Deuteronomy 2: Past Edom, Moab and Ammon, and the defeat of Sihon
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What happens?
Moses goes on retelling the journey. Yahweh told Israel to pass by the descendants of Esau in Seir, and then Moab and Ammon, without fighting them, because he had given them their lands; side notes tell of the giant peoples who lived there before. After thirty-eight years the generation of fighting men had died, Israel crossed the brook Zered, and Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let them pass, so Israel defeated him, took all his cities and utterly destroyed them, with the women and the little ones.
Who is speaking?
Moses is still speaking to Israel. He repeats what Yahweh told him (verses 2 to 6, 9, 13, 17 to 19, 24 and 25, and 31) and the message of peace he sent to Sihon (verses 27 to 29). These are Moses' words, so none of them are in gold, even where he tells what Yahweh said. Verses 10 to 12 and 20 to 23 are side notes in brackets about the peoples who lived in those lands before. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Yahweh spoke to me; and we encircled Mount Seir many days.
In plain English: Then we turned and set out into the wilderness by the road to the Red Sea (literally: the Sea of Reeds), as Yahweh had told me. For many days we went around Mount Seir.
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2Yahweh spoke to me, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to me and said,
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3“You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward.
In plain English: "You have gone around this mountain long enough. Turn north.
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4Command the people, saying, ‘You are to pass through the border of your brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore be careful.
In plain English: Command the people: 'You are about to pass through the land (literally: the border) of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you. So be very careful.
Good to know: Esau was Jacob's brother (), so his descendants are Israel's "brothers". says: "Esau lived in the hill country of Seir. Esau is Edom."
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5Don’t 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 for a possession.
In plain English: Do not stir up a fight with them, because I will not give you any of their land, not even enough for the sole of a foot to step on. I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his own.
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6You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat. You shall also buy water from them for money, that you may drink.’”
In plain English: You are to buy food from them with money, so that you can eat. You are also to buy water from them with money, so that you can drink.'"
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7For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has known your walking through this great wilderness. These forty years, Yahweh your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.
In plain English: For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has known your journey through this great wilderness. These forty years Yahweh your God has been with you. You have not lacked anything.
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8So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
In plain English: So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the road of the Arabah, from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and went by the road of the wilderness of Moab.
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9Yahweh said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.”
In plain English: Yahweh said to me, "Do not trouble Moab, and do not stir up a war with them, because I will not give you any of his land as your own. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their own."
Good to know: and tell that Lot's two sons were Moab, the father of the Moabites, and Ben Ammi, the father of the children of Ammon. So Yahweh gives Moab and Ammon their lands here as the descendants of Lot ().
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10(The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim.
In plain English: (The Emim lived there before. They were a great people, many in number, and as tall as the Anakim.
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11These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
In plain English: They too are counted as Rephaim, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim.
The Hebrew words: "Rephaim" is rapha, which the dictionary gives as "a giant". This Bible says "Rephaim" in 17 of the 24 verses that use it, and "giant" or a longer form in 7. "Emim" is a name the dictionary gives as an early tribe of Canaan (or of Moab). It is in only 3 verses of the Bible: verses 10 and 11 here, and .
Good to know: The text gives the names each people used. The Moabites called these people Emim, and the Ammonites called the Rephaim in their land Zamzummim (), a name found only there.
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12The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place, as Israel did to the land of his possession, which Yahweh gave to them.)
In plain English: The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed them and lived in their place, just as Israel did to the land Yahweh gave them as their own.)
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13“Now rise up and cross over the brook Zered.” We went over the brook Zered.
In plain English: "Now get up and cross the brook (or: the valley) Zered." So we crossed the brook Zered.
The Hebrew word: "Brook" is nachal, which the dictionary gives as "a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs)".
How it is translated: In Deuteronomy this Bible says "valley" in 9 of the 15 verses that use it, "brook" in 3, and "river" in 2. It is "valley" in "the valley of the Arnon" () and "river" in "the river Jabbok" ().
What changes: Read as "brook", Israel crosses a stream. Read as "valley", they cross the valley the stream runs through. The Hebrew word covers both.
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14The days in which we came from Kadesh Barnea until we had come over the brook Zered were thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the middle of the camp, as Yahweh swore to them.
In plain English: From the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years. By then the whole generation of the men of war had died out from the camp, as Yahweh had sworn to them.
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15Moreover Yahweh’s hand was against them, to destroy them from the middle of the camp, until they were consumed.
In plain English: Yahweh's hand was against them, to destroy them (or: to throw them into confusion) from the camp, until they were all gone.
