Wanderings in the Wilderness

1. DEUTERONOMY 2 COMMENTARY
Written and edited by Glenn Pease
PREFACE
This verse by verse commentary quotes the great old commentaries as well as some
contemporary authors. All of this information is available to anyone, but I have brought it
together in one place to save the Bible student time in research. If anyone I quote does not want
their wisdom shared in this way, they can let me know and I will remove it. My e-mail is
glenn_P86@yahoo.com
Wanderings in the Wilderness
1 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness
along the route to the Red Sea,[a] as the LORD had
directed me. For a long time we made our way around the
hill country of Seir.
1. Gill, “Deu 2:1 - Then we turned,.... From Kadesh, where they had been many days, and so also
their backs on the land of Canaan, on the borders of which they had been: and took our journey
into the wilderness, by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me; Deu_1:40.
and we compassed Mount Seir many days; many think by Mount Seir is meant the whole
mountainous country of Edom, about which they travelled to and fro in the wilderness that lay
near it for the space of thirty eight years, which they suppose are meant by many days; but I
rather think they came to this mount towards the close of the thirty eight years, before they came
to Kadesh, from whence they sent messengers to Edom, which they went round about for several
days,
2. Jamison, “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

2. 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” [Deu_2:3].
3. Henry, “Here is, I. A short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness: We compassed
Mount Seir many days, Deu_2:1. Nearly thirty-eight years they wandered in the deserts of Seir;
probably in some of their rests they staid several years, and never stirred; God by this not only
chastised them for their murmuring and unbelief, but, 1. Prepared them for Canaan, by
humbling them for sin, teaching them to mortify their lusts, to follow God, and to comfort
themselves in him. It is a work of time to make souls meet for heaven, and it must be done by a
long train of exercises. 2. He prepared the Canaanites for destruction. All this time the measure of
their iniquity was filling up; and, though it might have been improved by them as a space to
repent in, it was abused by them to the hardening of their hearts. Now that the host of Israel was
once repulsed, and after that was so long entangled and seemingly lost in the wilderness, they
were secure, and thought the danger was over from that quarter, which would make the next
attempt of Israel upon them the more dreadful. Orders given them to turn towards Canaan.
Though God contend long, he will not contend for ever. Though Israel may be long kept waiting
for deliverance or enlargement, it will come at last: The vision is for an appointed time, and at the
end it shall speak, and not lie.”
4. K&D, “March from Kadesh to the Frontier of the Amorites. - Deu_2:1. After a long stay in
Kadesh, they commenced their return into the desert. The words, “We departed...by the way to the
Red Sea,” point back to Num_14:25. This departure is expressly designated as an act of obedience
to the divine command recorded there, by the expression “as Jehovah spake to me.” Consequently
Moses is not speaking here of the second departure of the congregation from Kadesh to go to
Mount Hor (Num_20:22), but of the first departure after the condemnation of the generation that
came out of Egypt. “And we went round Mount Seir many days.” This going round Mount Seir
includes the thirty-eight years' wanderings, though we are not therefore to picture it as “going
backwards and forwards, and then entering the Arabah again” (Schultz). Just as Moses passed
over the reassembling of the congregation at Kadesh (Num_20:1), so he also overlooked the going
to and fro in the desert, and fixed his eye more closely upon the last journey from Kadesh to
Mount Hor, that he might recall to the memory of the congregation how the Lord had led them to
the end of all their wandering.”
2 Then the LORD said to me, 3 “You have made your way
around this hill country long enough; now turn north.

3. 1. Gill, “Ye have compassed this mountain long enough,.... It was time to be gone from thence, as
from Horeb, Deu_1:6, turn you northward; from the southern border of Edom towards the land
of Canaan, which lay north. It was from Eziongeber in the land of Edom, from whence the
Israelites came to Kadesh, where they sent messengers to the king of Edom, to desire a passage
through his land; see Num_33:36.
2. Henry, “Here is, I. A short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness: We compassed
Mount Seir many days, Deu_2:1. Nearly thirty-eight years they wandered in the deserts of Seir;
probably in some of their rests they staid several years, and never stirred; God by this not only
chastised them for their murmuring and unbelief, but, 1. Prepared them for Canaan, by
humbling them for sin, teaching them to mortify their lusts, to follow God, and to comfort
themselves in him. It is a work of time to make souls meet for heaven, and it must be done by a
long train of exercises. 2. He prepared the Canaanites for destruction. All this time the measure of
their iniquity was filling up; and, though it might have been improved by them as a space to
repent in, it was abused by them to the hardening of their hearts. Now that the host of Israel was
once repulsed, and after that was so long entangled and seemingly lost in the wilderness, they
were secure, and thought the danger was over from that quarter, which would make the next
attempt of Israel upon them the more dreadful.
3. Clarke, “Turn you northward - From Mount Seir, in order to get to Canaan. This was not the
way they went before, viz., by Kadesh-barnea, but they were to proceed between Edom on the
one hand, and Moab and Ammon on the other, so as to enter into Canaan through the land of the
Amorites.
4. Pastor Chuck Smith, “I. YOU HAVE CIRCLED THIS MOUNTAIN LONG ENOUGH.
A. Have you ever felt that your wheels were spinning but you were going no where?
B. So many people are in this condition as far as their spiritual lives are concerned.
1. It seems that you are not making any true progress.
2. At the end of this old year it seems that you haven't really progressed very far from where you
were at the beginning of the year.
3. In fact, you are pretty much where you were five years ago.
4. What is really tragic is to look back over the past five years and realize that you are in fact not
as far along as you were five years ago. You have actually gone backward.
C. Some people's lives seem to be going nowhere, they are in a rut. Life has become routine. Phil
Harris used to sing a song, "Life Gets So Tedious Don't It?"
D. It is sad to watch someone who is going nowhere.
E. For over thirty years the children of Israel were circling the same mountain. They were
moving, the only problem, they were moving in circles.
F. Finally the Lord spoke to Moses and declared, "You have circled this mountain long enough."
1. It is time to move on.
II. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OVER INTO THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
A. There are many people who have never gone beyond the beginning stages of their Christian
experience.
B. Paul bemoaned the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian believers. He wrote to them:
1CO 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as
unto babes in Christ.
1CO 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for up to now you were not able [to bear
it], nor are you yet able.
1CO 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and

