Map 063 · The Patriarchs & the Exodus · Numbers 20:21

The Route Around Edom

When the brother-nation slammed its door, Israel turned south and east — the long way around, through the Arabah, on the road to Moab

"Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him."

— Numbers 20:21 (KJV)

Antique engraved map titled A Map of the Children of Israel Travels and Marches in the Wilderness from their going out of Egypt to their Passage over the River Jordan showing the full route from Egypt through the Sinai wilderness with Rameses, Goshen, the Red Sea crossing, Sinai, Kadesh-Barnea, The Edomites territory, The Moabites territory, Canaan, the Jordan River, Jericho, Heshbon, and all the wilderness stations labeled with decorative cartouche

"A Map of the Children of Israel's Travels and Marches in the Wilderness from their going out of Egypt to their Passage over the River Jordan." This beautifully engraved 18th-century map shows the complete wilderness route including the detour around Edom — with Edomite and Moabite territory clearly labeled, the King's Highway blocked, and the long eastern route Israel was forced to take.

Source: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary by Michael Knighton · Christians Standing With Israel

🗺 How to Read This Map

① The Edomites — The Blocked Road — Find "The Edomites" labeled in the upper-right portion of the map, east of the Dead Sea and south of Canaan. This was the territory Israel asked permission to cross via the King's Highway — the main north-south trade road through Transjordan. Edom's refusal was a brotherly betrayal: Esau's descendants blocking Jacob's descendants. Israel was forced to go around the entire Edomite territory, adding weeks to the journey.

② The Moabites — The Eastern Route — Find "The Moabites" labeled on the map, north of Edom along the eastern side of the Dead Sea. After going around Edom, Israel marched through the territory east of Moab as well — God explicitly told Moses not to provoke Moab: "Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle" (Deuteronomy 2:9). The route threaded carefully between the hostile nations, taking only the ground God specifically granted.

③ The Full Wilderness Route — Follow the route from Egypt (Rameses, Goshen, the Red Sea on the left) through Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea (labeled), then the long arc east and north through the Arabah, around Edom, through the wilderness east of Moab, and finally to the plains east of the Jordan. The dotted or engraved line represents forty years — from the slavery of Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land.

④ Jericho — The First Target — Find "Jericho" labeled in the upper right of the map, on the west bank of the Jordan with Heshbon nearby on the east. Jericho was the first major city of Canaan — the entry point. After going around Edom, defeating Sihon and Og, and camping on the Plains of Moab, Israel stood opposite Jericho across the Jordan. The city whose walls would fall at the sound of a trumpet was the destination all the wandering had been aimed at.

What This Map Shows

✦ The Edomites — territory Israel was refused passage through

✦ The Moabites — territory Israel skirted peacefully

✦ The King's Highway — the direct route blocked

✦ The Arabah — the long way around Edom

✦ Kadesh-Barnea — starting point of the detour

✦ The wilderness east of Moab — Israel's march north

✦ Heshbon — Sihon's capital, defeated by Israel

✦ Jericho — the first conquest target across the Jordan

The Long Way Around

Look at the upper-right of this map and find "The Edomites." Now find Kadesh-Barnea, labeled to their west. The direct route from Kadesh to Canaan ran through Edomite territory along the King's Highway — one of the great trade routes of the ancient world, running from the Gulf of Aqaba through Edom, Moab, and Ammon all the way to Damascus. A straight shot. Moses sent messengers ahead: "Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country... we will go by the king's highway" (Numbers 20:17). Edom said no. They came out with a large army to reinforce the answer.

Israel turned away. There was no battle — God had not authorized one. Edom was descended from Esau, and God had told Moses explicitly: "Ye shall not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother" (Deuteronomy 23:7). The rejection stung, but the response was compliance. Israel turned south from Kadesh, around the bottom of Edom's territory, down to Ezion-Geber at the Gulf of Aqaba — find it on this map — and then north along the eastern edge of Edom's mountains.

