14 Then from there in Kadesh, Mosheh sent messengers to Edom’s king to ask him, “This message is from your Israeli relatives. You are already aware of all the hardship that we’ve been through—15 how our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived there for many years, but then the Egyptians mistreated them. 16 However, when we cried out to Yahweh and he heard us and sent a messenger and brought us out of Egypt, and now we’re in Kadesh town at the southern border of your territory. 17 Now please let us pass through your country. We won’t go through the countryside or the vineyards, and we won’t drink water from any well. We’ll stay on the king’s highway without turning to the right or the left, until after we’ve exited at your northern border.

18 But Edom’s king replied, “You can’t pass through my country. If you do try to enter, I’ll send my swordsmen out against you.”

19 The Israelis reiterated, “We’ll stay on the highway, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, then we’ll pay what it’s worth so that’s no big deal. Just let us walk through.”

20 Again the king responded, “You may not pass through.”

Then Edom sent a large, heavily-armed contingent to intimidate them, 21 and because they’d been refused passage through their territory, the Israelis turned around and went via a longer, less direct route.