How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
How our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt for a long time; and the Egyptians treated us harshly, both us and our ancestors:
The writer is recounting how the Israelites' ancestors moved to Egypt where they eventually suffered harsh treatment for many generations.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Numbers, Moses is speaking to the king of Edom as the Israelites seek passage during their wilderness journey after the Exodus. Their ancestors, including Jacob and his family, went to Egypt during a famine as described in Genesis, where they lived for about 430 years and initially thrived but were later harshly oppressed by the Egyptians. This historical recounting serves to remind the Edomites of God's faithfulness to Israel and underscores the nation's ongoing quest for the Promised Land.
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