No. 2.

NUMERICAL ENIGMA.

My 1, 2, 3 is to join.
My 4, 5 is a preposition.
My 6, 7, 8 is a trap.
My 15, 16, 9, 18, 11, 13 is abuse.
My 19, 14, 10, 12 is a defeat.
My 17, 18, 19, 20 is an important body of men.
My whole contains 20 letters, and is a familiar proverbial expression.

V. O. T.