¹⁴ From Kadesh Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom: “Thus your brother Israel has said, ‘You know all the hardship that has found us; ¹⁵ our ancestors^[a] went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time,^[b] and the Egyptians mistreated us and our ancestors.^{[c] 16} Then we cried to Yahweh, and he heard our voice; he sent an angel and brought us out from Egypt. And look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ¹⁷ Please let us go through your land. We will not go through a field or vineyard, and we will not drink water from a well. We will go along the road of the king; we will not turn aside right or left until we have gone through your territory.’”

¹⁸ Then Edom said to him, “You will not pass through us^[d] lest we will go out^[e] to meet you with the sword.” ¹⁹ The Israelites^[f] said to him, “We will go up on the main road, and if we^[g] and our livestock^[h] drink your water, we will pay for it.^[i] It is only a small matter; let us pass through on our feet.”^{[j] 20} But he said, “You will not go through.” And Edom went out to meet them^[k] with a large army and a strong hand. ²¹ So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, and Israel turned aside from him.