16. When we cried to the Lord, he heard our cry and sent an angel who led us out of Egypt. Now here we are at Kadesh, a town at the edge of your territory.
17. Please let us pass through your land. We will not cross any fields or vineyards, nor drink any well water, but we will go straight along the King’s Highway without turning to the right or to the left, until we have passed through your territory.”
18. But Edom answered him, “You shall not pass through here; if you do, I will advance against you with the sword.”
19. The Israelites said to him, “We will go up along the highway. If we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. It is nothing—just let us pass through on foot.”
20. But Edom replied, “You shall not pass through,” and advanced against them with a large and heavily armed force.
21. Therefore, since Edom refused to let Israel pass through their territory, Israel turned away from them.
22. Setting out from Kadesh, the Israelites, the whole community, came to Mount Hor.
23. There at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:
24. Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land I have given to the Israelites, because you both rebelled against my directions at the waters of Meribah.
25. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up on Mount Hor.
26. Then strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar, his son; but there Aaron shall be gathered up in death.
27. Moses did as the Lord commanded. When they had climbed Mount Hor in view of the whole community,
28. Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. Then Aaron died there on top of the mountain. When Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain,
29. all the community understood that Aaron had breathed his last; and for thirty days the whole house of Israel mourned Aaron.