11. Moses lifted his arm and hit the rock twice. Water began flowing from the rock, and the people and their animals drank that water.
12. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not trust me enough to honor me and show the people that I am holy. You did not show the Israelites that the power to make the water came from me. So you will not lead the people into the land that I have given them.”
13. This place was called the waters of Meribah. This is where the Israelites argued with the Lord and where he showed them that he was holy.
14. While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent some men with a message to the king of Edom. The message said, “This is what your brothers, the Israelites, say to you: You know about all the troubles we have had.
15. Many years ago our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to us.
16. But we asked the Lord for help, and he heard us and sent an angel to help us. The Lord has brought us out of Egypt. “Now we are here at Kadesh, where your land begins.
17. Please let us travel through your country. We will not travel through any fields or vineyards. We will not drink water from any of your wells. We will travel only along King’s Road. We will not leave that road to the right or to the left. We will stay on the road until we have traveled through your country.”
18. But the king of Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land. If you try to travel through our land, we will come and fight you with swords.”
19. The Israelites answered, “We will travel along the main road. If our animals drink any of your water, we will pay you for it. We only want to walk through your country. We don’t want to take it for ourselves.”
20. But again the king of Edom answered, “We will not allow you to come through our country.” Then the king of Edom gathered a large and powerful army and went out to fight against the Israelites.