Did anyone ever tell you the Bible can be confusing?

Resolving (I think) a mystery of missing time.

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don’t know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it “really” means.. Let’s see where this takes us!

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Deuteronomy 2

In Deuteronomy 2 Moses says that the nation of Esau, aka Edom, had let the Israelites pass through. In Numbers 20, however, we were told that Israel was barred from going through that territory. I noted,

I found it interesting that the Israelites were denied passage by the King of Edom. Edomites are descendants of Esau. Although Esau and Jacob had reconciled, Esau had chosen to mix with the Canaanites, descendants of Ham. The Israelites are the descendants of Shem.

Ham represents the base, material self. Shem represents spirit. Edom refused to let the “spirit” pass through, even temporarily.

Is there a contradiction in the narrative?

Maybe, maybe not. If there is no contradiction, what we have instead is a 38-year gap between Numbers…