16For when they came up from Egypt, Israel traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and arrived at Kadesh.
17Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Please let us pass through your land,' but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent to the king of Moab, but he refused. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.
18Then they journeyed through the wilderness, went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east side of the land of Moab. They camped on the other side of the Arnon but did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
19Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who was king of Heshbon, and said to him, 'Let us pass through your land to our destination.'