במדבר, פרק כ׳, פסוק י״ד

Despite having just received the devastating decree that he will not enter the Promised Land, Moses refuses to abandon his leadership. Driven by deep humility and unwavering dedication, he actively pushes forward to secure the Israelites' entry into the land [שפתי כהן, אלשיך]. Taking personal initiative, he seeks to establish peaceful, brotherly relations with neighboring nations, acting with a grace that goes beyond his strict obligations [אברבנאל, חומת אנך].

To initiate this diplomatic effort, messengers are dispatched from a specific border city named Kadesh, rather than the broader wilderness of Kadesh Barnea [רבנו בחיי, אבן עזרא]. By halting at the border and formally requesting permission to cross, the Israelites signal to Edom that they have no intention of launching a hostile invasion [אדרת אליהו, אלשיך]. Interestingly, Moses selects messengers from among the surrounding nations rather than from the Israelites themselves. This choice projects quiet confidence, demonstrating to the King of Edom that the request for passage relies entirely on his goodwill, rather than stemming from any Israelite fear or weakness [העמק דבר]. Furthermore, while the Israelites assumed Kadesh already belonged to them—anticipating their future inheritance of Edom's territory—Moses clarifies that for the time being, the land remains under Esau's domain, making formal permission essential [מלבי״ם].

The appeal is directed to the King of Edom, though his actual name is deliberately omitted. Unlike mighty rulers such as Sihon and Og, whose names are recorded to highlight the miraculous nature of their eventual defeat, the King of Edom lacks the historical significance required to warrant personal mention [רמב״ן, טור]. Moses opens the negotiation with careful diplomacy, referring to the Israelites simply as a brother. He intentionally avoids using the name Jacob, ensuring that ancient family animosities remain dormant [אברבנאל]. Instead, invoking their brotherhood is meant to stir the king's natural compassion for his relatives [תולדות יצחק, בכור שור] and remind him of their shared ancestry tracing back to Abraham [רש״י, רש״ר הירש, צאינה וראינה, משכיל לדוד].

The message continues by referencing the immense hardship, exhaustion, and suffering the Israelites have endured [ביאור יש״ר, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The primary approach among commentators is that this statement carries a profound historical and legal claim against Edom. When God originally forged a covenant with Abraham, He decreed that Abraham's descendants would endure exile and servitude. This decree functioned as a spiritual debt, assigned equally to Abraham's grandsons, Jacob and Esau. However, Esau deliberately relocated to Seir to evade his portion of this suffering. As a result, Jacob and his children were left to shoulder the crushing weight of the Egyptian exile alone, effectively paying Edom's share of the debt [רש״י, אור החיים, רבנו בחיי, תולדות יצחק, כלי יקר, אדרת אליהו, רא״ש, ברכת אשר].

Moses reminds the king that he is fully aware of this shared history and the resulting suffering, having either observed it from afar or witnessed it during times of famine [אור החיים, חתם סופר, שפתי כהן]. The underlying message is firm: because the Israelites paid the agonizing price for both nations, Edom has forfeited any claim to the Promised Land. Now that the Israelites are marching toward the inheritance they purchased through generations of pain, the least Edom can do is grant them safe passage rather than contest their journey [כלי יקר, גור אריה, אדרת אליהו, שפתי חכמים]. Beyond this historical debt, the mention of hardship also alludes to the nation's prolonged desert wanderings following the sin of the spies [אלשיך], as well as the sin of the Golden Calf, which brought about further suffering [שפתי כהן]. Ultimately, Moses shares this history much like one unburdens themselves to a friend, hoping to awaken a sense of empathy, understanding, and mercy [בכור שור].