Commentary for Numbers 20:20
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר לֹ֣א תַעֲבֹ֑ר וַיֵּצֵ֤א אֱדוֹם֙ לִקְרָאת֔וֹ בְּעַ֥ם כָּבֵ֖ד וּבְיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה׃
And he said: ‘Thou shalt not pass through.’ And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
Rashi on Numbers
וביד חזקה AND WITH A STRONG HAND — relying upon our ancestors’ assurance: (Genesis 27:22) “and the hands are the hands of Esau” (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Beshalach 9 on בשלח)
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Sforno on Numbers
ויצא אדום לקראתו, to face them at the border.
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Siftei Chakhamim
With our grandfather’s assurance. For if not so, why does it say “a strong hand.” Any massive number of people constitutes a strong hand.
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Chizkuni
ויאמר לא תעבור, “the King said: “you must not cross (the boundary).” After confronting soldiers at the borders, the Israelites decided, in conformity with G-d’s command, not to violate Edom’s territory.
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