4. divisions, are ye not carnal, and still walking after the old nature?
1. They were still as babies needing the bottle.
2. Things must be done to please them or you will hear a horrible wailing coming from the crib.
3. They go to church to be entertained.
C. The writer of the book of Hebrews said very much the same to his readers.
HEB 5:12 For when the time came that you should be teaching others, you still have a need to be
taught the first principles of the Christian faith. You can only handle milk and are not able to
digest solid food.
HEB 5:13 For every one that is only able to drink milk [is] still a baby and is not skilled in his
understanding of the word...
HEB 5:14 Solid food is for those who are mature, those who have enough sense to discern good
and evil.
HEB 6:1 Therefore let us leave the first principles of the doctrine of Christ and move on to
maturity. There is no need to lay again the foundational truths of the necessity of repenting from
dead works and putting your faith in the work of God.
HEB 6:2 We need not to go over again the importance of baptism, and of laying on of hands, and
of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
D. The writer is basically saying, you have circled this mountain long enough, let us move on.
E. Paul told the church in Ephesus that God has appointed in the church pastor teachers for the
purpose of bringing the saints into maturity so that they might become involved in the ministry.
They are to build up the body of Christ until they all come into a unity of the faith and the
knowledge of the Son of God. A fully matured believer, attaining to the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ! He declares that the purpose of this maturing and growing up is that they
would no longer be as little children who are tossed about and fall for every wind of doctrine
developed by cunning and crafty men who seek to prey upon the saints:
III. SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
A. Paul wrote to the Philippians and declared that he had not yet apprehended, that for which he
had been apprehended by Jesus Christ.
1. He is saying that he has not yet arrived.
2. It is important to realize that God has much more for us. We have not yet attained to the full
measure of that which God has for us.
3. When God apprehended you, and drew you to Himself, He had a plan and purpose for your
life.
a. Jesus said to His disciples, "You did not choose Me, I chose you and ordained that you should
be My disciples, and that you should bring forth fruit, and that your fruit might remain."
b. He chose them that they might produce lasting fruit.
c. He also choose you that you might also bring forth lasting fruit.
B. Paul said: "This is what I do."
1. Forgetting those things which are behind.
a. Not trying to live on past laurels or accomplishments.
b. Not trying to live on past experiences.
c. Past experiences are only valid when they are translated and continue in your present
experience.
d. I am not so interested in what God did in your life 20 years ago, what has He done today?
2. Reaching for those things which are before.
a. I am far more interested in what God is going to do for me in 2001, than I am in what God did
for me in the year 2000.
b. 2000 is past, I am so grateful for what God did in 2000, but I am anxious and waiting to see
what His plans are for this next year.

5. 3. I press toward the mark.
a. I am pressing toward the tape.
b. The closer you get to the end of the race, the harder you should pursue the prize.
c. You do not slacken as you approach the finish line, but you put everything into it.
d. Paul wrote that they that run in a race, though many may be running, only one will receive the
prize. So run that you might obtain.
e. We that are running in this race for our Lord, will all receive a prize, but what kind of prize
will you receive?
4. Paul desired the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
a. Writing to Timothy Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have
kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord our
righteous judge shall give to me, but not to me only, but to all those who love His appearing.
b. He was looking forward to standing before the judges seat and hearing the words of Jesus,
"Well done good and faithful servant."
c. At the beginning of every year I think to myself, "This could be the year our Lord comes for
His church I want to give it my best for this just might be it." One of these years I am going to be
right."
4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass
through the territory of your relatives the descendants of
Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be
very careful.
1. Gill, “And command thou the people,.... Give them a strict charge: saying, ye are to pass
through the coast of your brethren the children or Esau: not through the midst of their country,
for that the king of Edom would not admit of, but by or on the border of it: and they shall be
afraid of you; lest such a numerous body of people as Israel were should seize upon their country,
and dispossess them of it, they having been so long, wanderers in a wilderness near them: take ye
good heed unto yourselves therefore; that they did not take any advantage of their fears, and fall
upon them, and do them mischief, or that they did not provoke them to battle and overcome
them.
2. Henry, “Orders given them to turn towards Canaan. Though God contend long, he will not
contend for ever. Though Israel may be long kept waiting for deliverance or enlargement, it will
come at last: The vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it shall speak, and not lie.
3. Ron Daniel, “2:1-5 Territory Of Esau
The Israelites were going to pass through Say-EER, the territory in which the sons of Esau lived.
These two large nations of people were closely related. Jacob and Esau were brothers, Jacob was
called Israel (Gen. 32:28), father of the Israelites. And Esau was called Edom, becoming the
patriarch of the Edomites (Gen. 36:43).
The two brothers were bitterly divided (Gen. 27), but eventually made up (Gen. 33) and both
buried their father Isaac together (Gen. 35:29).

6. Gen. 36:6-8 Then Esau took his wives and his sons and his daughters and all his household, and
his livestock and all his cattle and all his goods which he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and
went to another land away from his brother Jacob. For their property had become too great for
them to live together, and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their
livestock. So Esau lived in the hill country of Say-EER; Esau is Edom.
That was the last of the interaction between the two sides of the family until God directed Moses
to go north into Say-EER.”
5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any
of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have
given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.
1. It seems strange that God has a sense of loyalty to Esau and his descendants. Most studies and
sermons on Esau make him the bad guy that we should hate, but here we see God taking his side
and warning the descendants of Jacob, the supposed good guy, to not even take a single step on
their land. They come under God's judgment later, but so do the Jews, and so we need to see that
God is no respecter of persons. He respects all people and their rights, and he will honor his
promises to all as long as they maintain some degree of obedience to his laws for a good and just
life. Even Esau is honored here, for his people have been given a gift from God, and he will not
take that away until they defy his will and come under his wrath. This applied to both the bad
guy and the good guy and their descendants.
2. Gill, “ Contend not with them in battle, nor provoke them to it: for I will not give you of their
land, no not so much as a foot breadth; or as the sole of a man's foot can tread on, signifying that
they should not have the least part of it, not any at all. Jarchi makes mention of an exposition of
theirs, that he would give them nothing of it until should come the day of the treading of the sole
of the foot in the mount of Olives, Zec_14:4, meaning not till the days of the Messiah, when Edom
should be a possession of Israel; see Num_24:18, Oba_1:19. because I have given Mount Seir unto
Esau for a possession; and therefore not to be taken away from them; they have a right of
inheritance of it; see Gen_36:8.
3. Barnes, “I have given mount Seir to Esau - Though the descendants of Esau were conquered by
David 2Sa_8:14, yet they were not dispossessed of their land, and in the reign of Jehoshaphat
they regained their independence 2Ki_8:20-22.
4. Jamison, “Deu 2:5-7 - Meddle not with them — that is, “which dwell in Seir” (Deu_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; Exo_17:14; Deu_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
(Deu_2:6). The people, kinder than their king, did sell them bread, meat, fruits, and water in
their passage along their border (Deu_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

