Numbers 20:18

20:18 But Edom said to him, “You will not pass through me, ¹  or I will come out against ²  you with the sword.”

Numbers 20:20

20:20 But he said, “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them ³  with a large and powerful force. ⁴ 

[20:18]  ¹ tn The imperfect tense here has the nuance of prohibition.

[20:18]  ² tn Heb “to meet.”

[20:20]  ³ tn Heb “to meet him.”

[20:20]  ⁴ tn Heb “with many [heavy] people and with a strong hand.” The translation presented above is interpretive, but that is what the line means. It was a show of force, numbers and weapons, to intimidate the Israelites.