At this point in time the Israelites are still at Kadesh where the Lord brought water from the rock in yesterday's study. "Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: 'This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us. Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors, but when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt.'" (Numbers 20:14-16a) In requesting to pass through Edomite territory, Moses appeals to the king on the basis of kinship and sympathy. He refers to the Israelites as "your brother Israel" to remind the king that the Israelites and the Edomites are descended from the same family: from the twin sons of the patriarch Isaac. He reminds the king that the Israelites have endured a long period of misery as slaves in a foreign land, hoping the king will grant safe passage to this large number of weary travelers.
Moses assures the king that the Israelites expect no provisions of any kind from him. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King's Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory." (Numbers 20:16b-17) They are asking for nothing but to pass through. They will not touch a thing. They won't draw water from anyone's private well or pluck fruit from anyone's vine. It will not cost the Edomites a penny to allow the Israelites to peacefully travel through their land. Moses is saying to the king something like this: "We'll be on such good behavior as we pass through your territory that it'll be as if we were never even there. We won't bother a soul and we won't leave a trace of our presence."
The king of Edom cruelly rejects Moses' request. "But Edom answered: 'You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.'" (Numbers 20:18) The King's Highway was likely a state highway paid for by the government. It was probably a major trade route through the area, which means many different sized groups would have used it regularly. It's highly doubtful any group the size of Israel ever used the highway before and that's why Moses sent messengers ahead for permission to pass through: so the king of Edom wouldn't think they were an army coming to attack him. Moses has made it clear that they are peaceful and that they intend to move through Edom as quickly and and quietly as possible, asking for and taking nothing.
But the king is denying the Israelites something he has likely never denied any other group. I believe he is doing it out of prejudice due to the rivalry in the past between Jacob and Esau. I believe he is doing it out of jealousy over the Lord's choosing of Jacob (the younger twin) to be the head of Isaac's family after his passing. The Lord chose Jacob because, even though his methods in obtaining the spiritual and political leadership of the family were misguided, Jacob had a heart for the Lord and Esau did not. As we discussed in great detail when studying the book of Genesis, the "birthright" which Jacob wanted and which Esau scorned was an enormous responsibility and a spiritual honor. Esau disqualified himself for this position. It was his own fault he lost the birthright and the leadership of the family, but hundreds of years later we see the Edomites are still bearing a grudge over it. Not only that, but they are bearing a grudge because Jacob's family line, not Esau's, will inherit the promised land. There's nothing the king of Edom can do to thwart God's plan to give Israel the promised land, but he can delay their arrival in the promised land and cause them inconvenience on the way by refusing to let them use the King's Highway. The king isn't changing the eventual outcome with his petty behavior but he takes satisfaction in troubling the people against whom he is sinfully prejudiced.
The Israelites didn't expect this hostile attitude. They think perhaps they haven't made it completely clear that they expect nothing from the Edomites. They have already promised not to drink from any Edomite wells and now they offer to pay for any fresh running water that they or their livestock may drink from a spring or creek. They have no intention of trespassing on anyone's private land to seek water but normally any running water on public land or alongside a highway would be free to travelers and their animals. Even though they should not have to pay for such water, the Israelites offer to pay for it anyway. "The Israelites replied: 'We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot---nothing else.'" (Numbers 30:19) The king could have profited by granting passage to Israel. He could have charged a fee for allowing them to drink from public waters. Or he could have charged a toll for their use of the highway. But no amount of money will change his mind because he hates them. They could plead with him til the cows come home on the basis of kinship and it would do them no good. They could appeal repeatedly to his mercy on the basis of their long sojourn in Egypt and the inhumane conditions imposed upon them there but his heart will remain hard. The king hates them and he has no sympathy for their plight. He and his government officials again deny their request. "Again they answered: 'You may not pass through.'" (Numbers 20:20a)
As an unnecessary show of strength, the king amasses troops at the border as if the Israelites are an enemy army. "Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army. Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them." (Numbers 20:20b-21) Edom and her king treat the Israelites shamefully but it's not the Lord's will for the Israelites to attack them and pass through the land anyway. Instead they turn peacefully away. They don't lower themselves to the level of the Edomites and respond in anger. Later in the Bible we'll find the Lord specifically commanding the Israelites not to treat the Edomites the way the Edomites have treated the Israelites: "Do not despise an Edomite, for the Edomites are related to you." (Deuteronomy 23:7a) The Edomites may have cared nothing about their familial relationship to the Israelites but that doesn't mean it's okay for the Israelites to harbor the same hateful attitude. In the book of Deuteronomy the Lord warns the Israelites about not discriminating against any Edomite who wants to joint their congregation and worship the Lord with them. Two wrongs won't make a right; Israel is to treat Edom as a brother even though Edom didn't treat Israel as a brother.
When someone does wrong to a child of God, this is what the Lord says about it: "It is Mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near, and their doom rushes upon them." (Deuteronomy 32:35) The Apostle Paul reminds the Christian church about this command from the Lord, saying, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." (Romans 12:17-19)
The Israelites aren't to avenge themselves upon the Edomites but are to leave room for God's wrath. The first chapter of the book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom and it states the Lord's intention to bring down the kingdom of Edom. The Lord makes it clear this judgment is a result of the way Edom treated Israel. "Because of your violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame; you will be destroyed forever." (Obadiah 1:10) Saul, the first king of Israel, will hand them a major defeat in battle and King David will make them subjects of Israel about forty years later. The Edomites later became known as the Idumeans and have since disappeared from history as a people, just as the Lord said when He vowed they would be "destroyed forever" in Obadiah 1:10.
The Lord looks out for His children. He keeps His word. He does not tell Israel to avenge herself in Numbers 20 but instead asks her to "turn the other cheek", to use the words of God the Son. God the Father will avenge Israel against Edom in due time. He will avenge you and me as well, in due time, against anyone who has made themselves our enemy.
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