1Then we turnedH6437, and took our journeyH5265 into the wildernessH4057 by the wayH1870 of the RedH5488 seaH3220, as the LORDH3068 spokeH1696 to me: and we went aroundH5437 mountH2022 SeirH8165 manyH7227 daysH3117. 2And the LORDH3068 spokeH559 to me, sayingH559, 3Ye have gone aroundH5437 this mountainH2022 long enoughH7227: turnH6437 northwardH6828. 4And commandH6680 thou the peopleH5971, sayingH559, Ye are to passH5674 through the landH1366 of your brethrenH251 the childrenH1121 of EsauH6215, who dwellH3427 in SeirH8165; and they shall be afraidH3372 of you: therefore take ye goodH3966 heedH8104 to yourselves: 5MeddleH1624 not with them; for I will not giveH5414 you of their landH776, no, not so much as a footH7272 breadthH4096 H3709; because I have givenH5414 mountH2022 SeirH8165 to EsauH6215 for a possessionH3425. 6Ye shall buyH7666 foodH400 of them for moneyH3701, that ye may eatH398; and ye shall also buyH3739 waterH4325 of them for moneyH3701, that ye may drinkH8354. 7For the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hath blessedH1288 thee in all the worksH4639 of thy handH3027: he knowethH3045 thy walkingH3212 through this greatH1419 wildernessH4057: these fortyH705 yearsH8141 the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hath been with thee; thou hast lackedH2637 nothingH1697. 8And when we passedH5674 by from our brethrenH251 the childrenH1121 of EsauH6215, who dweltH3427 in SeirH8165, through the wayH1870 of the plainH6160 from ElathH359, and from EziongaberH6100, we turnedH6437 and passedH5674 by the wayH1870 of the wildernessH4057 of MoabH4124. 9And the LORDH3068 saidH559 to me, DistressH6696 not the MoabitesH4124, neither contendH1624 with them in battleH4421: for I will not giveH5414 thee of their landH776 for a possessionH3425; because I have givenH5414 ArH6144 to the childrenH1121 of LotH3876 for a possessionH3425. 10The EmimsH368 dweltH3427 in it in times pastH6440, a peopleH5971 greatH1419, and manyH7227, and tallH7311, as the AnakimsH6062; 11WhoH1992 also were accountedH2803 giantsH7497, as the AnakimsH6062; but the MoabitesH4125 callH7121 them EmimsH368. 12The HorimsH2752 also dweltH3427 in SeirH8165 in times pastH6440; but the childrenH1121 of EsauH6215 succeededH3423 them, when they had destroyedH8045 them from beforeH6440 them, and dweltH3427 in their stead; as IsraelH3478 didH6213 to the landH776 of his possessionH3425, which the LORDH3068 gaveH5414 to them. 13Now riseH6965, said I, and pass overH5674 the brookH5158 ZeredH2218. And we went overH5674 the brookH5158 ZeredH2218. 14And the spaceH3117 in which we cameH1980 from KadeshbarneaH6947, until we passedH5674 the brookH5158 ZeredH2218, was thirtyH7970 and eightH8083 yearsH8141; until all the generationH1755 of the menH582 of warH4421 were consumedH8552 from amongH7130 the hostH4264, as the LORDH3068 sworeH7650 to them. 15For indeed the handH3027 of the LORDH3068 was against them, to destroyH2000 them from amongH7130 the hostH4264, until they were consumedH8552. 16So it came to pass, when all the menH582 of warH4421 were consumedH8552 and deadH4191 from amongH7130 the peopleH5971, 17That the LORDH3068 spokeH1696 to me, sayingH559, 18Thou art to pass overH5674 through ArH6144, the borderH1366 of MoabH4124, this dayH3117: 19And when thou comest nearH7126 H4136 the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983, distressH6696 them not, nor meddleH1624 with them: for I will not giveH5414 thee of the landH776 of the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 any possessionH3425; because I have givenH5414 it to the childrenH1121 of LotH3876 for a possessionH3425. 20(That also was accountedH2803 a landH776 of giantsH7497: giantsH7497 dweltH3427 there in times pastH6440; and the AmmonitesH5984 callH7121 them ZamzummimsH2157; 21A peopleH5971 greatH1419, and manyH7227, and tallH7311, as the AnakimsH6062; but the LORDH3068 destroyedH8045 them beforeH6440 them; and they succeededH3423 them, and dweltH3427 in their stead: 22As he didH6213 to the childrenH1121 of EsauH6215, who dweltH3427 in SeirH8165, when he destroyedH8045 the HorimsH2752 from beforeH6440 them; and they succeededH3423 them, and dweltH3427 in their stead even to this dayH3117: 23And the AvimsH5761 who dweltH3427 in HazerimH2699, even to AzzahH5804, the CaphtorimsH3732, who came forthH3318 from CaphtorH3731, destroyedH8045 them, and dweltH3427 in their stead.) 