13. Those were the waters of Meribah, because the sons of Israel contended with the Lord, and He proved Himself holy among them.
14. From Kadesh Moses then sent messengers to the king of Edom: "Thus your brother Israel has said, 'You know all the hardship that has befallen us;
15. that our fathers went down to Egypt, and we stayed in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our fathers badly.
16. But when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out from Egypt; now behold, we are at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.
17. Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king's highway, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.'"
18. Edom, however, said to him, "You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you."
19. Again, the sons of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway, and if I and my livestock do drink any of your water, then I will pay its price. Let me only pass through on my feet, nothing else."
20. But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against him with a heavy force and with a strong hand.
21. Thus Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through his territory; so Israel turned away from him.
22. Now when they set out from Kadesh, the sons of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
23. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor by the border of the land of Edom, saying,
24. "Aaron will be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter the land which I have given to the sons of Israel, because you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.