Find "The Moabites" labeled north of Edom on the map. God told Moses to treat Moab carefully as well — they were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and God had given Moab their land. Israel marched east of Moab's territory without engaging them. But then came Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon — find Heshbon labeled on the map. Sihon controlled territory that Moab had once held north of the Arnon River. Moses sent the same polite request: let us pass through. Sihon refused and attacked. God gave Israel the victory, and they possessed Sihon's entire territory from the Arnon to the Jabbok.

Then Og, king of Bashan, came against them. God told Moses: "Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand" (Numbers 21:34). Og was destroyed. His territory fell to Israel. The two Transjordanian kingdoms that no one had asked for became Israel's first territorial acquisitions — and the land that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh would eventually inherit. Edom's refusal, meant to block Israel, had rerouted them into territory that became part of the inheritance anyway.

Key Scripture References

Numbers 20:14–21 — Moses' request to Edom; Edom's refusal with an army

Numbers 21:4 — Israel travels south to go around Edom

Deuteronomy 2:1–8 — God tells Moses to pass around Edom; do not provoke

Deuteronomy 2:9–19 — Pass around Moab and Ammon; do not provoke

Numbers 21:21–32 — Sihon refuses Israel; Israel defeats him

Numbers 21:33–35 — Og of Bashan attacks; Israel destroys him

Map: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary: © 2026 Michael Wayne Knighton | Christians Standing With Israel™ | All Rights Reserved.

←

MAP 062

Kadesh-Barnea — The Rebellion

MAP 064

The Final Approach — Plains of Moab →

Map 063 · The Patriarchs & the Exodus · Numbers 20:21

The Route Around Edom

When the brother-nation slammed its door, Israel turned south and east — the long way around, through the Arabah, on the road to Moab

"Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him."

— Numbers 20:21 (KJV)

"A Map of the Children of Israel's Travels and Marches in the Wilderness from their going out of Egypt to their Passage over the River Jordan." This beautifully engraved 18th-century map shows the complete wilderness route including the detour around Edom — with Edomite and Moabite territory clearly labeled, the King's Highway blocked, and the long eastern route Israel was forced to take.

Source: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary by Michael Knighton · Christians Standing With Israel

🗺 How to Read This Map

① The Edomites — The Blocked Road — Find "The Edomites" labeled in the upper-right portion of the map, east of the Dead Sea and south of Canaan. This was the territory Israel asked permission to cross via the King's Highway — the main north-south trade road through Transjordan. Edom's refusal was a brotherly betrayal: Esau's descendants blocking Jacob's descendants. Israel was forced to go around the entire Edomite territory, adding weeks to the journey.

② The Moabites — The Eastern Route — Find "The Moabites" labeled on the map, north of Edom along the eastern side of the Dead Sea. After going around Edom, Israel marched through the territory east of Moab as well — God explicitly told Moses not to provoke Moab: "Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle" (Deuteronomy 2:9). The route threaded carefully between the hostile nations, taking only the ground God specifically granted.

③ The Full Wilderness Route — Follow the route from Egypt (Rameses, Goshen, the Red Sea on the left) through Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea (labeled), then the long arc east and north through the Arabah, around Edom, through the wilderness east of Moab, and finally to the plains east of the Jordan. The dotted or engraved line represents forty years — from the slavery of Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land.

④ Jericho — The First Target — Find "Jericho" labeled in the upper right of the map, on the west bank of the Jordan with Heshbon nearby on the east. Jericho was the first major city of Canaan — the entry point. After going around Edom, defeating Sihon and Og, and camping on the Plains of Moab, Israel stood opposite Jericho across the Jordan. The city whose walls would fall at the sound of a trumpet was the destination all the wandering had been aimed at.

What This Map Shows

✦ The Edomites — territory Israel was refused passage through

✦ The Moabites — territory Israel skirted peacefully

✦ The King's Highway — the direct route blocked

✦ The Arabah — the long way around Edom

✦ Kadesh-Barnea — starting point of the detour

✦ The wilderness east of Moab — Israel's march north

✦ Heshbon — Sihon's capital, defeated by Israel

✦ Jericho — the first conquest target across the Jordan

The Long Way Around

Look at the upper-right of this map and find "The Edomites." Now find Kadesh-Barnea, labeled to their west. The direct route from Kadesh to Canaan ran through Edomite territory along the King's Highway — one of the great trade routes of the ancient world, running from the Gulf of Aqaba through Edom, Moab, and Ammon all the way to Damascus. A straight shot. Moses sent messengers ahead: "Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country... we will go by the king's highway" (Numbers 20:17). Edom said no. They came out with a large army to reinforce the answer.

