John Gill Commentary Numbers 20:18

"And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee." — Numbers 20:18 (ASV)

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

you shall not pass by me ;
through my country:

lest I come out against you 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.