Numbers 20:18

18 But the king of Edom answered: "You may not pass through here. If you try, I will come and meet you with swords."

Numbers 20:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 20:18

And Edom said unto him
The king of Edom replied to Israel, represented by the messengers sent in their name:

thou shall not pass by me;
through my country:

lest I come out against thee with the sword;
or with those that use the sword, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; that is, with an army of soldiers with their drawn swords in their hands, to slay them as enemies.

Numbers 20:18 In-Context

16 but when we cried out to the Lord, he heard us and sent us an angel to bring us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your land.

17 Please let us pass through your country. We will not touch any fields of grain or vineyards, and will not drink water from the wells. We will travel only along the king's road, not turning right or left until we have passed through your country."

18 But the king of Edom answered: "You may not pass through here. If you try, I will come and meet you with swords."

19 The Israelites answered: "We will go along the main road, and if we or our animals drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to walk through. That's all."

20 But he answered: "You may not pass through here." Then the Edomites went out to meet the Israelites with a large and powerful army.