Israel turned away. There was no battle — God had not authorized one. Edom was descended from Esau, and God had told Moses explicitly: "Ye shall not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother" (Deuteronomy 23:7). The rejection stung, but the response was compliance. Israel turned south from Kadesh, around the bottom of Edom's territory, down to Ezion-Geber at the Gulf of Aqaba — find it on this map — and then north along the eastern edge of Edom's mountains.

Find "The Moabites" labeled north of Edom on the map. God told Moses to treat Moab carefully as well — they were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and God had given Moab their land. Israel marched east of Moab's territory without engaging them. But then came Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon — find Heshbon labeled on the map. Sihon controlled territory that Moab had once held north of the Arnon River. Moses sent the same polite request: let us pass through. Sihon refused and attacked. God gave Israel the victory, and they possessed Sihon's entire territory from the Arnon to the Jabbok.

Then Og, king of Bashan, came against them. God told Moses: "Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand" (Numbers 21:34). Og was destroyed. His territory fell to Israel. The two Transjordanian kingdoms that no one had asked for became Israel's first territorial acquisitions — and the land that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh would eventually inherit. Edom's refusal, meant to block Israel, had rerouted them into territory that became part of the inheritance anyway.

Key Scripture References

Numbers 20:14–21 — Moses' request to Edom; Edom's refusal with an army

Numbers 21:4 — Israel travels south to go around Edom

Deuteronomy 2:1–8 — God tells Moses to pass around Edom; do not provoke

Deuteronomy 2:9–19 — Pass around Moab and Ammon; do not provoke

Numbers 21:21–32 — Sihon refuses Israel; Israel defeats him

Numbers 21:33–35 — Og of Bashan attacks; Israel destroys him

Map: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary: © 2026 Michael Wayne Knighton | Christians Standing With Israel™ | All Rights Reserved.

←

MAP 062

Kadesh-Barnea — The Rebellion

MAP 064

The Final Approach — Plains of Moab →

Map 063 · The Patriarchs & the Exodus · Numbers 20:21

The Route Around Edom

When the brother-nation slammed its door, Israel turned south and east — the long way around, through the Arabah, on the road to Moab

"Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him."

— Numbers 20:21 (KJV)

"A Map of the Children of Israel's Travels and Marches in the Wilderness from their going out of Egypt to their Passage over the River Jordan." This beautifully engraved 18th-century map shows the complete wilderness route including the detour around Edom — with Edomite and Moabite territory clearly labeled, the King's Highway blocked, and the long eastern route Israel was forced to take.

Source: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary by Michael Knighton · Christians Standing With Israel

🗺 How to Read This Map

① The Edomites — The Blocked Road — Find "The Edomites" labeled in the upper-right portion of the map, east of the Dead Sea and south of Canaan. This was the territory Israel asked permission to cross via the King's Highway — the main north-south trade road through Transjordan. Edom's refusal was a brotherly betrayal: Esau's descendants blocking Jacob's descendants. Israel was forced to go around the entire Edomite territory, adding weeks to the journey.

② The Moabites — The Eastern Route — Find "The Moabites" labeled on the map, north of Edom along the eastern side of the Dead Sea. After going around Edom, Israel marched through the territory east of Moab as well — God explicitly told Moses not to provoke Moab: "Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle" (Deuteronomy 2:9). The route threaded carefully between the hostile nations, taking only the ground God specifically granted.

③ The Full Wilderness Route — Follow the route from Egypt (Rameses, Goshen, the Red Sea on the left) through Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea (labeled), then the long arc east and north through the Arabah, around Edom, through the wilderness east of Moab, and finally to the plains east of the Jordan. The dotted or engraved line represents forty years — from the slavery of Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land.

