¹ tn Heb “by the side [hand] of.”

² sn For more discussion on these people groups, see D. J. Wiseman, ed., Peoples of Old Testament Times.

³ tn The verb וַיַּשְׁכִּמוּ (vayyashkimu) is often found in a verbal hendiadys construction: “They rose early…and they went up” means “they went up early.”

⁴ tn The Hebrew text says literally “the top of the hill,” but judging from the location and the terrain it probably means the heights of the hill country.

⁵ tn The verb is simply “said,” but it means the place that the Lord said to go up to in order to fight.

⁶ sn Their sin was unbelief. They could have gone and conquered the area if they had trusted the Lord for their victory. They did not, and so they were condemned to perish in the wilderness. Now, thinking that by going they can undo all that, they plan to go. But this is also disobedience, for the Lord said they would not now take the land, and yet they think they can. Here is their second sin, presumption.

⁷ tn The word could be rendered “angel” or “messenger.” Some ambiguity may be intended in this report.

⁸ tn The Hebrew text uses הִנֵּה (hinneh) to emphasize the “here and now” aspect of the report to Edom.

⁹ tn Heb “your border.”