Numbers 21:4

KJV

¶ And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they journeyed {H5265} from mount {H2022} Hor {H2023} by the way {H1870} of the Red {H5488} sea {H3220}, to compass {H5437} the land {H776} of Edom {H123}: and the soul {H5315} of the people {H5971} was much discouraged {H7114} because of the way {H1870}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then they traveled from Mount Hor on the road toward the Sea of Suf in order to go around the land of Edom; but the people's tempers grew short because of the detour.

Berean Standard Bible

Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey

American Standard Version

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 21:4 captures a pivotal moment in Israel's wilderness journey, where a forced, lengthy detour around Edom leads to profound weariness and spiritual exhaustion among the people. This verse succinctly encapsulates the physical and emotional toll of prolonged hardship and delayed gratification, setting the immediate stage for their subsequent complaints against God and Moses, which in turn precipitates divine judgment and the provision of the bronze serpent. It highlights the human tendency towards impatience and discouragement when God's path deviates from expectations, even as His sovereign purposes continue to unfold.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 21:4 immediately follows the somber account of Aaron's death at [Mount Hor](/numbers/20-28 "Numbers 20:28 - Aaron's Death"), marking a significant transition in the wilderness narrative. The preceding chapter, [Numbers 20](/numbers/20 "Numbers 20 - Water from the Rock, Aaron's Death, Edom's Refusal"), details Israel's request for passage through Edomite territory and Edom's staunch refusal, backed by a strong military presence. This refusal necessitates the long detour described in [Numbers 21:4](/numbers/21-4 "Numbers 21:4 - Israel's Discouragement"), which directly precipitates the people's renewed murmuring against God and Moses in [Numbers 21:5](/numbers/21-5 "Numbers 21:5 - Israel Complains Again"). Their complaints then lead to the divine judgment of the fiery serpents and the subsequent provision of the bronze serpent for healing, as recounted in [Numbers 21:6-9](/numbers/21-6 "Numbers 21:6-9 - The Fiery Serpents and Bronze Serpent"). Thus, this verse serves as a crucial narrative link, explaining the immediate cause of the people's spiritual decline that triggers the next major divine intervention and lesson.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The journey "by the way of the Red sea" refers to the route along the eastern arm of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aqaba, which would have been a long and arduous trek through desolate, mountainous, and arid terrain. "To compass the land of Edom" indicates a forced, circuitous route around the formidable kingdom of Edom, located southeast of the Dead Sea. The Edomites, descendants of Esau, were a powerful and hostile nation, making direct passage impossible. For the Israelites, who had already endured nearly 40 years of wilderness wandering, this unexpected and lengthy detour would have been culturally and psychologically devastating. Their traditional understanding of divine guidance often involved direct paths, and this prolonged "way" (Hebrew: _derekh_) challenged their patience and trust in God's leading, exacerbating existing weariness from decades of nomadic life and the recent loss of their high priest.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of [Numbers](/numbers/1 "The Book of Numbers - Wilderness Wanderings"):
* **The Burden of the Journey:** It vividly illustrates the immense physical and emotional toll of prolonged hardship and delayed gratification. The "way" is not merely a physical route but a symbol of the entire arduous process of sanctification and preparation for entering the Promised Land. This theme underscores the reality that even under divine guidance, the path can be difficult, testing human endurance.
* **Human Discouragement and Impatience:** The core message of the verse is the people's "discouraged soul," a deep-seated weariness that frequently led to murmuring and rebellion against God and His appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron. This recurring theme is central to understanding Israel's repeated failures in the wilderness, as seen in episodes like the complaints about manna and quail in [Numbers 11:1-6](/numbers/11-1 "Numbers 11:1-6 - The People Complain and Desire Meat") or the rebellion of Korah in [Numbers 16:1-3](/numbers/16-1 "Numbers 16:1-3 - Korah's Rebellion").
* **God's Sovereign Purpose in Detours:** While the detour around Edom seemed like an unnecessary hardship to the Israelites, it subtly points to God's sovereign control over their path. Even when the journey is long and difficult, God's purposes are being fulfilled, whether through testing, discipline, or further revelation, ultimately leading His people to their promised inheritance, albeit through means they might not understand or prefer.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Discouraged (Hebrew, _qāṣar'_):** This verb literally means "to be short," "to be cut short," or "to be impatient." When applied to the "soul" (Hebrew: _nephesh_), as it is here, it conveys a profound sense of exasperated weariness, a "shortening of spirit" or "loss of patience." It describes a state of deep, almost suffocating frustration where one's capacity for endurance has been diminished. The KJV's "much discouraged" aptly captures the intensity of this internal state, indicating not just mild disappointment but a deep, debilitating weariness that makes one prone to complaint and doubt.
* **Way (Hebrew, _derekh'_):** While primarily referring to the physical path or road, _derekh_ in biblical Hebrew often carries deeper theological significance. It can represent a manner of life, a course of conduct, or even God's appointed path or destiny for His people. In this context, "the way" encompasses not just the physical, circuitous route around Edom but also the entire prolonged, difficult wilderness journey itself, which had become a source of immense spiritual and emotional burden for the people. It symbolizes the unexpected trials and extended periods of waiting that test faith.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom:":** This initial clause precisely delineates the Israelites' challenging itinerary. "Mount Hor" serves as a significant geographical and narrative marker, being the place of Aaron's recent death. The phrase "by the way of the Red sea" (likely referring to the Gulf of Aqaba, the eastern arm of the Red Sea) indicates a movement southward, then eastward, and finally northward, highlighting a long and indirect route. The explicit purpose, "to compass the land of Edom," underscores the forced nature of this detour, a direct consequence of Edom's refusal to grant passage, thus emphasizing the external constraints and hardships imposed upon Israel's journey.
* **"and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.":** This second clause shifts focus from the external circumstances to the internal, collective state of the people. "The soul of the people" (Hebrew: _nephesh ha'am_) emphasizes their collective inner being, their spirit, their very life-force, indicating a deep, pervasive weariness. The phrase "was much discouraged" (Hebrew: _qāṣar nephesh_) powerfully conveys their profound impatience, spiritual exhaustion, and loss of resolve. The cause is explicitly stated: "because of the way," meaning the arduous, prolonged, and unexpected detour. This deep weariness and frustration are presented as the direct precursors to their subsequent grumbling and rebellion against divine authority.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 21:4 effectively employs **Pathos** to evoke a sense of empathy and understanding for the Israelites' plight, detailing their profound emotional and spiritual exhaustion ("the soul of the people was much discouraged"). The use of "the way" functions as **Metonymy**, standing not merely for the physical route but for the entire arduous, prolonged wilderness journey and its associated hardships, including the delays, deprivations, and challenges to faith. This "way" also carries strong **Symbolism**, representing the trials, detours, and periods of waiting inherent in any spiritual journey, highlighting the human tendency to grow weary when God's timing or methods differ from expectations. The verse's concise structure, presenting the action followed by its emotional consequence, creates a sense of **Cause and Effect**, directly linking the difficult journey to the people's internal state of discouragement.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 21:4 serves as a stark reminder of the human propensity for discouragement and impatience when faced with prolonged trials and unexpected detours on the path God has set. It illustrates that even a people under divine guidance can falter in faith when the "way" becomes too hard or too long. This deep weariness often precedes murmuring and rebellion against God, as seen repeatedly in the wilderness narrative. The verse underscores the theological truth that God's ways are often not our ways, and His sovereign plan may involve circuitous routes designed to test, refine, and teach His people patience and dependence, even when those paths seem counter-intuitive or unnecessarily difficult from a human perspective. It highlights the constant tension between human impatience and divine timing, and the need for persistent trust.

