Deuteronomy 2

In this chapter, Moses recounts Israel’s journey through the wilderness, focusing on their encounters with various nations. God instructs them to avoid conflict with certain peoples, like the descendants of Esau and Lot, while guiding them towards eventual battles that will lead them into the Promised Land. The chapter emphasizes God's sovereignty over nations and His provision for Israel throughout their journey.

Deuteronomy 2:1-3 (NKJV)
1 “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the Lord spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days.
2 And the Lord spoke to me, saying,
3 ‘You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward.'”

The Israelites traveled southward, following God's direction, and spent a considerable amount of time near Mount Seir, where the descendants of Esau lived. After this extended period, God commanded them to change direction and move north. This was a moment of transition as God began guiding them towards new encounters and ultimately towards the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 2:4-6 (NKJV)
4 ‘And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully.
5 Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
6 You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.”

As Israel approached the land of the Edomites (Esau’s descendants), God instructed them to pass through peacefully, not to engage in any conflict. Edom was granted the land by God, and Israel was to respect that. Instead of taking what they needed, they were to purchase food and water, ensuring a peaceful passage, as God provided for their needs through these exchanges.

Deuteronomy 2:7 (NKJV)
7 “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”

God reassures the Israelites that despite their long journey through the wilderness, they were never in want because of His provision. This verse highlights God's faithfulness and care for His people. Even during a time of wandering, God had blessed them in every way, ensuring their survival and well-being.

Deuteronomy 2:8-9 (NKJV)
8 “And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the Plain, away from Elath and Ezion Geber, we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab.
9 Then the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’”

After peacefully passing through Edom, the Israelites were to similarly avoid conflict with the Moabites, who descended from Lot. Like Edom, Moab was granted their land by God, and Israel was not to take any part of it. This continued to demonstrate God's respect for His promises to other nations and His sovereignty over their inheritance.

Deuteronomy 2:10-12 (NKJV)
10 (The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim.
11 They were also regarded as giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim.
12 The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the Lord gave them.)

This passage gives a brief historical context, explaining that the land of Moab and Edom had previously been occupied by other powerful peoples, like the Emim and the Horites. These peoples were tall and strong, comparable to the Anakim, yet were displaced by the Moabites and Edomites. The verse serves to remind Israel of God’s ability to give land to whom He chooses and that even powerful nations can be driven out when God wills it.

Deuteronomy 2:13-15 (NKJV)
13 “‘Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.’ So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered.
14 And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the Lord had sworn to them.
15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they were consumed.”

It took 38 years for the Israelites to cross from Kadesh Barnea to the Zered Valley, during which time the older generation, the men of war, died off. This was in fulfillment of God's judgment because of their lack of faith at Kadesh Barnea. The verse emphasizes the completeness of God's judgment against the faithless generation and sets the stage for the new generation to rise and continue towards the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 2:16-19 (NKJV)
16 “So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people,
17 that the Lord spoke to me, saying:
18 ‘This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab.
19 And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’”

Once the generation of disobedient men had passed away, God directed the new generation toward the land of the Ammonites, instructing them not to provoke conflict. Like Moab, the land of the Ammonites was a gift from God to Lot’s descendants. This once again demonstrates God’s respect for His promises to other nations and His control over the inheritance of lands.

Deuteronomy 2:20-23 (NKJV)
20 (That was also regarded as a land of giants; giants formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
21 a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the Lord destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place,
22 just as He had done for the descendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, even to this day.
23 And the Avim, who dwelt in villages as far as Gaza—the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their place.)

Here, more historical context is provided, explaining that the land of the Ammonites, like that of Edom and Moab, had once been inhabited by giants. However, God allowed these people to be defeated, showing once again His power to decide who inhabits which lands. This continues to reinforce the theme of God’s control over all nations.

Deuteronomy 2:24-25 (NKJV)
24 “‘Rise, take your journey, and cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and engage him in battle.
25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’”

God now tells Israel to prepare for battle against King Sihon of the Amorites, signaling the beginning of their conquest of the land. God promises to make the surrounding nations fear Israel, ensuring their success. This marks a shift from peaceful passages through foreign lands to active conquest, as God’s plan for Israel’s possession of the Promised Land begins to unfold.

Deuteronomy 2:26-29 (NKJV)
26 “And I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying,
27 ‘Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will turn neither to the right nor to the left.
28 You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink; only let me pass through on foot,
29 just as the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord our God is giving us.’”

Before engaging in battle, Moses sent peaceful messages to King Sihon, asking for permission to pass through his land, just as they had done with Edom and Moab. Israel offered to buy food and water, not seeking conflict but merely wanting to pass through. Despite this peaceful approach, God had a different plan for the Amorites, leading to battle.

Deuteronomy 2:30-31 (NKJV)
30 “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.
31 And the Lord said to me, ‘See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.’”

Sihon, despite Israel’s peaceful offer, refused to let them pass, as God had hardened his heart. This was part of God's plan to deliver Sihon and his land into the hands of the Israelites. The hardening of Sihon’s heart set the stage for a decisive battle, and God had already ordained Israel’s victory as part of His greater plan to give them the land He had promised.

Deuteronomy 2:32-33 (NKJV)
32 “Then Sihon and all his people came out against us to fight at Jahaz.
33 And the Lord our God delivered him over to us; so we defeated him, his sons, and all his people.”

When Sihon and his army came to battle the Israelites at Jahaz, God delivered them into Israel’s hands. The Israelites were victorious, defeating Sihon, his sons, and all his people. This was a pivotal victory in their journey, as God demonstrated His power by giving Israel victory over a formidable enemy.

Deuteronomy 2:34-35 (NKJV)
34 “We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining.
35 We took only the livestock as plunder for ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we took.”

After defeating Sihon’s army, the Israelites took control of all the Amorite cities, destroying their inhabitants completely. This total destruction was in accordance with the commands of God, ensuring that no trace of the enemy remained. However, they were allowed to take the livestock and goods as plunder, a reward for their victory in battle.

Deuteronomy 2:36-37 (NKJV)
36 “From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the Lord our God delivered all to us.
37 Only you did not go near the land of the people of Ammon—anywhere along the River Jabbok, or to the cities of the mountains, or wherever the Lord our God had forbidden us.”

The Israelites took control of a wide region, from Aroer to Gilead, and no city was able to stand against them because the Lord gave them victory. However, they obeyed God's command not to approach the land of the Ammonites, respecting the boundary that God had established. This demonstrates Israel's obedience to God's specific instructions regarding which lands they were to conquer and which they were to avoid.