7. 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 travelers 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.
6 You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and
the water you drink.’”
1. Imagine the bill for this meal for up to two million people. I don't know if they left a tip or not,
but this had to be one of the largest bills ever paid for fast food. They were just passing through,
and needed something to eat, so they stopped and ate and relieved themselves of a load of silver
as Jacob's people had to pay Esau's people for this meal on the run.
2. Gill, “That is, if they would, as Aben Ezra observes; for though they had manna daily, yet if
they would they might buy other food when they had an opportunity, as they would now have of
Edom; but then they were not to take it by force or stealth, but pay for it, which they were able to
do. The same writer observes, that some read the words with an interrogation, "shall ye buy
meat?" no, there is no need of it; for the Lord had blessed them with a sufficiency of it:
and ye shall also buy water of them for money; that ye may drink; which was usual in those hot
countries; See Gill on Num_20:19 or dig water (y) that is, pay for digging of wells for water, or
buy water out of wells dug in the land of Edom. Jarchi says in maritime places they express
buying by this word, and so it is used in the Arabic language; See Gill on Hos_3:2.
3. Henry, “They must not offer any hostility to them as enemies: Meddle not with them, Deu_2:4,
Deu_2:5. (1.) They must not improve the advantage they had against them, by the fright they
would be put into upon Israel's approach: “They shall be afraid of you, knowing your strength
and numbers, and the power of God engaged for you; but think not that, because their fears
make them an easy prey, you may therefore prey upon them; no, take heed to yourselves.” There
is need of great caution and a strict government of our own spirits, to keep ourselves from
injuring those against whom we have an advantage. Or this caution is given to the princes; they
must not only not meddle with the Edomites themselves, but not permit any of the soldiers to
meddle with them. (2.) They must not avenge upon the Edomites the affront they gave them in
refusing them passage through their country, Num_20:21. Thus, before God brought Israel to
destroy their enemies in Canaan, he taught them to forgive their enemies in Edom. (3.) They must
not expect to have any part of their land given them for a possession: Mount Seir was already
settled upon the Edomites, and they must not, under pretence of God's covenant and conduct,
think to seize for themselves all they could lay hands on. Dominion is not founded in grace. God's
Israel shall be well placed, but must not expect to be placed alone in the midst of the earth,
Isa_5:8.

8. They must trade with them as neighbours, buy meat and water of them, and pay for what they
bought, Deu_2:6. Religion must never be made a cloak for injustice. The reason given (Deu_2:7),
is, “God hath blessed thee, and hitherto thou hast lacked nothing; and therefore,” (1.) “Thou
needest not beg; scorn to be beholden to Edomites, when thou hast a God all-sufficient to depend
upon. Thou hast wherewithal to pay for what thou callest for (thanks to the divine blessing!); use
therefore what thou hast, use it cheerfully, and do not sponge upon the Edomites.” (2.)
“Therefore thou must not steal. Thou hast experienced the care of the divine providence
concerning thee, in confidence of which for the future, and in a firm belief of its sufficiency, never
use any indirect methods for thy supply. Live by the faith and not by thy sword.”
4. Ron Daniel, “2:6-7 Miraculous Or Purchase
The Lord instructed them to buy food and water from them as they passed through, even as He
reminded that that they'd not gone without during the last 40 years. He'd provided for them
miraculously - raining down bread from heaven, and giving them water from the rock.
But now it was time to open up the ol' checkbook and buy food and water. Why? Because there is
a time for the miraculous, and a time for the purchase.
You may recall a time when a crowd of thousands was following Jesus...
John 6:5-7 ...Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to
Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for
He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii
worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”
This was an occasion when God chose to do the miraculous rather than the purchase.
How do we know what He's going to do? We don't, and that's what makes it fun! You see, there
are times when He'll provide the money, and times when He'll just provide the provision.
But the promise is that He will always provide. Paul reminded us,
Phil. 4:19 ...My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Sometimes those riches in glory are supplied miraculously. Other times, He supplies financially.
I remember in my early days as a Christian, I saw so many people being given cars. I was
envious. Why didn't anyone ever give me a car? But you know what I discovered? That when I
was a poverty-stricken pastor, people did give me cars. You don't need God to do the miraculous
when He has provided for you to make a purchase.”
7 The LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of
your hands. He has watched over your journey through
this vast wilderness. These forty years the LORD your
God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.
1. K&D, “And this they were able to do, because the Lord had blessed them in all the work of
their hand, i.e., not merely in the rearing of flocks and herds, which they had carried on in the
desert (Exo_19:13; Exo_34:3; Num_20:19; Num_32:1.), but in all that they did for a living;

9. whether, for example, when stopping for a long time in the same place of encampment, they
sowed in suitable spots and reaped, or whether they sold the produce of their toil and skill to the
Arabs of the desert. “He hath observed thy going through this great desert” (, to know, then to
trouble oneself, Gen_39:6; to observe carefully, Pro_27:23; Psa_1:6); and He has not suffered
thee to want anything for forty years, but as often as want has occurred, He has miraculously
provided for every necessity.
2. Gill, “For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thine hands,.... Had increased
their cattle and substance, even though in a wilderness: he knoweth thy walking through this
great wilderness; every step they took, and he owned them and prospered them in all things in
which they were concerned: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee: not only to
protect and defend them, but to provide all things necessary for them. This number of years was
not fully completed, but the round number is given instead of the broken one: thou hast lacked
nothing: and since they had wherewith to pay for their food and drink, they are directed to do it,
and not take anything from the Edomites in an unjust way; nor make themselves look poor when
they were rich, as Jarchi says.
3. Spurgeon, “Again, Brothers and Sisters, in our retrospect of the past, we should notice the
perfection of the Lord’s sympathetic care. Observe the words—“He knows your walking through
this great wilderness.” He has known our rough paths and our smooth ways, the weary trudging
and the joyous marches. He has known it all, and not merely known it in the sense of
Omniscience, but known it in the sense of sympathy. As David puts it—“You have known my soul
in adversity.” You have tenderly entered into my griefs and woes. You have borne my burdens
and my cares. What do you say, Brothers and Sisters, has it not been so? Is not that witness true
—“in all their afflictions He was afflicted, and the angel of His Presence saved them”? Is not this
also true—“I have made and I will bear, even I will carry”? “He bore them on eagle’s wings and
brought them to Himself.” Has He not often done so? And have we not to sing, today, of a dear
Father’s love,so tender, so considerate that we can only wonder at it, and love in return?
Again, we have had much cause to bless the Lord for the abundance of His supplies. Note those
four words, “You have lacked nothing.” Some things which we could have wished for we have not
received and we are glad they were denied us. Children would have too many sweets if they could
and then they could become ill. We have not been pampered with dangerous dainties, but we
have received necessities and have lacked nothing. Walking on in the path of Providence, trusting
in the Lord, what have we lacked? We have known a few pinches, even as the children of Israel
lacked water for the moment, but very soon were refreshed with water from the Rock. We may
have needed bread for an hour, as they did when they were wicked enough to say, “Has the Lord
brought us out of Egypt that we may die in the wilderness?” but the clouds, before long, dropped
with a mysterious shower of food for them! And before long Providence has supplied us, also.
Our times of straitness have been occasions for appeal to the faithful promise and we have never
appealed in vain. “You have lacked nothing.” “No good thing will God withhold from them that
walk uprightly.” Everything that would be, in the fullest sense, a “good thing,” God has given us!
4. Deuteronomy 2:7—“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.”
Solomon Ginsburg, a Polish Jew, became a flaming evangelist across both Europe and South
America. In 1911, needing rest, he decided to head to America on furlough. His route took him to
Lisbon where he planned to cross the Bay of Biscay to London, then on to the States.

