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 20:20-21

20:20 But he said, “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them ³  with a large and powerful force. ⁴  20:21 So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.

Numbers 24:18

24:18 Edom will be a possession,

Seir, ⁵  his enemies, will also be a possession;

but Israel will act valiantly.

[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.

[24:18]  ⁵ sn Seir is the chief mountain range of Edom (Deut 33:2), and so the reference here is to the general area of Edom.