ספורנו — פן בחרב אצא לקראתך / במסלה נעלה

Q — Edom's reply to Israel's request to cross — "לא תעבור בי פן בחרב אצא לקראתך" — sounds aggressive, and most parshanim (including Rashi via Chazal) read it as a hostile threat invoking Esav's berachah of "ועל חרבך תחיה." If so, why would Israel make a *second* request after such a sharp rebuff?

A — For Sforno, the answer is that Edom's response isn't a threat — it's an *explanation* of why he can't allow passage. "פן בחרב אצא לקראתך" means: my populace is "אנשי דמים" — they pick fights "בסיבה מועטת," and "יתעוררו אנשי הארץ בחרב נגד העוברים." Edom is saying: even if I personally agreed, I can't guarantee what my people would do. That perfectly explains Israel's follow-up offer: "במסלה נעלה" — we'll stay on the highway, away from your cities, "ולא תקרה שם סבה שתעורר את עמך בחרב לקראתנו." Israel addresses Edom's stated concern directly. The exchange is a real negotiation, not a one-sided refusal followed by Israel's naïve persistence. Edom's ultimate refusal ("וימאן אדום") may suggest the first reason was partly pretext — but Israel had every reason to attempt the dialogue.