15 Our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors,

Other Translations of Numbers 20:15

King James Version

15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:

English Standard Version

15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers.

The Message

15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived there a long time. The Egyptians viciously abused both us and our ancestors.

New King James Version

15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians afflicted us and our fathers.

New Living Translation

15 Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there a long time, and we and our ancestors were brutally mistreated by the Egyptians.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 20:15

Commentary on Numbers 20:14-21

(Read Numbers 20:14-21)

The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped, was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive damage by the Israelites. And had this numerous army been under any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself, there might have been cause for this jealousy. But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred revived, when the blessing was about to be inherited. We must not think it strange, if reasonable requests be denied by unreasonable men, and if those whom God favours be affronted by men.