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16So, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
In plain English: So when all the men of war had died and were gone from among the people,
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17Yahweh spoke to me, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to me and said,
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18“You are to pass over Ar, the border of Moab, today.
In plain English: "Today you are to pass by Ar, the border of Moab.
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19When you come near the border of the children of Ammon, don’t bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you any of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession, because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.”
In plain English: When you come near the people of Ammon, do not trouble them or stir up a fight with them, because I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as your own. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their own."
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20(That also is considered a land of Rephaim. Rephaim lived there in the past, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
In plain English: (That too is counted as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim lived there in the past, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim.
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21a great people, many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Yahweh destroyed them from before Israel, and they succeeded them, and lived in their place,
In plain English: They were a great people, many in number, and tall like the Anakim. But Yahweh destroyed them before them (this Bible: before Israel), and they drove them out and lived in their place,
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22as he did for the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place even to this day.
In plain English: just as he did for the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day.
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23Then the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza: the Caphtorim, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them and lived in their place.)
In plain English: And the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza: the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and lived in their place.)
Good to know: The dictionary gives Caphtor as "a wreath-shaped island", "the original seat of the Philistines". and also link the Philistines with Caphtor.
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24“Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
In plain English: "Get up, set out, and cross the valley of the Arnon. Look, I have given Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land into your hand. Begin to take possession of it, and go to war with him.
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25Today I will begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.”
In plain English: Today I will begin to put the dread and the fear of you on the peoples under the whole sky. They will hear the news about you, and they will tremble and be in anguish because of you."
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26I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
In plain English: From the wilderness of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
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27“Let me pass through your land. I will go along by the highway. I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.
In plain English: "Let me pass through your land. I will keep to the road (literally: on the road, on the road). I will not turn aside to the right or to the left.
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28You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink. Just let me pass through on my feet,
In plain English: Sell me food for money, so that I can eat, and give me water for money, so that I can drink. Only let me pass through on foot,
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29as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did to me, until I pass over the Jordan into the land which Yahweh our God gives us.”
In plain English: as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan into the land Yahweh our God is giving us."
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30But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for Yahweh your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as it is today.
In plain English: But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through his land, because Yahweh your God had made his spirit stubborn (this Bible: hardened) and his heart hard (this Bible: obstinate), so that he could hand him over to you (literally: into your hand), as it is today.
The Hebrew word: "Hardened" is qashah, which the dictionary gives as "to be dense, i.e. tough or severe". It is the same word Yahweh uses of Pharaoh in : "I will harden Pharaoh's heart."
Good to know: The verse says both things: Sihon "would not" let Israel pass, and Yahweh made his spirit stubborn. It does not say more about how the two fit together.
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31Yahweh said to me, “Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you. Begin to possess, that you may inherit his land.”
In plain English: Yahweh said to me, "Look, I have begun to hand over Sihon and his land to you. Begin to take possession, so that you may own his land."
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32Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz.
In plain English: Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
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33Yahweh our God delivered him up before us; and we struck him, his sons, and all his people.
In plain English: Yahweh our God handed him over to us, and we struck him down, with his sons and all his people.
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34We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. We left no one remaining.
In plain English: At that time we took all his cities and utterly destroyed (or: devoted to destruction) every inhabited city (literally: city of men), with the women and the little ones. We left no one remaining.
The Hebrew word: "Utterly destroyed" is charam. The dictionary gives it as "to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction)".
How it is translated: This Bible says "destroy" or a longer form (destroyed, destroying) in 42 of the 48 verses that use the word, and "devote" or a longer form in 4. The place name Hormah () sounds like it.
What changes: Read as "utterly destroyed", the verse tells of killing. Read as "devoted", it also carries the dictionary's sense of a ban: set apart for religious use, especially destruction. Only the livestock and the plunder were kept ().
Good to know: This is the war law of that time, as the text records it. The same word is used of Og's cities in , and in the commands of and . Jewish and Christian readers differ on how to read these passages today.
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35Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken.
In plain English: We took only the livestock as plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities we had taken.
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36From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. Yahweh our God delivered up all before us.
In plain English: From Aroer, on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city in the valley, as far as Gilead, no town was too high (too strong) for us. Yahweh our God handed them all over to us.
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37Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near: all the banks of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.
In plain English: Only you did not go near the land of the people of Ammon: all along the river Jabbok, the cities of the hill country, and wherever Yahweh our God had forbidden us (literally: all that Yahweh our God had commanded).
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