④ Jericho — The First Target — Find "Jericho" labeled in the upper right of the map, on the west bank of the Jordan with Heshbon nearby on the east. Jericho was the first major city of Canaan — the entry point. After going around Edom, defeating Sihon and Og, and camping on the Plains of Moab, Israel stood opposite Jericho across the Jordan. The city whose walls would fall at the sound of a trumpet was the destination all the wandering had been aimed at.

What This Map Shows

✦ The Edomites — territory Israel was refused passage through

✦ The Moabites — territory Israel skirted peacefully

✦ The King's Highway — the direct route blocked

✦ The Arabah — the long way around Edom

✦ Kadesh-Barnea — starting point of the detour

✦ The wilderness east of Moab — Israel's march north

✦ Heshbon — Sihon's capital, defeated by Israel

✦ Jericho — the first conquest target across the Jordan

The Long Way Around

Look at the upper-right of this map and find "The Edomites." Now find Kadesh-Barnea, labeled to their west. The direct route from Kadesh to Canaan ran through Edomite territory along the King's Highway — one of the great trade routes of the ancient world, running from the Gulf of Aqaba through Edom, Moab, and Ammon all the way to Damascus. A straight shot. Moses sent messengers ahead: "Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country... we will go by the king's highway" (Numbers 20:17). Edom said no. They came out with a large army to reinforce the answer.

Israel turned away. There was no battle — God had not authorized one. Edom was descended from Esau, and God had told Moses explicitly: "Ye shall not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother" (Deuteronomy 23:7). The rejection stung, but the response was compliance. Israel turned south from Kadesh, around the bottom of Edom's territory, down to Ezion-Geber at the Gulf of Aqaba — find it on this map — and then north along the eastern edge of Edom's mountains.

Find "The Moabites" labeled north of Edom on the map. God told Moses to treat Moab carefully as well — they were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and God had given Moab their land. Israel marched east of Moab's territory without engaging them. But then came Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon — find Heshbon labeled on the map. Sihon controlled territory that Moab had once held north of the Arnon River. Moses sent the same polite request: let us pass through. Sihon refused and attacked. God gave Israel the victory, and they possessed Sihon's entire territory from the Arnon to the Jabbok.

Then Og, king of Bashan, came against them. God told Moses: "Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand" (Numbers 21:34). Og was destroyed. His territory fell to Israel. The two Transjordanian kingdoms that no one had asked for became Israel's first territorial acquisitions — and the land that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh would eventually inherit. Edom's refusal, meant to block Israel, had rerouted them into territory that became part of the inheritance anyway.

Key Scripture References

Numbers 20:14–21 — Moses' request to Edom; Edom's refusal with an army

Numbers 21:4 — Israel travels south to go around Edom

Deuteronomy 2:1–8 — God tells Moses to pass around Edom; do not provoke

Deuteronomy 2:9–19 — Pass around Moab and Ammon; do not provoke

Numbers 21:21–32 — Sihon refuses Israel; Israel defeats him

Numbers 21:33–35 — Og of Bashan attacks; Israel destroys him

Map: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary: © 2026 Michael Wayne Knighton | Christians Standing With Israel™ | All Rights Reserved.

←

MAP 062

Kadesh-Barnea — The Rebellion

MAP 064

The Final Approach — Plains of Moab →

Map 063 · The Patriarchs & the Exodus · Numbers 20:21

The Route Around Edom

When the brother-nation slammed its door, Israel turned south and east — the long way around, through the Arabah, on the road to Moab

"Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him."

— Numbers 20:21 (KJV)

"A Map of the Children of Israel's Travels and Marches in the Wilderness from their going out of Egypt to their Passage over the River Jordan." This beautifully engraved 18th-century map shows the complete wilderness route including the detour around Edom — with Edomite and Moabite territory clearly labeled, the King's Highway blocked, and the long eastern route Israel was forced to take.

Source: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary by Michael Knighton · Christians Standing With Israel

🗺 How to Read This Map

① The Edomites — The Blocked Road — Find "The Edomites" labeled in the upper-right portion of the map, east of the Dead Sea and south of Canaan. This was the territory Israel asked permission to cross via the King's Highway — the main north-south trade road through Transjordan. Edom's refusal was a brotherly betrayal: Esau's descendants blocking Jacob's descendants. Israel was forced to go around the entire Edomite territory, adding weeks to the journey.

