Numbers 20:15
in Numbers 20how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
KJV
How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
⋯
This verse in Numbers 20
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Moses sent messengers . . . to the king of Edom--The encampment at Kadesh was on the confines of the Edomite territory, through which the Israelites would have had an easy passage across the Arabah by Wady-el-Ghuweir, so that they could have continued their course around Moab, and approached Palestine from the east [ROBERTS].
This site's exposition
This is what your brother Israel says
on Numbers 20:14-16
Moses speaks as your brother Israel, reaching back to Esau and Jacob, so Edom is asked as kin. The message is a short history: our fathers went down to Egypt, were mistreated, cried out, and were heard. Deuteronomy 2:4-5 adds that Israel was forbidden Edom's land, given to Esau.
This site's exposition
how our fathers went down to Egypt
The history follows the order Israel later recites over the firstfruits at Deuteronomy 26:5-8, a going down, mistreatment, a cry, a hearing and a rescue. Edom is told the confession of Israel's faith. Genesis 15:13 had foretold the mistreatment to Abraham, the grandfather of both nations.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And in this there was a double plea:-- (1.) Israel had been abused by the Egyptians, and therefore ought to be pitied and succoured by their relations: " The Egyptians vexed us and our fathers, but we may hope our brethren the Edomites will not be so vexatious." (2.) Israel had been wonderfully saved by the Lord, and therefore ought to be countenanced and favoured (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
It is a great mercy, to have plenty of water; a mercy which if we found the want of, we should own the worth of. Before the Lord - Suddenly, rather than to die such a lingering death. Their sin was much greater than that of their parents, because they should have taken warning by their miscarriages, and by the terrible effects of them, which their eyes had seen.
How our fathers went down into Egypt,.... Jacob and his twelve sons, with their children: and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; even the space of four hundred and thirty years, Exo 12:40. and the Egyptians vexed us and our fathers; used them ill, brought them into bondage, and made their lives bitter, laid heavy tasks and burdens upon them, as well as slew their male children, see Exo 1:7.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Scripture did not mention the king’s name, because there was no necessity to do so. It did, however, mention Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, by name, because they were famous for their strength, and they had a name among. See II Samuel:18.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֵּרְד֤וּ | vaiyeredu | and they went down | H3381 → | 381 times |
| אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ | ʾavoteinu | ancestors our | H1 → | 1212 times |
| מִצְרַ֔יְמָה | mitzraymah | Egypt towards | H4714 → | 641 times |
| וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב | vaneshev | and we dwelt | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם | bemitzrayim | in Egypt | H4714 → | 641 times |
| יָמִ֣ים | yamim | days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| רַבִּ֑ים | rabim | many | H7227 → | 454 times |
| וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ | vaiyareu | and they did harm | H7489 → | 107 times |
| לָ֛נוּ | lanu | to <the> us | ||
| מִצְרַ֖יִם | mitzrayim | Egypt | H4713 → | 70 times |
| וְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃ | velaavoteinu | and to ancestors our | H1 → | 1212 times |
וַיֵּרְד֤וּand they went down
vaiyereduH3381 →381 times
אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ancestors our
ʾavoteinuH1 →1212 times
מִצְרַ֔יְמָהEgypt towards
mitzraymahH4714 →641 times
וַנֵּ֥שֶׁבand we dwelt
vaneshevH3427 →1079 times
בְּמִצְרַ֖יִםin Egypt
bemitzrayimH4714 →641 times
יָמִ֣יםdays
yamimH3117 →2304 times
רַבִּ֑יםmany
rabimH7227 →454 times
וַיָּרֵ֥עוּand they did harm
vaiyareuH7489 →107 times
לָ֛נוּto <the> us
lanu
מִצְרַ֖יִםEgypt
mitzrayimH4713 →70 times
וְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃and to ancestors our
velaavoteinuH1 →1212 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 15:13Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
it leads to
- Exodus 1:11
So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 7:6–7
God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
- Exodus 12:40–41
Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years.
- Acts 7:17
As the time drew near for God to fulfill His promise to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased greatly in number.
- Exodus 1:11
Through
Genesis 46:6They also took the livestock and possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 26:5
and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Joshua 24:4
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau Mount Seir to possess, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 26:5
Through
Exodus 12:40Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years.
it leads to
- Genesis 15:13
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
- Genesis 15:13
Through
Acts 7:15So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.
it leads to
- Exodus 1:6
Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,
- Exodus 1:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies11
On this verse
About Numbers
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.