8. “You and your brother Aaron should gather the people. Also take your walking stick. Speak to that rock in front of them. Then water will flow from it. Give that water to the people and their animals.”
9. So Moses took the stick from in front of the Lord. He did as the Lord had said.
10. He and Aaron gathered the people in front of the rock. Then Moses said, “Now listen to me, you complainers! Do you want us to bring water out of this rock?”
11. Then Moses lifted his hand and hit the rock twice with his stick. Water began pouring out. And the people and their animals drank it.
12. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “You did not believe me. You did not honor me as holy before the people. So you will not lead them into the land I will give them.”
13. These are the waters of Meribah. Here the Israelites argued with the Lord. And the Lord showed them he was holy.
14. From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom. He said, “Your brothers, the Israelites, say to you: You know about all the troubles we have had.
15. Our ancestors went down into Egypt. And we lived there for many years. The people of Egypt were cruel to our ancestors.
16. But we cried out to the Lord. He heard us and sent us an angel to bring us out of Egypt.“Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your land.
17. Please let us pass through your country. We will not touch any fields of grain or vineyards. We will not drink water from the wells. We will travel only along the king’s road. We will not turn right or left until we have passed through your country.”
18. But the king of Edom answered: “You may not pass through here. If you try, I will come and meet you with swords.”
19. The Israelites answered: “We will go along the main road. If our animals drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to walk through. That’s all.”
20. But he answered: “You may not pass through here.”Then the Edomites went out to meet the Israelites with a large and powerful army.
21. The Edomites refused to let them pass through their country. So the Israelites turned back.
22. All the Israelites moved from Kadesh to Mount Hor.