10. Arriving in Lisbon, Ginsburg found the bulletin boards plastered with weather telegrams
warning of terrific storms raging on the Bay of Biscay. It was dangerous sailing, and he was
advised to delay his trip a week. His ticket allowed him to do that, and he prayed about it
earnestly.
But as he prayed, he turned to his W.M.U. prayer calendar and found the text for that day was
Deuteronomy 2:7—“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.” The Lord seemed to assure him that his long,
worldwide travels were under divine protection. Ginsburg boarded ship at once, crossed without
incident, and caught the Majestic in London. His transatlantic voyage was smooth and restful.
Only after arriving in the United States did Solomon learn that had he delayed his trip in Lisbon,
he would have arrived in London just in time …just in time to board the Titanic.
(Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes.Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Publishers)
8 So we went on past our relatives the descendants of
Esau, who live in Seir. We turned from the Arabah road,
which comes up from Elath and Ezion Geber, and
traveled along the desert road of Moab.
1. KD, “Deu_2:8-10, “In accordance with this divine command, they went past the Edomites by
the side of their mountains, “from the way of the Arabah, from Elath (see at Gen_14:6) and
Eziongeber” (see at Num_33:35), sc., into the steppes of Moab, where they were encamped at that
time. God commanded them to behave in the same manner towards the Moabites, when they
approached their frontier (Deu_2:9). They were not to touch their land, because the Lord had
given Ar to the descendants of Lot for a possession. In Deu_2:9 the Moabites are mentioned, and
in Deu_2:19 the Amorites also. The Moabites are designated as “sons of Lot,” for the same reason
for which the Edomites are called “brethren of Israel” in Deu_2:4. The Israelites were to uphold
the bond of blood-relationship with these tribes in the most sacred manner. Ar, the capital of
Moabitis (see at Num_21:15), is used here for the land itself, which was named after the capital,
and governed by it.
2. Gill, “ And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Self,....
Along their coasts, by the borders of their country: through the way of the plain; the wilderness
of Zin, where Kadesh was: from Elath and Eziongeber; the two ports on the shore of the Red sea
in the land of Edom; it was from the latter they came to Kadesh; see Num_33:35. Elath was ten
miles from Petra, the metropolis of Edom, to the east of it, as Jerom says (z); it is by Josephus (a)
called Aelana, and by the Septuagint here Ailon; from whence the Elanitic bay has its name; he
speaks of it as not far from Eziongeber, which he says was then called Berenice: we turned and
passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab; the wilderness which is before Moab, towards the

11. sun rising or the east, Num_21:11.
3. Jamison, “Deu 2:8-18 - 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 Deu_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.
4. Barnes, “Elath (Akaba) is at the northern extremity of the eastern arm of the Red Sea, and
gives to that arm the name of the Elanitic Gulf. The name means “trees;” and is still justified by
the grove of palm-trees at Akaba.
5. Henry, “Deu 2:8-23 - It is observable here that Moses, speaking of the Edomites (Deu_2:8),
calls them, “our brethren, the children of Esau.” Though they had been unkind to Israel, in
refusing them a peaceable passage through their country, yet he calls them brethren. For, though
our relations fail in their duty to us, we must retain a sense of the relation, and not be wanting in
our duty to them, as there is occasion. Now in these verses we have, The account which Moses
gives of the origin of the nations of which he had here occasion to speak, the Moabites, Edomites,
and Ammonites. We know very well, from other parts of his history, whose posterity they were;
but here he tells us how they came to those countries in which Israel found them; they were not
the aborigines, or first planters. But, 1. The Moabites dwelt in a country which had belonged to a
numerous race of giants, called Emim (that is, terrible ones), as tall as the Anakim, and perhaps
more fierce, Deu_2:10, Deu_2:11. 2. The Edomites in like manner dispossessed the Horim from
Mount Seir, and took their country (Deu_2:12. and again Deu_2:22), of which we read,
Gen_36:20. 3. The Ammonites likewise got possession of a country that had formerly been
inhabited by giants, called Zamzummim, crafty men, or wicked men (Deu_2:20, Deu_2:21),
probably the same that are called Zuzim, Gen_14:5. He illustrates these remarks by an instance
older than any of these; the Caphtorim (who were akin to the Philistines, Gen_10:14) drove the
Avim out of their country, and took possession of it, Deu_2:23. The learned bishop Patrick
supposes these Avites, being expelled hence, to have settled in Assyria, and to be the same people
we read of under that name, 2Ki_17:31. Now these revolutions are recorded, (1.) To show how
soon the world was peopled after the flood, so well peopled that, when a family grew numerous,
they could not find a place to settle in, at least in that part of the world, but they must drive out
those that were already settled. (2.) To show that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong. Giants were expelled by those of ordinary stature; for probably these giants, like those
before the flood (Gen_6:4), were notorious for impiety and oppression, which brought the
judgments of God upon them, against which their great strength would be on defence. (3.) To
show what uncertain things worldly possessions are, and how often they change their owners; it

12. was so of old, and ever will be so. Families decline, and from them estates are transferred to
families that increase; so little constancy or continuance is there in these things. (4.) To encourage
the children of Israel, who were now going to take possession of Canaan, against the difficulties
they would meet with, and to show the unbelief of those that were afraid of the sons of Anak, to
whom the giants, here said to be conquered, are compared, Deu_2:11, Deu_2:21. If the
providence of God had done this for the Moabites and Ammonites, much more would his promise
do it for Israel his peculiar people.
The advances which Israel made towards Canaan. They passed by the way of the wilderness of
Moab (Deu_2:8), and then went over the brook or vale of Zered (Deu_2:13), and there Moses
takes notice of the fulfilling of the word which God had spoken concerning them, that none of
those that were numbered at Mount Sinai should see the land that God had promised,
Num_14:23. According to that sentence, now that they began to set their faces towards Canaan,
and to have it in their eye, notice is taken of their being all destroyed and consumed, and not a
man of them left, Deu_2:14. Common providence, we may observe, in about thirty-eight years,
ordinarily raises a new generation, so that in that time few remain of the old one; but here it was
entirely new, and none at all remained but Caleb and Joshua: for indeed the hand of the Lord was
against them, v. 15. Those cannot but waste, until they were consumed, who have the hand of God
against them. Observe, Israel is not called to engage with the Canaanites till all the men of war,
the veteran regiments, that had been used to hardship, and had learned the art of war from the
Egyptians, were consumed and dead from among the people (v. 16), that the conquest of Canaan,
being effected by a host of new-raised men, trained up in a wilderness, the excellency of the
power might the more plainly appear to be of God and not of men.
The caution given them not to meddle with the Moabites or Ammonites, whom they must not
disseize, nor so much as disturb in their possessions: Distress them not, nor contend with them, v.
9. Though the Moabites aimed to ruin Israel (Num_22:6), yet Israel must not aim to ruin them. If
others design us a mischief, this will not justify us in designing them a mischief. But why must not
the Moabites and Ammonites be meddled with? 1. Because they were the children of Lot (v. 9, 19),
righteous Lot, who kept his integrity in Sodom. Note, Children often fare the better in this world
for the piety of their ancestors: the seed of the upright, though they degenerate, yet are blessed
with temporal good things. 2. Because the land they were possessed of was what God had given
them, and he did not design it for Israel. Even wicked men have a right to their worldly
possessions, and must not be wronged. The tares are allowed their place in the field, and must not
be rooted out until the harvest. God gives and preserves outward blessings to wicked men, to
show that these are not the best things, but he has better in store for his own children.
9 Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites
or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of
their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a
possession.”

