John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Ye have compassed this mountain long enough , etc.] It was time to be gone from thence, as from Horeb, ( Deuteronomy 1:6), turn you northward ; from the southern border of Edom towards the land of Canaan, which lay north. It was from Eziongeber in the land of Edom, from whence the Israelites came to Kadesh, where they sent messengers to the king of Edom, to desire a passage through his land; (see Numbers 33:36 20:14).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - Only a short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness i given. God not only chastised them for their murmuring and unbelief but prepared them for Canaan; by humbling them for sin, teaching the to mortify their lusts, to follow God, and to comfort themselves in him. Though Israel may be long kept waiting for deliverance an enlargement, it will come at last. Before God brought Israel to destro their enemies in Canaan, he taught them to forgive their enemies i Edom. They must not, under pretence of God's covenant and conduct think to seize all they could lay hands on. Dominion is not founded i grace. God's Israel shall be well placed, but must not expect to be placed alone in the midst of the earth. Religion must never be made cloak for injustice. Scorn to be beholden to Edomites, when thou has an all-sufficient God to depend upon. Use what thou hast, use i cheerfully. Thou hast experienced the care of the Divine providence never use any crooked methods for thy supply. All this is equally to be applied to the experience of the believer.
Original Hebrew רב7227 לכם סב5437 את853 ההר2022 הזה2088 פנו6437 לכם צפנה׃6828
