[20:14] Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:
[20:15] how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers.
[20:16] And when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.
[20:17] Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
[20:18] But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
[20:19] And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”
[20:20] But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.
[20:21] Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.