¹⁴ While Moses was at Kadesh he sent messengers to the king of Edom: “We are the descendants of your brother, Israel,”^[a] he declared. “You know our sad history, ¹⁵ how our ancestors went down to visit Egypt and stayed there so long, and became slaves of the Egyptians. ¹⁶ But when we cried to the Lord he heard us and sent an Angel who brought us out of Egypt, and now we are here at Kadesh, encamped on the borders of your land. ¹⁷ Please let us pass through your country. We will be careful not to go through your planted fields, nor through your vineyards; we won’t even drink water from your wells, but will stay on the main road and not leave it until we have crossed your border on the other side.”

¹⁸ But the king of Edom said, “Stay out! If you attempt to enter my land, I will meet you with an army!”

¹⁹ “But, sir,” protested the Israeli ambassadors, “we will stay on the main road and will not even drink your water unless we pay whatever you demand for it. We only want to pass through and nothing else.”

²⁰ But the king of Edom was adamant. “Stay out!” he warned, and, mobilizing his army, he marched to the frontier with a great force. ^21-22 Because Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their country, Israel turned back and journeyed from Kadesh to Mount Hor.