18 But Edom answered: "You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword."
18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
18 But Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you."
18 The king of Edom answered, "Not on your life. If you so much as set a foot on my land, I'll kill you."
18 Then Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword."
18 But the king of Edom said, "Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 20:18
Commentary on Numbers 20:14-21
(Read Numbers 20:14-21)
The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped, was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive damage by the Israelites. And had this numerous army been under any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself, there might have been cause for this jealousy. But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred revived, when the blessing was about to be inherited. We must not think it strange, if reasonable requests be denied by unreasonable men, and if those whom God favours be affronted by men.