פרשת חוקת תשי"ז - שליחות לאדום

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom: ‘Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us;

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom: ‘Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us;

To the King of Edom. The Torah did not see a reason to mention his name. It mentioned the names of the Emorite kings, Sichon and Og, because they were known for their might and were famous among the nations. Thus, we would thank Hashem for His miracles, as it says (Tehillim 136:17, 19-20): “To Him Who smote great kings, for His kindness is eternal. Sichon the king of the Amorites, for His kindness is eternal. And Og the king of Bashan, for His kindness is eternal.” Furthermore, it is the Torah’s way to mention the names of great kings whose land we inherited.

And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom: ‘Thus saith thy brother Israel: Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us;

וירעו לנו AND [THE EGYPTIANS] DID EVIL TO US — we have borne many adversities.

ולאבתינו [THEY DID EVIL TO US] AND TO OUR FATHERS — From here we may learn that the patriarchs grieve in their graves when punishment comes upon Israel (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 12).

ולא נשתה מי באר NEITHER WILL WE DRINK OF THE WATER OF THE SPRINGS — He should have said “water of the cisterns (בורות)”; but this was what Moses meant to say: Although we have manna to eat, and a well of which to drink, (that which followed them through the wilderness), we will not drink of it, but we will buy food and water from you to your advantage. From here we may learn a rule for a guest (one lodging in an inn): although he has in his possession something to eat, he should yet purchase something from the local tradesman in order to benefit his host (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 12).

דרך המלך נלך וגו׳ WE WILL KEEP TO THE KING’S HIGHWAY etc. — we will muzzle our cattle, and so they will not turn aside into the fields on this side or that to eat (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 12).

And Edom said unto him: ‘Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.’

פן בחרב אצא לקראתך, most of the people of Edom were bloodthirsty people and did not need more than the slightest pretext in order to start a war.