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There was no farewell. In that typical priesthood all depended on the unbroken
continuance of theoffice, not of the person. And hence on that mountain-top Aaron
was first unclothed of his priestlyrobes, and Eleazar, his son, formally invested with
them. Thus the priesthood had not for a momentceased when Aaron died. Then, not as
a priest but simply as one of God's Israel, was he "gatheredunto his people." But over
that which passed between the three on the mount has the hand of Goddrawn the veil
of silence. And so the new priest, Eleazar, came down from the solemn scene
onMount Hor to minister amidst a hushed and awe-stricken congregation. "And when
all thecongregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days,
even all the house ofIsrael."
Serious tidings were now in store for Israel. The messengers returned from Edom
bringing absoluterefusal to the request of passage through that country. Not only so,
but the large army of Edom wasassembling on the frontier, close to the camping-
ground of Israel. If, according to the Divinecommand, Edom was not to be attacked,
then Israel must rapidly retreat. The ordinary route fromMount Hor "to compass the
land of Edom," so as to advance northwards, by the east of Edom,would have led
Israel straight down by the Wady El-Jeib, and so through the northern part of
theArabah. But this route touched the western boundary of Edom, just where, as we
gather from theScriptural narrative, the army of Edom was echeloned. To avoid them,
it became thereforenecessary, in the first place, to retrace their steps again through part
of the Wady Murreh, in orderthence to strike in a south-easterly direction through
what are now known as "the mountains of the'Azazimeh," the ancient dukedom of
Teman, or Mount Paran. By this detour Israel would strike theArabah far south of
where the army of Edom awaited them, passing through the modern
WadiesGhudhaghidh and 'Adbeh. In point of fact, we learn from Deuteronomy 10:7
that Gudgodah andJotbath were the two stations reached next after the retreat from
Mount Hor. But just at the pointwhere the host of Israel would turn southwards from
Wady Murreh, they were also in almost astraight line for the territory of the king of
Arad. Of course, he would be informed that Israel hadbeen refused a passage through
Edom, and, finding them on the flank of his territory, would naturallyimagine that
they intended to invade it. "And the Canaanitish king of Arad, which dwelt in
theNegeb" (or south country), "heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies"
(or, moreprobably, "the way of the merchants," the caravan road); "then he fought
against Israel, and tookof them prisoners" having probably fallen on their rearguard.
The event is mentioned for this twofold reason: to show the unprovoked enmity of
Canaan againstIsrael, and the faithfulness of God. For Israel at that time "vowed a
vow" utterly to destroy the citiesof the Canaanites. And God hearkened and heard.
Many years afterwards He gave the prayed-forvictory, (Jude 1:17) when the name of
(^)