24Arise yeH6965, take your journeyH5265, and pass overH5674 the riverH5158 ArnonH769: beholdH7200, I have givenH5414 into thy handH3027 SihonH5511 the AmoriteH567, kingH4428 of HeshbonH2809, and his landH776: beginH2490 to possessH3423 it, and contendH1624 with him in battleH4421. 25This dayH3117 will I beginH2490 to putH5414 the dreadH6343 of thee and the fearH3374 of thee upon the nationsH6440 H5971 that are under the whole heavenH8064, who shall hearH8085 reportH8088 of thee, and shall trembleH7264, and be in anguishH2342 because of theeH6440. 26And I sentH7971 messengersH4397 from the wildernessH4057 of KedemothH6932 to SihonH5511 kingH4428 of HeshbonH2809 with wordsH1697 of peaceH7965, sayingH559, 27Let me passH5674 through thy landH776: I will goH3212 along by the highwayH1870 H1870, I will neither turnH5493 to the right handH3225 nor to the leftH8040. 28Thou shalt sellH7666 me foodH400 for moneyH3701, that I may eatH398; and giveH5414 me waterH4325 for moneyH3701, that I may drinkH8354: only I will pass throughH5674 on my feetH7272; 29(As the childrenH1121 of EsauH6215 who dwellH3427 in SeirH8165, and the MoabitesH4125 who dwellH3427 in ArH6144, didH6213 to me;) until I shall pass overH5674 JordanH3383 into the landH776 which the LORDH3068 our GodH430 givethH5414 us. 30But SihonH5511 kingH4428 of HeshbonH2809 wouldH14 not let us passH5674 by him: for the LORDH3068 thy GodH430 hardenedH7185 his spiritH7307, and made his heartH3824 obstinateH553, that he might deliverH5414 him into thy handH3027, as appeareth this dayH3117. 31And the LORDH3068 saidH559 to me, BeholdH7200, I have begunH2490 to giveH5414 SihonH5511 and his landH776 beforeH6440 thee: beginH2490 to possessH3423, that thou mayest inheritH3423 his landH776. 32Then SihonH5511 came outH3318 againstH7125 us, he and all his peopleH5971, to fightH4421 at JahazH3096. 33And the LORDH3068 our GodH430 deliveredH5414 him beforeH6440 us; and we smoteH5221 him, and his sonsH1121, and all his peopleH5971. 34And we tookH3920 all his citiesH5892 at that timeH6256, and utterly destroyedH2763 the menH4962, and the womenH802, and the little onesH2945, of every cityH5892, we leftH7604 none to remainH8300: 35Only the cattleH929 we took for a preyH962 to ourselves, and the spoilH7998 of the citiesH5892 which we tookH3920. 36From AroerH6177, which is by the brinkH8193 of the riverH5158 of ArnonH769, and from the cityH5892 that is by the riverH5158, even to GileadH1568, there was not one cityH7151 too strongH7682 for us: the LORDH3068 our GodH430 deliveredH5414 all to usH6440: 37Only to the landH776 of the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 thou camestH7126 not, nor to any placeH3027 of the riverH5158 JabbokH2999, nor to the citiesH5892 on the mountainsH2022, nor to whatever the LORDH3068 our GodH430 forbadH6680 us.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE STORY IS CONTINUED. (Deu. 2:1-37)
Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea--After their unsuccessful attack upon the Canaanites, the Israelites broke up their encampment at Kadesh, and journeying southward over the west desert of Tih as well as through the great valley of the Ghor and Arabah, they extended their removals as far as the gulf of Akaba.
we compassed mount Seir many days--In these few words Moses comprised the whole of that wandering nomadic life through which they passed during thirty-eight years, shifting from place to place, and regulating their stations by the prospect of pasturage and water. Within the interval they went northward a second time to Kadesh, but being refused a passage through Edom and opposed by the Canaanites and Amalekites, they again had no alternative but to traverse once more the great Arabah southwards to the Red Sea, where turning to the left and crossing the long, lofty mountain chain to the eastward of Ezion-geber (
Num 21:4-
Num 21:5), they issued into the great and elevated plains, which are still traversed by the Syrian pilgrims in their way to Mecca. They appear to have followed northward nearly the same route, which is now taken by the Syrian hadji, along the western skirts of this great desert, near the mountains of Edom [ROBINSON]. It was on entering these plains they received the command, "Ye have compassed this mountain (this hilly tract, now Jebel Shera) long enough, turn ye northward" [
Deut 2:3].
4 the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir . . . shall be afraid of you--The same people who had haughtily repelled the approach of the Israelites from the western frontier were alarmed now that they had come round upon the weak side of their country.
