It’s easy to imagine him as this larger-than-life figure, divinely guided, but sometimes he acted with remarkable prudence, almost bordering on… politeness.

We find an example of this in the book of Numbers (Numbers 20:14-21), as retold in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews. After reaching Kadesh, Moses, instead of just marching through Edom’s territory, sends ambassadors to the Edomite king with a request: permission to pass through their land.

Why? Moses reasoned, "When our father Jacob, with only a small troop, planned to return to his father's house—which wasn't even in Esau's territory!—he still sent a messenger ahead to ask permission. How much more, then, should we, a great people, refrain from entering Edom's territory without their sanction!"

It's a fascinating glimpse into Moses' thinking. He wasn't just relying on divine right. He understood the importance of diplomacy, of respecting boundaries, even when he believed he had a stronger claim.

But the message the ambassadors carried wasn't just a simple request. It was layered with history, obligation, and a touch of… well, let's call it assertive negotiation.

The message went something like this: "From the time of our grandfather Abraham, there was a promissory note to be redeemed." The promissory note refers, of course, to the prophecy in Genesis (Genesis 15:13-16) that Abraham's descendants would be enslaved in Egypt.

"God had imposed upon him that in Egypt his seed should be enslaved and tortured," the message continued. "It had been thy duty, as well as ours, to redeem this note, and thou knowest that we have done our duty whereas thou wert not willing."

Ouch. Talk about laying it on thick! Moses, through his ambassadors, was reminding the Edomites of their shared ancestry (Edom being descended from Esau, Jacob's brother) and their shared responsibility. They were saying, "We fulfilled the prophecy, we endured the suffering. You should have helped, but you didn't."

And it didn't stop there. The message continues, "God had, as thou knowest, promised Abraham that those who had been in bondage in Egypt should receive Canaan for their possession as a reward. That land, therefore, is ours, who were in Egypt, and thou who didst shirk the redemption of the debt, hast now claim to our land."

Basically, Moses was saying, "Canaan is ours by right of suffering, and you have no claim to it because you didn't help us when we were enslaved." Strong words!

But then, a subtle softening. "Let us then pass through thy land until we reach ours. Know also that the Patriarchs in their grave sympathized with our sufferings in Egypt, and whenever we called out to God He heard us, and sent us one of His ministering angels to lead us out of Egypt. Consider, then, that all thy weapons will avail thee naught if we implore God's aid, who will then at once overthrow thee and thy hosts, for this is our inheritance, and 'the voice of Jacob' never proves ineffectual."

It's a powerful reminder of the Israelites’ connection to the divine, a warning that opposing them would be opposing God. "The voice of Jacob," a reference to Jacob's prayers, is described as unfailing.

And finally, a practical consideration. "That thou mayest not, however, plead that our passage through thy land will bring thee only annoyances and no gain, I promise thee that although we draw drink out of a well that accompanies us on our travels, and are provided with food through the manna [the miraculous food provided by God in the desert], we shall, nevertheless, by water and food from thy people, that ye may profit by our passage."

In other words, “We’ll even pay for passage to ease your worries."

What can we take away from this intricate negotiation? It's a reminder that even in moments of great power and divine favor, diplomacy, historical awareness, and a touch of… chutzpah… can all play a role. It highlights the complex relationship between divine promise and human action. Moses believed in his people's destiny, but he also believed in making a reasonable, even persuasive, case.

It's a lesson that resonates even today: sometimes, even when you feel you're in the right, it pays to ask nicely… and maybe remind the other party of their obligations while you're at it.