Israel and Edom
Text: Numbers 20:14-29
16 May 2016
ISRAEL AND EDOM
1. Diplomatic Channel
a) Moses sends a word to the king of Edom
b) Israel is described as a “brother” (Numbers 20:14)
c) Appeal to a shared ancestry
“Our fathers went down to Egypt”
“The Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers” (Numbers 20:15)
d) Sharing about the Lord’s hand of grace
The LORD heard our voices and sent
The Angel and brought us out of Egypt (Numbers 20:16)
2. The present situation
a) In Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border (Numbers 20:16)
b) Seeking permission to pass through Edom
c) Israel will pass through the King’s Highway
d) Israel will not take that which belongs to Edom (Numbers 20:17)
3. Edom’s response
a) Edom refused this request
b) The Edomites will wage war against Israel
If it attempts to go into the territory of Edom (Numbers 20:18)
4. Israel’s appeal
a) If anything is taken from Edom they will be compensated
b) Israel was only going to go on the King’s Highway (Numbers 20:19)
5. Edom’s adamant refusal
A strong army was gathered to reinforce what Edom said (Numbers 20:20-21)
THE DEATH OF AARON
1. Israel journeyed from Kadesh
2. It did not want to fight with Edom
3. The nation reached Mount Hor
4. Aaron died here
5. He would not enter into the Promised Land
6. The Meribah incident was cited as the reason (Numbers 20:24)
THE APPOINTMENT OF ELEAZAR AS THE NEXT HIGH PRIEST
1. The High Priestly garments were taken from Aaron (Numbers 20:25-26)
2. Eleazar became the next high priest of Israel (Numbers 20:27-28)
3. Aaron was buried in Mount Hor
MOURNING THE DEATH OF AARON
The mourning period was 30 days (Numbers 20:29)