Numbers 20:15-16

20:15 how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, ¹  and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly. ²  20:16 So when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent a messenger, ³  and has brought us up out of Egypt. Now ⁴  we are here in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your country. ⁵ 

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¹ tn Heb “many days.”

² tn The verb רָעַע (ra’a’) means “to act or do evil.” Evil here is in the sense of causing pain or trouble. So the causative stem in our passage means “to treat wickedly.”

³ tn The word could be rendered “angel” or “messenger.” Some ambiguity may be intended in this report.

⁴ tn The Hebrew text uses הִנֵּה (hinneh) to emphasize the “here and now” aspect of the report to Edom.

⁵ tn Heb “your border.”