Numbers 20:17
““Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway. We will not turn away to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.””
What does Numbers 20:17 mean?
The Israelites are asking the king of Edom for safe passage through his territory during their wilderness journey toward the promised land. Moses promises they'll stay on the main road, avoid farmland and vineyards, leave the wells alone, and cause no trouble. It's a respectful request acknowledging someone else's property and boundaries, showing that even God's chosen people recognized they needed permission to cross through another nation's land. This moment reveals something tender about how God's people are meant to treat others. Despite having divine protection and direction, the Israelites ask rather than demand, offer reassurance rather than make threats, and respect the sovereignty of a neighboring kingdom. It's a good reminder that faith doesn't mean taking what isn't ours or disregarding other people's rights, even when we're confident God is leading us somewhere important.