13. 1. Now, here we have another man that is often put down as a bad guy, but God takes his side too,
and will not allow the Jews to mess with this land he has promised to Lot. If you read my study of
Lot in Genesis, you will discover that men portray him as the bad guy, but God accepts him as
one of the good guys of the Bible. It is always wise to trust God's judgment of men rather than
the judgment of men. They tend to make Lot look as bad as possible,but he is one of the great
men of faith in the New Testament list.
2. Gill, “And the Lord said unto me,.... When upon the borders of Moab: distress not the
Moabites, neither contend with than in battle; besiege not any of their cities, nor draw them into
a battle, or provoke them to fight: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; at least
not as yet, the measure of their sins not being fully up, and the time of their punishment not
come; otherwise in David's time they were subdued, and became tributaries to him, and the
Edomites also, 2Sa_8:2, because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession; so the
Moabites were, they sprung from Moab, a son of Lot by his firstborn daughter, Gen_19:37. Ar
was the metropolis of Moab, called Ar of Moab, Isa_15:1 and is here put for the whole country of
Moab; so Aben Ezra interprets it of Moab. Jarchi says it is the name of the province; in the
Septuagint version it called Aroer.
3. Barnes, “The Moabites and the Ammonites Deu_2:19 being descended from Lot, the nephew of
Abraham Gen_19:30-38, were, like the Edomites, kinsmen of the Israelites.
10 (The Emites used to live there—a people strong and
numerous, and as tall as the Anakites.
1. Gill, “Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims,.... Because of their bulky size and tall
stature; or,the Rephaim were they accounted, even they as the Anakims;''they were reckoned
Rephaim, a name for giants in early times, even as the Anakims were; see Gen_14:5. but the
Moabites called them Emims; to distinguish them from the Rephaim; so that it seems this name
of Emims was not originally their name, but they are called so by a prolepsis, or anticipation, in
Gen_14:5 since they had it from the Moabites, a people of a later date.
2. Clarke, “The Emims dwelt therein - Calmet supposes that these people were destroyed in the
war made against them by Chedorlaomer and his allies, Gen_14:5. Lot possessed their country
after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They are generally esteemed as giants; probably
they were a hardy, fierce, and terrible people, who lived, like the wandering Arabs, on the
plunder of others. This was sufficient to gain them the appellation of giants, or men of prodigious
stature. See next verse, Deu_2:11 (note).

14. 11 Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites,
but the Moabites called them Emites.
1. KD, “Deu_2:11-12, “To confirm the fact that the Moabites and also the Edomites had
received from God the land which they inhabited as a possession, Moses interpolates into the
words of Jehovah certain ethnographical notices concerning the earlier inhabitants of these
lands, from which it is obvious that Edom and Moab had not destroyed them by their own power,
but that Jehovah had destroyed them before them, as is expressly stated in Deu_2:21, Deu_2:22.
“The Emim dwelt formerly therein,” sc., in Ar and its territory, in Moabitis, “a high (i.e., strong)
and numerous people, of gigantic stature, which were also reckoned among the Rephaites, like the
Enakites (Anakim).” Emim, i.e., frightful, terrible, was the name given to them by the Moabites.
Whether this earlier or original population of Moabitis was of Hamitic or Semitic descent cannot
be determined, any more than the connection between the Emim and the Rephaim can be
ascertained. On the Rephaim; and on the Anakites, at Num_13:22.
2. Clarke, “Which also were accounted giants - This is not a fortunate version. The word is not
giants, but Rephaim, the name of a people. It appears that the Emim, the Anakim, and the
Rephaim, were probably the same people, called by different names in the different countries
where they dwelt; for they appear originally to have been a kind of wandering free-booters, who
lived by plunder. (See on Deu_2:10 (note)). It must be granted, however, that there were several
men of this race of extraordinary stature. And hence all gigantic men have been called Rephaim.
(See on Gen_6:4 (note), and Gen_14:5 (note)). But we well know that fear and public report have
often added whole cubits to men’s height. It was under this influence that the spies acted, when
they brought the disheartening report mentioned Num_13:33.
12 Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau
drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before
them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the
land the LORD gave them as their possession.)
1. KD, “The origin of the Horites (i.e., the dwellers in caves) of Mount Seir, who were driven out
of their possessions by the descendants of Esau, and completely exterminated (see at Gen_14:6,
and Gen_36:20), is altogether involved in obscurity. The words, “as Israel has done to the land of
his possession, which Jehovah has given them,” do not presuppose the conquest of the land of
Canaan or a post-Mosaic authorship; but “the land of his possession” is the land to the east of the
Jordan (Gilead and Bashan), which was conquered by the Israelites under Moses, and divided

