whatever they ate and drank in their passage:
but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto; or grant their request, but refused them passage through his country:
and in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab, but he would not consent; that they should pass through his country, which lay, as Jarchi says, at the end of the land of Edom, to the west of it, and to the south of Canaan; and though we nowhere else read of their sending messengers to the king of Moab, and of the denial he made them, it is not at all to be doubted of, and the Jewish commentators observe, that it is clearly intimated by Moses, De 2:29
as the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, and the Moabites which dwelt in Ar, did unto me; which they interpret thus, as the children of Esau would not suffer Israel to pass through their land, when desired of them, so neither would the Moabites, when the same request was made to them:
and Israel abode in Kadesh; quietly and peaceably, and did not attempt to force their way through either country, but continued in Kadesh some little time to consider what way they should take, and to wait for divine direction.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) Unto the king of Edom.As narrated in Num. 20:14, seq. Even if Jephthah had no written documents before him to which he could refer, the events which he recounts were not so distant as to have been forgotten.
Unto the king of Moab.This is not recorded in the Pentateuch, but the Israelites did not enter the territory of Moab (Deu. 2:9; Deu. 2:36). The Arnon bounded Moab from the Amorites (Num. 21:13), and Israel encamped upon its banks.
Abode in Kadesh.Many days (Deu. 2:1). Probably they were encamped at Kadesh during a great part of the forty years (Deu. 2:14).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. In like manner they sent unto the king of Moab This fact is not recorded in the Pentateuch along with the other facts here mentioned, for it was a matter of comparatively little moment with Moses to record the refusal of Moab after he had mentioned that of Edom, but it was important for the purpose of Jephthah’s argument.
Some have wondered why so much is here said about Moab in a message to the king of Ammon; but it should be noticed that as Jephthah, who really represented only the eastern tribes of Israel, speaks as the representative of all Israel, so the king of Ammon represents the children of Lot.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jdg 11:17 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.
Ver. 17. Then Israel sent messengers. ] Apologies in some cases are very necessary – if not vocal, yet real – to stop an open mouth, and clear up our innocency.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
me. Most codices, with Syriac, read “us” as in Jdg 11:19. Compare Num 20:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
sent messengers: Num 20:14-21, Deu 2:4-8, Deu 2:29
the king: Deu 2:9
abode: Num 20:1, Num 20:16
Reciprocal: Num 20:20 – Thou shalt Deu 1:46 – General