Numbers 20:20

20 Again they answered: “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.

Numbers 20:20 in Other Translations

20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

20 But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.

20 But the king of Edom replied, “Stay out! You may not pass through our land.” With that he mobilized his army and marched out against them with an imposing force.

20 He answered again: "No. You may not come through." And Edom came out and blocked the way with a crowd of people brandishing weapons.

20 And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

20 But the Edomites said, "You may not pass through." Then they came out and attacked with many well-armed troops.

20 Yet Edom insisted, "You must not travel through." And they came out to confront them with a large force of heavily-armed people.

20 Again the people of Edom answered, "You can't pass through here." Then the people of Edom came out against them. They came with a large and powerful army.

Numbers 20:20 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 20:20

And he said, thou shall not go through
Which is an absolute and peremptory denial:

and Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand;
the king raised the militia of his country, and came at the head of a powerful army to hinder their passing into it; being fearful and jealous, lest such a large body as they were should seize on his country, or spoil it, not relying on their promises; and this might arise also from the old grudge of Esau against Jacob, and which continued in his posterity, and might now be revived upon their going to Canaan to possess the earthly blessing conferred on Jacob and his seed: however, it seems, though the Edomites would not let Israel pass through their country, yet they furnished them with food and drink for their money, ( Deuteronomy 2:28 Deuteronomy 2:29 ) .

Numbers 20:20 In-Context

18 But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”

19 The Israelites replied: “We will go along the main road, and if we or our livestock drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We only want to pass through on foot—nothing else.”

20 Again they answered: “You may not pass through.” Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful army.

21 Since Edom refused to let them go through their territory, Israel turned away from them.

22 The whole Israelite community set out from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 17,18
• 2. ver 14