5 Meddle not with them--that is, "which dwell in Seir" (
Deut 2:4) --for there was another branch of Esau's posterity, namely, the Amalekites, who were to be fought against and destroyed (
Gen 36:12;
Exod 17:14;
Deut 25:17). But the people of Edom were not to be injured, either in their persons or property. And although the approach of so vast a nomadic horde as the Israelites naturally created apprehension, they were to take no advantage of the prevailing terror to compel the Edomites to accept whatever terms they imposed. They were merely to pass "through" or along their border, and to buy meat and water of them for money (
Deut 2:6). The people, kinder than their king, did sell them bread, meat, fruits, and water in their passage along their border (
Deut 2:29), in the same manner as the Syrian caravan of Mecca is now supplied by the people of the same mountains, who meet the pilgrims as at a fair or market on the hadji route [ROBINSON]. Although the Israelites still enjoyed a daily supply of the manna, there was no prohibition against their eating other food when opportunity afforded. Only they were not to cherish an inordinate desire for it. Water is a scarce commodity and is often paid for by travellers in those parts. It was the more incumbent on the Israelites to do so, as, by the blessing of God, they possessed plenty of means to purchase, and the long-continued experience of the extraordinary goodness of God to them, should inspire such confidence in Him as would suppress the smallest thought of resorting to fraud or violence in supplying their wants.
8 we passed . . . through the way of the plain--the Arabah or great valley, from Elath ("trees") (the Ailah of the Greeks and Romans). The site of it is marked by extensive mounds of rubbish.
Ezion-geber--now Akaba, both were within the territory of Edom; and after making a circuit of its southeastern boundary, the Israelites reached the border of Moab on the southeast of the Salt Sea. They had been forbidden by divine command to molest the Moabites in any way; and this special honor was conferred on that people not on their own account, for they were very wicked, but in virtue of their descent from Lot. (See on
Deut 23:3). Their territory comprised the fine country on the south, and partly on the north of the Arnon. They had won it by their arms from the original inhabitants, the Emims, a race, terrible, as their name imports, for physical power and stature (
Gen 14:5), in like manner as the Edomites had obtained their settlement by the overthrow of the original occupiers of Seir, the Horims (
Gen 14:6), who were troglodytes, or dwellers in caves. Moses alluded to these circumstances to encourage his countrymen to believe that God would much more enable them to expel the wicked and accursed Canaanites. At that time, however, the Moabites, having lost the greater part of their possessions through the usurpations of Sihon, were reduced to the small but fertile region between the Zered and the Arnon.
13 Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered--The southern border of Moab, Zered ("woody"), now Wady Ahsy, separates the modern district of Kerak from Jebal, and, indeed, forms a natural division of the country between the north and south. Ar, called in later times Rabbah, was the capital of Moab and situated twenty-five miles south of the Arnon on the banks of a small but shady stream, the Beni Hamed. It is here mentioned as representative of the country dependent on it, a rich and well-cultivated country, as appears from the numerous ruins of cities, as well as from the traces of tillage still visible on the fields.
16 all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people--The outbreak at Kadesh on the false report of the spies had been the occasion of the fatal decree by which God doomed the whole grown-up population to die in the wilderness [
Num 14:29]; but that outbreak only filled up the measure of their iniquities. For that generation, though not universally abandoned to heathenish and idolatrous practices, yet had all along displayed a fearful amount of ungodliness in the desert, which this history only hints at obscurely, but which is expressly asserted elsewhere (
Ezek 20:25-
Ezek 20:26;
Amos 5:25,
Amos 5:27;
Acts 7:42-
Acts 7:43).
19 when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them--The Ammonites, being kindred to the Moabites, were, from regard to the memory of their common ancestor, to remain undisturbed by the Israelites. The territory of this people had been directly north from that of Moab. It extended as far as the Jabbok, having been taken by them from a number of small Canaanitish tribes, namely, the Zamzummins, a bullying, presumptuous band of giants, as their name indicates; and the Avims, the aborigines of the district extending from Hazerim or Hazeroth (El Hudhera) even unto Azzah (Gaza), but of which they had been dispossessed by the Caphtorim (Philistines), who came out of Caphtor (Lower Egypt) and settled in the western coast of Palestine. The limits of the Ammonites were now compressed; but they still possessed the mountainous region beyond the Jabbok (
Josh 11:2). What a strange insight does this parenthesis of four verses give into the early history of Palestine! How many successive wars of conquest had swept over its early state--what changes of dynasty among the Canaanitish tribes had taken place long prior to the transactions recorded in this history!
24 Rise ye up . . . and pass over the river Arnon--At its mouth, this stream is eighty-two feet wide and four deep. It flows in a channel banked by perpendicular cliffs of sandstone. At the date of the Israelitish migration to the east of the Jordan, the whole of the fine country lying between the Arnon and the Jabbok including the mountainous tract of Gilead, had been seized by the Amorites, who, being one of the nations doomed to destruction (see
Deut 7:2;
Deut 20:16), were utterly exterminated. Their country fell by right of conquest into the hands of the Israelites. Moses, however, considering this doom as referring solely to the Amorite possessions west of Jordan, sent a pacific message to Sihon, requesting permission to go through his territories, which lay on the east of that river. It is always customary to send messengers before to prepare the way; but the rejection of Moses' request by Sihon and his opposition to the advance of the Israelites (
Num 21:23;
Judg 11:26) drew down on himself and his Amorite subjects the predicted doom on the first pitched battlefield with the Canaanites. It secured to Israel not only the possession of a fine and pastoral country, but, what was of more importance to them, a free access to the Jordan on the east.