Numbers 20:20-21

20:20 But he said, “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them ¹  with a large and powerful force. ²  20:21 So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.

[20:20]  ¹ tn Heb “to meet him.”

[20:20]  ² 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.