15. among the two tribes and a half, and which is also described in Deu_3:20 as the “possession”
which Jehovah had given to these tribes.
2. Gill, “The Horims also dwelt in Seir before time,.... Which is the name of a mount, and so of
the country, from it; so called from Seir the Horite, who dwelt in it before it was possessed by
Esau and his sons; but who the Horim or Horites were, from whence they had their name, is
difficult to say; they were as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Gen_14:6. They seem to be so
called from their dwelling in holes and caves in rocks, which the southern part of Edom or
Idumea was full of, and to be the same the Greeks call Troglodytae:
but the children of Esau succeeded them; Esau and his sons marrying among them, made way for
getting the country into their possession, as appears from Gen_36:2 and in which they afterwards
settled themselves by the dint of sword, since it follows:
when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; even in Seir where
they had dwelt, afterwards called Edom, from one of the names of Esau, Gen_36:8.
as Israel did in the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them; because this is said
before the Canaanites were drove out of their land, and it was possessed by the Israelites, some
think this was written by Ezra, or some other hand; but there is no need to suppose that; Moses,
by a spirit of prophecy, and in faith of the promises and prophecies of God relating to this affair,
which were just now about to be fulfilled, might write this; besides, it may refer to what was
already done to the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites; which had been taken
from them, and given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh; and the
above instances as well as this may be observed, to encourage the people of Israel that they
should succeed in dispossessing the Canaanites, and settling in their land, in like manner as
dispossessions of this kind had already been made.
13 And the LORD said, “Now get up and cross the Zered
Valley.” So we crossed the valley.
1. KD, “Deu_2:13-15, “For this reason Israel was to remove from the desert of Moab (i.e., the
desert which bounded Moabitis on the east), and to cross over the brook Zered, to advance
against the country of the Amorites (see at Num_21:12-13). This occurred thirty-eight years after
the condemnation of the people at Kadesh (Num_14:23, Num_14:29), when the generation
rejected by God had entirely died out ( , to be all gone, to disappear), so that not one of them
saw the promised land. They did not all die a natural death, however, but “the hand of the Lord
was against them to destroy them” (
, lit., to throw into confusion, then used with special
reference to the terrors with which Jehovah destroyed His enemies; Exo_14:24; Exo_23:27, etc.),
sc., by extraordinary judgments (as in Num_16:35; Num_18:1; Num_21:6; Num_25:9).

16. 2. Gill, “Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered,.... It is called the valley of Zered,
Num_21:12, the word used signifying both a valley and a brook; and it is very probable there
were both a valley and a brook of the same name; it must be near Dibongad, since in one place it
is said the Israelites came from Ijim and pitched in Zered; and in another place that they came
from thence, and pitched in Dibongad, Num_21:11 and we went over the brook Zered; which was
fordable, or perhaps at this time dried up.
14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh
Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that
entire generation of fighting men had perished from the
camp, as the LORD had sworn to them.
1. Gill, “And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea,.... The space of time; or, the
days (b); the number of them: until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight
years; that is, from the time that the spies were sent and searched the land, and brought a report
of it; for they were sent from Kadeshbarnea, Num_32:8 unto the passage of the Israelites over
Zered, were thirty eight years; so long they had been travelling in the wilderness, after they were
come to the borders of the land: until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from
among the host; all that were twenty years old and upwards, and fit to go out to war upon
occasion, when the people were first numbered after they came out of Egypt; all that generation
was now consumed within the above space of time, excepting two, Caleb and Joshua: as the Lord
sware unto them; Num_14:21.
15 The LORD’s hand was against them until he had
completely eliminated them from the camp.
1. Gill, “For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them,.... His power was exerted in a way of
wrath and vengeance on them, for their murmurings at the report of the spies; and therefore, it is
no wonder they were consumed, for strong is his hand, and high is his right hand; and when lifted
up it falls heavy, and there is no standing up under it, or against it: it smote them with one disease

17. or another, or brought one judgment or another upon them: as the sword of Amalek, by which
many were cut off, and the plague at Shittim in the plains of Moab, in which died 24,000; besides
the destruction of Korah and his company, which was quickly after the affair of the spies, and the
plague at that time, of which died 14,700; and thus, by one stroke after another, he went on to
destroy them from among the host until they were consumed, even all of them but two, as follows.
16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the
people had died,
1. KD, “Deu_2:16-22, “When this generation had quite died out, the Lord made known to
Moses, and through him to the people, that they were to cross over the boundary of Moab (i.e.,
the Arnon, Deu_2:24; see at Num_21:13), the land of Ar (see at Deu_2:9), “to come nigh over
against the children of Ammon,” i.e., to advance into the neighbourhood of the Ammonites, who
lived to the east of Moab; but they were not to meddle with these descendants of Lot, because He
would give them nothing of the land that was given them for a possession (Deu_2:19, as at
Deu_2:5 and Deu_2:9). - To confirm this, ethnographical notices are introduced again in
Deu_2:20-22 into the words of God (as in Deu_2:10, Deu_2:11), concerning the earlier population
of the country of the Ammonites. Ammonitis was also regarded as a land of the Rephaites,
because Rephaites dwelt therein, whom the Ammonites called Zamzummim. “Zamzummim,” from
, to hum, then to muse, equivalent to the humming or roaring people, probably the same
people as the Zuzim mentioned in Gen_14:5. This giant tribe Jehovah had destroyed before the
Ammonites (Deu_2:22), just as He had done for the sons of Esau dwelling upon Mount Seir,
namely, destroyed the Horites before them, so that the Edomites “dwelt in their stead, even unto
this day.”
17 the LORD said to me, 18 “Today you are to pass by the
region of Moab at Ar.
1. Gill, “Thou art to pass over through Ar,.... That is, over the river Arnon, by the city Ar of
Moab, which was situated by it; see Deu_2:9 and so Moses and the people of Israel were to pass
along by that: and by the coast of Moab; for they were not admitted to enter the land and pass
through it; only to travel on the borders of it, and that they were to begin to do this day; the day
the Lord spake to Moses.

18. 19 When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them
or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession
of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as
a possession to the descendants of Lot.”
1. Here again we see God being careful to make sure his promise to Lot and his descendants will
not be violated. People hate that Lot's descendants came from his own daughters, but that did not
make them any less important to God. They also come under God's judgment later, but for now
they are to be left alone, and be allowed to enjoy what God has provided for them.
2. Gill, “ And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon,.... Who dwelt near the
Moabites, and were brethren, both descending from Lot, Gen_19:37. distress them not, nor
meddle with them: lay no siege to any of their cities, nor provoke them to war, nor engage in
battle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession;
that is, any part of it which was now in their hands; otherwise half their land was given to the
tribe of Gad; but then that was what Sihon king of the Amorites had taken from them, and which
Israel retook from him, and so possessed it not as the land of the Ammonites, but of the Amorites,
one of the seven nations, whose land they were to inherit; see Jos_13:25, because I have given it
unto the children of Lot for a possession; the Ammonites were the children of Lot by his second
daughter, Gen_19:38.
3. Jamison, “Deu 2:19-37 - 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
(Jos_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!
20 (That too was considered a land of the Rephaites, who
used to live there; but the Ammonites called them
Zamzummites.

