וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְאָכִ֣ים ׀ אֶל־מֶלֶךְ֩ אֱד֨וֹם ׀ לֵאמֹ֜ר אֶעְבְּרָה־נָּ֣א בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ וְלֹ֤א שָׁמַע֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֱד֔וֹם וְגַ֨ם אֶל־מֶ֧לֶךְ מוֹאָ֛ב שָׁלַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אָבָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּקָדֵֽשׁ׃
Lalu Israel mengirim utusan-utusan kepada raja Edom untuk mengatakan: ‘Izinkanlah aku melewati negerimu.’ Tetapi raja Edom tidak mau mendengarkan. Israel juga mengirim utusan kepada raja Moab, tetapi ia pun tidak mau. Maka Israel tetap tinggal di Kadesh.
Akeidat Yitzchak
The following matters deserve special attention in connection with the campaign against Sichon and Og. 1) Since it had been clear to G'd that Moses' offer to Edom would be rejected, why did He agree to Moses proceeding in such a manner, apparently causing Israel embarassment? 2) Why did Moses not also send a peace offer to Og? 3) Why did G'd tell Moses not to be afraid of Og? Would there not have been much more reason to tell him not to be afraid of Sichon, seeing that he was going to be the first one Moses would meet on the battlefield?