1 “Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the Lord told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir.
2 And the Lord spoke to me, saying,
3 You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.
4 and command the people, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful.
5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
6 You shall purchase food from them with money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.
7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.
8 So we went on, away from our brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and Ezion-geber. And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab.
9 And the Lord said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the people of Lot for a possession.’
10 (The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim.)
11 These also are counted as Rephaim, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim.
12 The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the Lord gave to them.
13 Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.’ So we went over the brook Zered.
14 And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them.
15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from among the camp, until they had perished.
16 “So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people,
17 the Lord said to me,
18 You are this day to cross over, Ar, the boundary of Moab,
19 And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend 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 sons of Lot for a possession.
20 (It is also counted as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly lived there, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,).
21 a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; but the Lord destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they dispossessed them and settled in their place,
22 As he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them, and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day.
23 And the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, were destroyed by the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor and destroyed them and settled in their place.
24 ‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle.
25 This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’
26 So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying,
27 Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside 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 as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land that the Lord our God is giving to us.’
30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.
31 And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’
32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz.
33 And the Lord our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people.
34 And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors.
35 Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured.
36 From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The Lord our God gave all into our hands.
37 Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the Lord our God had forbidden us.
The True Meaning of Deuteronomy 2
The book of Deuteronomy was written by Moses, the great prophet and leader of the Israelites. Moses recounted the journey and laws that God had given them as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The Israelites continue their trek in this chapter, encountering other nations and receiving instructions from God on how to interact with them.
The events described in this chapter take place as the Israelites are nearing the end of their 40-year wilderness journey. After the incident with the golden calf, God had forgiven the people and renewed his covenant with them. Now, they are poised to enter the land that God had promised to their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Israelites will interact with the descendants of Esau and Lot, the nephew of Abraham, as we read. God gives them specific commands about how to treat these related nations, foreshadowing the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience that will be a recurring theme throughout the book of Deuteronomy. We will also witness God’s faithfulness in providing for and protecting his chosen people as they draw closer to the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 2:1-7
God instructed the Israelites to turn and journey towards the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 2:1-7. The section begins with the command given to Moses by God to set their journey “this way” towards the land of Canaan, which had been promised to their forefathers. This directional guidance is not solely geographical but also holds symbolic significance as the Israelites were on a journey towards fulfilling God’s covenant to Abraham to give his descendants the land of Canaan. This act of moving in obedience to God’s command is an essential theme that echoes throughout the Bible – the importance of following God’s guidance and promises even when the path ahead may seem uncertain or daunting. The command was given to the people not to initiate conflict with the descendants of Esau as the Israelites journeyed. Esau was the older twin brother of Jacob (who was later named Israel), and the ancestor of the Edomites. This instruction to avoid conflict with the Edomites is not only a practical one to maintain peace but also carries a deeper lesson about respecting ancestral ties and not causing unnecessary strife with distant relatives. It speaks to the values of forgiveness, reconciliation, and maintaining familial peace, which are timeless messages found throughout the Bible.
The Bible often emphasizes the importance of respecting boundaries and property rights, and in these verses, it is highlighted that God gave Esau’s descendants the hill country of Seir as their possession. This act of recognizing and respecting the inheritance of others can be seen as a moral lesson on boundaries and property rights, reflecting God’s fairness and justice. These principles of respecting property and boundaries are echoed in other parts of the Bible, such as Exodus 20:17, which includes the commandment, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Furthermore, the passage acknowledges God’s providence in providing for the Israelites during their journey, reminding them that He had blessed their undertakings. This reassurance of God’s provision and faithfulness serves as a reminder not only to the Israelites but to readers throughout history that God is a provider who cares for His people. This trust in God’s provision is a repeated theme in the Bible, seen in verses like Matthew 6:26, where Jesus reminds his followers of the Father’s care for them by providing for the birds of the air. These verses in Deuteronomy 2:1-7 serve as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God’s guidance, respecting boundaries and property rights, maintaining peace with relatives, and trusting in God’s provision. The lessons drawn from this passage are timeless and continue to offer insights and guidance for believers today on how to navigate relationships, stewardship, and faith in their journey towards fulfilling God’s promises.
Deuteronomy 2:8-15
God commands the Israelites to pass through the territory of Moab and Ammon on their journey to the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 2:8-15. This passage highlights how God instructed His people to respect the land that belonged to these nations, as He had given it to them as their possession. This demonstrates God’s sovereignty over all lands and His ability to distribute them according to His divine plan. It also serves as a reminder to the Israelites to honor the boundaries set by God and not to encroach upon the territories of other nations.
The mention of the descendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, is significant in this passage. Esau was the brother of Jacob (later named Israel) and the son of Isaac and Rebekah. The rivalry between Jacob and Esau is a prominent theme in the book of Genesis, and their descendants played a role in shaping the history of the Israelites. The fact that God specifically directed the Israelites not to provoke the descendants of Esau during their journey reflects God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Esau’s descendants, even though they were not chosen as the lineage through which the Messiah would come.
Furthermore, the reference to the Rephaim, a group of giants who were known for their great stature, adds a sense of historical context and reinforces the challenges that the Israelites faced during their travels. The Rephaim were mentioned multiple times in the Bible as formidable opponents of the Israelites, highlighting the physical and spiritual battles that the chosen people of God had to overcome in their quest to inherit the land promised to them.