19. 1. Gill, “That also was accounted a land of giants,.... Ammon was so reckoned as well as Moab,
Deu_2:10. giants dwelt therein in old time; the Rephaim dwelt there, as they did also in Ashteroth
Karnaim, Gen_14:5. and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; they are thought to be the
same with the Zuzims in Gen_14:5 who had their name, as Hillerus (c) thinks, from Mezuzah, a
door post, from their tall stature, being as high as one; and for a like reason Saph the giant might
have his name, 2Sa_21:18. The word Zamzummims, according to him (d), signifies contrivers of
evil and terrible things; they were inventors of wickedness, crafty and subtle in forming wicked
and mischievous designs, which struck terror into people, and made them formidable to them.
2. Clarke, “That also was accounted a land of giants - That was accounted the land or territory of
the Rephaim. Zamzummims - Supposed to be the same as the Zuzim, Gen_14:5. Of these ancient
people we know very little; they were probably inconsiderable tribes or clans, “pursuing and
pursued, each other’s prey,” till at length a stronger totally destroyed or subdued them, and their
name became either extinct or absorbed in that of their conquerors. From the 10th to the 12th,
and from the 20th to the 23d verse inclusive (Deu_2:10-12, Deu_2:20-23), we have certain
historical remarks introduced which do not seem to have been made by Moses, but rather by
Joshua or Ezra. By the introduction of these verses the thread of the narrative suffers
considerable interruption. Dr. Kennicott considers both these passages to be interpolations. That
they could not have made a part of the speech of Moses originally, needs little proof.
3. Barnes, “Zamzummims - A giant race usually identified with the Zuzims of Gen_14:5.
21 They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as
the Anakites. The LORD destroyed them from before the
Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place.
1. Even before God led the people of Israel to defeat the pagans of the promised land, he had led
the people of Lot to be victorious over the pagan people of their promised land. Esau and Lot,
who are considered by many to be the bad guys had their people being led to victory over the
people God was judging before the people of Israel had this same experience. God led the so
called bad guys to victory first. Maybe they were not bad guys in the eyes of God if he led them to
their promised land even before he did the same with his chosen people. These people were also
part of the seed of Abraham, and God led them as well. The next verse makes it clear that Esau's
people were equally favored by God.
2. Gill, “A people great and many, and tall as the Anakims,.... As the Emims were, Deu_2:10 but
the Lord destroyed them before them; destroyed the Zamzummims before the children of
Amman; or otherwise they would have been an too much for them, being so numerous, and of
such a gigantic stature: and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead; and in this way, and

20. by these means, he gave them their land for a possession, Deu_2:19.
3. Moody Bible Institute, “Magazine articles filled with ideas on how to express love for special
people are very popular these days. They usually show up under such titles as 'Fifty Ways to Say
ÔI Love You'' or 'Twenty-Five Ways to Make Your Child Feel Special.' The idea, of course, is
that true love is shown by actions as well as by words.
The sermons of Deuteronomy in which Moses recalled God's dealings with Israel are a stunning
catalog of the ways God show His love and care for His people.
It's true that Israel's disobedience and lack of faith are a part of the story. But when we step back
to look at the big picture, the nation's forty-year trek through the desert is a testimonial to God's
patience and overruling love. Even Israel's failures become the backdrop for God's grace in
sustaining the people He chooses as His own.
In fact, Moses testified to God's care for the nations that bordered the Promised Land. Today's
reading includes an editorial note (vv. 20-23) which reveals the way God enabled the Ammonites,
another group who descended from Lot, to conquer the same intimidating race of giant warriors
the Moabites had defeated.
Together with the Edomites, the people of Esau, this made three sets of 'in-laws' whose borders
the Israelites were commanded to respect. Why? Because God had set their boundaries, giving
these people the strength to overcome their enemies and establish their nations in security.
The fact that those nations later turned against Israel in various ways and came under God's
judgment does not negate His care for them in the days of Moses.
Why did Moses take the time to remind his listeners of these historical details? As we suggested
earlier, the existence of Edom, Moab, and Ammon was an object lesson to Israel of God's power
in bringing about His purpose for a nation.
The Ammonites, for example, did not have the promises of victory that Israel had. Yet the Lord
enabled the Ammonites to conquer a fearsome foe. Since God showed His care for Ammon in this
way, what greater thing would He do for His chosen people if they would only obey Him?
22 The LORD had done the same for the descendants of
Esau, who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites
from before them. They drove them out and have lived in
their place to this day.
1. God made sure that none of the seed of Abraham was treated in a harmful way. These were

21. related by their descent from Abraham, and so they were protected by God from his own people
taking advantage of them. These people had God's blessing and protection due to their link with
Abraham.
23 And as for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as
Gaza, the Caphtorites coming out from Caphtor[b]
destroyed them and settled in their place.)
Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon
1. KD, “As the Horites had been exterminated by the Edomites, so were the Avvaeans (Avvim),
who dwelt in farms (villages) at the south-west corner of Canaan, as far as Gaza, driven out of
their possessions and exterminated by the Caphtorites, who sprang from Caphtor (see at
Gen_10:14), although, according to Jos_13:3, some remnants of them were to be found among the
Philistines even at that time. This notice appears to be attached to the foregoing remarks simply
on account of the substantial analogy between them, without there being any intention to imply
that the Israelites were to assume the same attitude towards the Caphtorites, who afterwards rose
up in the persons of the Philistines, as towards the descendants of Esau and Lot.
2. Gill, “ And the Avim, which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah,.... The same with the Avites,
who appear to have inhabited some part of the land of the Philistines, in which Azzah or Gaza
was, which was one of the five lordships of the Philistines, Jos_13:3. The word Hazerim signifies
courts, and a learned man (e) interprets it of tents or huts placed in a square or circular form, so
as to have an area in the middle; and in such the Avim may be supposed to dwell, while in
Palestine, as far as Gaza:
the Caphtorim, which came from out of Caphtor, destroyed them; according to the Targums of
Onkelos and Jonathan, and the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, these were Cappadocians,
that came out of Cappadocia; but it seems manifest that they were originally of Egypt, see
Gen_10:14 and Bochart (f) thinks they went from thence into that part of Cappadocia that was
near Colchis; but things not answering their expectations, they returned, and drove out the Avim
from their country:
and dwelt in their stead; See Gill on Jer_47:4, Amo_9:7. Though it seems as if they were not
utterly destroyed, but some escaped into Assyria, and settled there, where was a place called Ava
from them; and from whence they were sent by the king of Assyria to repeople the cities of
Samaria, after the captivity of the ten tribes; see 2Ki_17:24. Now these several instances are
observed to encourage the children of Israel to hope and believe that they should be able to
dispossess the Canaanites, and inherit their land; such dispossessions having been very frequent,
when it was the will of God they should take place.
3. Barnes, “The Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah - Read (Gaza, of which Azzah is

22. the Hebrew form. “Hazerim” is not strictly a proper name, but means “villages,” or “enclosures,”
probably such as are still common in the East. The Avims are no doubt identical with the Avites of
Jos_13:3, and were doubtless a scattered remnant of a people conquered by the Caphtorim
(Gen_10:14 note) and living in their “enclosures” in the neighborhood of Gerar. The word, which
means “ruins,” seems itself expressive of their fallen state.
24 “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. See, I have
given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon,
and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage
him in battle.
1, KD- 24-25, “The Help of God in the Conquest of the Kingdom of Sihon. - Deu_2:24. Whereas
the Israelites were not to make war upon the kindred tribes of Edomites, Moabites, and
Ammonites, or drive them out of the possessions given to them by God; the Lord had given the
Amorites, who had forced as way into Gilead and Bashan, into their hands.
While they were encamped on the Arnon, the border of the Amoritish king of Sihon, He directed
them to cross this frontier and take possession of the land of Sihon, and promised that He would
give this king with all his territory into their hands, and that henceforward (“this day,” the day on
which Israel crossed the Arnon) He would put fear and terror of Israel upon all nations under the
whole heaven, so that as soon as they heard the report of Israel they would tremble and writhe
before them.