* [Exodus 16:2](/exodus/16-2 "Exodus 16:2 - Israel's Murmuring for Food")
* [Numbers 11:1](/numbers/11-1 "Numbers 11:1 - The Burning at Taberah")
* [Hebrews 3:7-11](/hebrews/3-7 "Hebrews 3:7-11 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 21:4 offers a timeless mirror for the human experience of spiritual and life journeys. We, too, often find ourselves "discouraged because of the way" when our expectations of a smooth, direct path are unmet by the reality of detours, delays, and unexpected hardships. This verse validates the reality of emotional and spiritual weariness in the face of prolonged trials, reminding us that it is natural to feel tired. However, it also serves as a potent warning: unmanaged discouragement can quickly devolve into complaining against God, doubting His goodness, and losing sight of His ultimate purposes. Our response to the "way" reveals the depth of our trust. Instead of succumbing to a "shortening of spirit," we are called to cultivate patience, remember God's faithfulness in past provisions, and fix our eyes on the promised destination, understanding that even the most arduous detours can be part of God's refining and sanctifying work in our lives. It challenges us to find spiritual resilience even when the path is long and difficult.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "ways" or detours in your life currently cause you discouragement or weariness, and how are you processing those emotions?**
* **How do you typically respond when your plans are thwarted or your journey becomes unexpectedly difficult, and what is the spiritual impact of that response?**
* **In what ways might God be using a "long way" or a "detour" in your life to teach you patience, dependence, or a deeper trust in His timing and wisdom?**
* **Considering the Israelites' example, what practical steps can you take to guard your "soul" from becoming "much discouraged" when faced with prolonged trials, and instead, cultivate endurance and hope?**