② The Moabites — The Eastern Route — Find "The Moabites" labeled on the map, north of Edom along the eastern side of the Dead Sea. After going around Edom, Israel marched through the territory east of Moab as well — God explicitly told Moses not to provoke Moab: "Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle" (Deuteronomy 2:9). The route threaded carefully between the hostile nations, taking only the ground God specifically granted.

③ The Full Wilderness Route — Follow the route from Egypt (Rameses, Goshen, the Red Sea on the left) through Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea (labeled), then the long arc east and north through the Arabah, around Edom, through the wilderness east of Moab, and finally to the plains east of the Jordan. The dotted or engraved line represents forty years — from the slavery of Egypt to the threshold of the Promised Land.

④ Jericho — The First Target — Find "Jericho" labeled in the upper right of the map, on the west bank of the Jordan with Heshbon nearby on the east. Jericho was the first major city of Canaan — the entry point. After going around Edom, defeating Sihon and Og, and camping on the Plains of Moab, Israel stood opposite Jericho across the Jordan. The city whose walls would fall at the sound of a trumpet was the destination all the wandering had been aimed at.

What This Map Shows

✦ The Edomites — territory Israel was refused passage through

✦ The Moabites — territory Israel skirted peacefully

✦ The King's Highway — the direct route blocked

✦ The Arabah — the long way around Edom

✦ Kadesh-Barnea — starting point of the detour

✦ The wilderness east of Moab — Israel's march north

✦ Heshbon — Sihon's capital, defeated by Israel

✦ Jericho — the first conquest target across the Jordan

The Long Way Around

Look at the upper-right of this map and find "The Edomites." Now find Kadesh-Barnea, labeled to their west. The direct route from Kadesh to Canaan ran through Edomite territory along the King's Highway — one of the great trade routes of the ancient world, running from the Gulf of Aqaba through Edom, Moab, and Ammon all the way to Damascus. A straight shot. Moses sent messengers ahead: "Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country... we will go by the king's highway" (Numbers 20:17). Edom said no. They came out with a large army to reinforce the answer.

Israel turned away. There was no battle — God had not authorized one. Edom was descended from Esau, and God had told Moses explicitly: "Ye shall not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother" (Deuteronomy 23:7). The rejection stung, but the response was compliance. Israel turned south from Kadesh, around the bottom of Edom's territory, down to Ezion-Geber at the Gulf of Aqaba — find it on this map — and then north along the eastern edge of Edom's mountains.

Find "The Moabites" labeled north of Edom on the map. God told Moses to treat Moab carefully as well — they were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, and God had given Moab their land. Israel marched east of Moab's territory without engaging them. But then came Sihon the Amorite king of Heshbon — find Heshbon labeled on the map. Sihon controlled territory that Moab had once held north of the Arnon River. Moses sent the same polite request: let us pass through. Sihon refused and attacked. God gave Israel the victory, and they possessed Sihon's entire territory from the Arnon to the Jabbok.

Then Og, king of Bashan, came against them. God told Moses: "Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand" (Numbers 21:34). Og was destroyed. His territory fell to Israel. The two Transjordanian kingdoms that no one had asked for became Israel's first territorial acquisitions — and the land that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh would eventually inherit. Edom's refusal, meant to block Israel, had rerouted them into territory that became part of the inheritance anyway.

Key Scripture References

Numbers 20:14–21 — Moses' request to Edom; Edom's refusal with an army

Numbers 21:4 — Israel travels south to go around Edom

Deuteronomy 2:1–8 — God tells Moses to pass around Edom; do not provoke

Deuteronomy 2:9–19 — Pass around Moab and Ammon; do not provoke

Numbers 21:21–32 — Sihon refuses Israel; Israel defeats him

Numbers 21:33–35 — Og of Bashan attacks; Israel destroys him

Map: 18th-century biblical atlas engraving. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. · Historical commentary: © 2026 Michael Wayne Knighton | Christians Standing With Israel™ | All Rights Reserved.

←

MAP 062

Kadesh-Barnea — The Rebellion

MAP 064

The Final Approach — Plains of Moab →