This passage in Deuteronomy serves as a lesson for believers about obedience to God’s commands, respect for boundaries, and the importance of acknowledging God’s sovereignty over all nations and territories. It also shows the intricate interplay between different nations and peoples in the biblical narrative, emphasizing God’s overarching plan for salvation and redemption through His chosen people. The journey of the Israelites through various lands and encountering different peoples can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian journey through life, facing obstacles and trials but ultimately relying on God’s guidance and provision to reach the ultimate promised land of eternal glory.
Deuteronomy 2:16-23
Moses narrates the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness in Deuteronomy 2:16-23, highlighting their encounters with various nations along the way. Let’s identify the subject: “we”
Rewritten sentence: We will break down this passage to delve deeper into its significance and reflect on its timeless messages. God instructs the Israelites not to engage in battle with the descendants of Esau, the Edomites, as He has given them the hill country of Seir as their possession in verse 16. This command emphasizes God’s sovereignty over the land and His provision for His people. It serves as a reminder that God’s plans and promises are always fulfilled, and that His protection and guidance are paramount in the Israelites’ journey.
Moving on to verse 17, we see the Israelites passing through the territory of Moab. God also instructs them not to provoke the Moabites to war, as He has given them possession of the land of Ar. This instruction showcases God’s authority to allocate land and His desire for His people to walk in peace, avoiding unnecessary conflict whenever possible. It reinforces the theme of obedience to God’s commands and respecting boundaries set by Him.
Subsequently, in verse 18, God reminds the Israelites of His promise to provide for their needs during their journey. He assures them that He will feed them along the way, just as He did for their ancestors, reinforcing the idea of God’s faithfulness and provision throughout generations. This verse underscores the importance of trusting in God’s sustenance and divine provision, even in the midst of challenges and uncertainty. The Israelites approach the territory of the Ammonites in verses 19-23, another nation they are not to engage in battle with, as it too has been allotted to them by God. This serves as a lesson in respecting God’s division of lands among different peoples and refraining from unnecessary conflict. It also reinforces the notion that God is in control of all nations and territories, and His plans are carried out according to His divine will. Themes of obedience to God’s commands, trust in His provision, and respect for the boundaries established by Him are highlighted in this passage in Deuteronomy 2:16-23. It reminds us of God’s sovereignty over all lands and nations, as well as His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to His people. The story of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness serves as a powerful illustration of God’s guidance and protection, offering timeless lessons for believers today to trust in God’s plans and provisions, obey His commands, and respect His divine authority.
Deuteronomy 2:24-37
The recounting of the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness and their encounters with various peoples along the way is seen in Deuteronomy 2:24-37. This passage focuses on the Israelites’ interactions with the Amorites, particularly the kingdom of Sihon, as they sought to pass through their land on their way to the Promised Land.
Firstly, it is important to note that the Amorites were a powerful and formidable group of people living in the region east of the Jordan River. The kingdom of Sihon was one of the dominant Amorite kingdoms during that time. When the Israelites sent a message to Sihon requesting safe passage through his land, he not only denied their request but also gathered his army to come out and fight against them. This refusal to allow the Israelites to pass peacefully through his land led to a conflict between the two groups.
God had promised the Israelites success in their journey to possess the land He had given them, but there were conditions attached. The Israelites were not to engage in battle with certain nations along the way unless attacked, as God had given those lands to others according to His divine plan. However, in the case of Sihon and his kingdom, they were the aggressors, attacking the Israelites without cause. This led to the defeat of Sihon and the Amorites at the hands of the Israelites, who were under the divine protection of God.
This victory over the Amorites served as a demonstration of God’s faithfulness to His promise to the Israelites and His role as their protector and provider. It also showed that obedience to God’s commands and trust in His guidance would lead to victory over their enemies, no matter how powerful they may seem. The story of the Israelites’ conquest of the Amorites serves as a reminder of the importance of trusting in God’s plans and following His instructions, even when faced with obstacles or opposition.
This passage also foreshadows the future conquests of the Israelites as they continue their journey towards the Promised Land. It sets the tone for the battles and victories that lie ahead, reminding the Israelites that their success depends on their obedience to God and reliance on His strength. This theme of faithfulness, obedience, and reliance on God’s power runs throughout the Bible, reminding believers of the enduring principles that guide our lives and relationships with God.
After Deuteronomy 2
The Israelites had finally reached the border of the land God had promised them. They had wandered in the wilderness for many years, facing challenges and temptations along the way. But now, as they stood on the cusp of the Promised Land, they knew that the true test lay ahead. For the battles they had fought were nothing compared to the battles they would face as they sought to claim the land that God had set aside for them. The road ahead would be long and arduous, but the Lord had promised to be with them every step of the way. And so, with renewed faith and determination, the Israelites prepared to cross over into the land that would become their home.
Reverend Ogunlade is a seasoned Church Minister with over three decades of experience in guiding and nurturing congregations. With profound wisdom and a serene approach, Reverend Ogunlade has carried out various pastoral duties, including delivering uplifting sermons, conducting religious ceremonies, and offering sage counsel to individuals seeking spiritual guidance. Their commitment to fostering harmony and righteousness within their community is exemplified through their compassionate nature, making them a beloved and trusted figure among the congregation.