### FAQ

**Why did the Israelites have to take such a long detour around Edom?**

Answer: The Israelites were forced to take a long detour around Edom because the king of Edom, a descendant of Esau and thus a distant relative, refused them passage through his territory. [Numbers 20:18-21](/numbers/20-18 "Numbers 20:18-21 - Edom Refuses Passage") explains that Edom met Israel with a large and powerful army, threatening to attack if they attempted to pass through. This forced the Israelites to abandon their more direct route to the Promised Land and take a circuitous path "by the way of the Red sea" (likely the Gulf of Aqaba) to bypass Edom entirely, leading to the prolonged and arduous journey described in [Numbers 21:4](/numbers/21-4 "Numbers 21:4 - Israel's Discouragement"). This refusal highlights the geopolitical realities and the challenges Israel faced in their journey.

**What does "the soul of the people was much discouraged" truly mean in the original language?**

Answer: The KJV phrase "the soul of the people was much discouraged" translates the Hebrew _qāṣar nephesh_, which literally means "the soul was shortened" or "the spirit was cut short." This conveys a much deeper and more intense meaning than simple disappointment. It describes a profound state of impatience, exasperation, and spiritual exhaustion, where one's capacity for endurance or hope has been severely diminished. It indicates a deep weariness that makes an individual or a collective prone to complaining, doubting, and losing resolve, brought on by the prolonged and difficult "way," or journey.

**How does this verse relate to the subsequent story of the fiery serpents?**

Answer: [Numbers 21:4](/numbers/21-4 "Numbers 21:4 - Israel's Discouragement") directly sets the stage for the incident of the fiery serpents and the bronze serpent found in [Numbers 21:5-9](/numbers/21-5 "Numbers 21:5-9 - The Fiery Serpents and Bronze Serpent"). The people's profound discouragement "because of the way" quickly escalates into open complaining against God and Moses, as explicitly stated in [Numbers 21:5](/numbers/21-5 "Numbers 21:5 - Israel Complains Again"). This murmuring, a direct consequence of their "shortened spirit" and lack of trust, is then met with divine judgment in the form of poisonous serpents. The subsequent provision of the bronze serpent for healing serves as God's merciful response to their repentance, demonstrating His continued faithfulness even in their rebellion. The discouragement is the emotional and spiritual root that blossoms into their sinful complaints, leading to the need for divine intervention.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 21:4, with its poignant depiction of a people "much discouraged because of the way," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. While the Israelites grumbled and rebelled on their arduous journey, Jesus, the true and faithful Israel, endured a far greater "way" without complaint. He "set his face to go to Jerusalem" ([Luke 9:51](/luke/9-51 "Luke 9:51 - Jesus Resolves to Go to Jerusalem")), knowing the suffering and ultimate detour to the cross that awaited Him, yet He never allowed His "soul" to be "discouraged" in the face of His mission. He became the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), enduring the wilderness of temptation ([Matthew 4:1-11](/matthew/4-1 "Matthew 4:1-11 - The Temptation of Jesus")) and the ultimate trial of Gethsemane, where His "soul was very sorrowful, even to death" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus in Gethsemane")). Unlike Israel, who looked to a bronze serpent for physical healing from a curse, we look to Christ, who was "lifted up" on the cross ([John 3:14-15](/john/3-14 "John 3:14-15 - The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up")) to provide spiritual and eternal life to all who believe. He is the faithful leader who traversed the "way" of suffering and death, not for His own sin, but for ours, ensuring that though our journey may be difficult, we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Our High Priest Sympathizes")). In Him, our discouragement is met with grace, and our weary souls find rest ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")), for He has already walked the hardest path and secured our ultimate destination.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 6:9

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Judges 11:18

Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon [was] the border of Moab.

Numbers 32:7

And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Numbers 33:41

And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.

Numbers 32:9

For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.

1 Thessalonians 3:3

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.