^{14 Ref} And Moses sendeth messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, `Thus said thy brother Israel, Thou -- thou hast known all the travail which hath found us;

^{15 Ref} that our fathers go down to Egypt, and we dwell in Egypt many days, and the Egyptians do evil to us and to our fathers;

^{16 Ref} and we cry unto Jehovah, and He heareth our voice, and sendeth a messenger, and is bringing us out of Egypt; and lo, we `are' in Kadesh, a city `in' the extremity of thy border.

^{17 Ref} Let us pass over, we pray thee, through thy land; we pass not over through a field, or through a vineyard, nor do we drink waters of a well; the way of the king we go, we turn not aside -- right or left -- till that we pass over thy border.'

¹⁸ And Edom saith unto him, `Thou dost not pass over through me, lest with sword I come out to meet thee.'

^{19 Ref} And the sons of Israel say unto him, `In the highway we go, and if of thy waters we drink -- I and my cattle -- then I have given their price; only (it is nothing) on my feet I pass over.'

^{20 Ref} And he saith, `Thou dost not pass over;' and Edom cometh out to meet him with much people, and with a strong hand;

^{21 Ref} and Edom refuseth to suffer Israel to pass over through his border, and Israel turneth aside from off him.