Numbers 20:14-21

Common English Bible

The Israelites confront Edom

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “This is what your brother Israel says: ‘You know all the adversity that has happened to us. ¹⁵ How our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived in Egypt for a long time. The Egyptians oppressed us as they had our ancestors, ¹⁶ and we cried out to the Lord. He heard our voice, sent a messenger, and brought us out of Egypt. Now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border. ¹⁷ Please let us cross through your land. We won’t pass through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will walk on the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have crossed your border.’”

¹⁸ Edom said to him, “You won’t cross through, or I will come out against you with a sword.”

¹⁹ The Israelites said to him, “We’ll go up by the road. If we drink from your water, either we or our livestock, we’ll pay for it. It’s a small matter. We would only ask to cross on foot.”

²⁰ But he said, “You won’t cross.” Then Edom came out against them with a powerful army and a strong hand. ²¹ Edom refused to allow Israel to cross his border. And Israel turned away from him.