23. , “begin, take,” an oratorical expression for “begin to take” (

24. in pause for

25. , Deu_1:21). The expression, “all nations under the whole heaven,” is hyperbolical; it is not to
be restricted, however, to the Canaanites and other neighbouring tribes, but, according to what
follows, to be understood as referring to all nations to whom the report of the great deeds of the
Lord upon and on behalf of Israel should reach (cf. Deu_11:25 and Exo_23:27).

26. , so that (as in
Gen_11:7; Gen_13:16; Gen_22:14).
, with the accent upon the last syllable, on account of the
consec. (Ewald, §234, a.), from
, to twist, or writhe with pain, here with anxiety.
2. Gill, “Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon,.... Which was on the
border of Moab, and divided between Moab and the Amorites, Num_21:13. behold, I have given
into thy hand Sihon, the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; that is, he had determined to
give it to the Israelites, for as yet it was not actually given; of this king, and the place he was king
of; see Gill on Num_21:21, Num_21:26 begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle;
provoke him to war, fight with him, take his land from him, and enter upon the possession of it,
hereby assuring of victory.
3. Henry, “God having tried the self-denial of his people in forbidding them to meddle with the
Moabites and Ammonites, and they having quietly passed by those rich countries, and, though
superior in number, not made any attack upon them, here he recompenses them for their
obedience by giving them possession of the country of Sihon king of the Amorites. If we forbear

27. what God forbids, we shall receive what he promises, and shall be no losers at last by our
obedience, though it may seem for the present to be to our loss. Wrong not others, and God shall
right thee.
God gives them commission to seize upon the country of Sihon king of Heshbon, Deu_2:24,
Deu_2:25. This was then God's way of disposing of kingdoms, but such particular grants are not
now either to be expected or pretended. In this commission observe, 1. Though God assured them
that the land should be their own, yet they must bestir themselves, and contend in battle with the
enemy. What God gives we must endeavour to get. 2. God promises that when they fight he will
fight for them. Do you begin to possess it, and I will begin to put the dread of you upon them. God
would dispirit the enemy and so destroy them, would magnify Israel and so terrify all those
against whom they were commissioned. See Exo_15:14.
4. F. B. MEYER, Deuteronomy 2:24-37, After V-E Day brought an end to World War II in
Europe, General George Patton gave a brief speech in which he referred to the utter defeat of the
enemy, including, he said, 'towns whose names I can't pronounce, but whose palaces I have
removed.'Humanly speaking, Moses and the Israelites were in much the same position as they
faced an unknown enemy. Chances are that Israel had never heard of Sihon or Og before they
approached these kings' borders and tried to negotiate safe passage.
God's people were still on the side of the Jordan River opposite Canaan the eastern side of the
river called the Transjordan. The forty years of discipline were now complete; the last members
of the disbelieving generation having died in the desert (Deuteronomy 2:16). God was readying
His people for the invasion and conquest of the Promised Land.
To those awaiting God's command to cross the Jordan, Moses told the story of how Israel had
defeated an Amorite king who arrogantly defied God. Sihon's kingdom lay on Israel's path, but it
was Sihon who put himself in Israel's way. There's a big difference between those two situations.
Moses' retelling of Sihon's defeat includes some details we didn't see in Numbers. Since
Deuteronomy was written from more of a theological vantage point, God's activity in Israel's
affairs is prominent. Moses reveals here that God had put the 'terror and fear' of Israel upon
every nation His people would have to face (v. 25).
In today's passage Sihon's refusal is also seen against a new background. He had set himself
against God, so God saw to it that the consequences of the king's stubbornness were played out
completely. Israel won the battle because God delivered Sihon into their hands.
The complete destruction of the Amorites was part of God's judgment against the nations that
had fallen into idolatry. Judgment such as this often seems harsh to us because, even as believers,
we can get a little fuzzy on the absolute holiness and justice of God.
But if the greatest form of disobedience is to turn away from the true and living God to worship
idols, then the greatest form of judgment must follow.

28. 25 This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of
you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear
reports of you and will tremble and be in anguish because
of you.”
1. Gill, “This day will I begin to put the dread of thee,.... And so fulfil the prophecies delivered by
Moses in Exo_15:14. and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven; not
only the neighbouring nations, the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, Philistines, and Canaanites,
but nations more remote even throughout the whole world: who shall report of thee; of what was
done for Israel in Egypt, and at the Red sea, and in the wilderness; and particularly of the
delivery of Sihon and Og, kings of the Amorites, and of their kingdoms into their hands: and
shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee; lest they should proceed on, and make conquests
of their lands also; see Jos_2:9.
26 From the Desert of Kedemoth I sent messengers to
Sihon king of Heshbon offering peace and saying,
1.KD, “Deu_2:26-30 If Moses, notwithstanding this, sent messengers to king Sihon with words
of peace (Deu_2:26.; cf. Num_21:21.), this was done to show the king of the Amorites, that it was
through his own fault that his kingdom and lands and life were lost. The wish to pass through his
land in a peaceable manner was quite seriously expressed; although Moses foresaw, in
consequence of the divine communication, that he would reject his proposal, and meet Israel with
hostilities. For Sihon's kingdom did not form part of the land of Canaan, which God had
promised to the patriarchs for their descendants; and the divine foreknowledge of the hardness of
Sihon no more destroyed the freedom of his will to resolve, or the freedom of his actions, than the
circumstance that in Deu_2:30 the unwillingness of Sihon is described as the effect of his being
hardened by God Himself. The hardening was quite as much the production of human freedom
and guilt, as the consequence of the divine decree; just as in the case of Pharaoh. On Kedemoth,
see Num_21:13. , equivalent to “upon the way, and always upon the way,” i.e., upon the
high road alone, as in Num_20:19. On the behaviour of the Edomites towards Israel, mentioned
in Deu_2:29, see Num_21:10. In the same way the Moabites also supplied Israel with provisions
for money. This statement is not at variance with the unbrotherly conduct for which the Moabites
are blamed in Deu_23:4, viz., that they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water. For ,
to meet and anticipate, signifies a hospitable reception, and the offering of food and drink
without reward, which is essentially different from selling for money. “In Ar” (Deu_2:29), as in
Deu_2:18. The suffix in (Deu_2:30) refers to the king, who is mentioned as the lord of the land,
in the place of the land itself, just as in Num_20:18.

29. 2. Gill, “And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth,.... A city in the tribe of
Reuben, and given by them to the Levites in later times, having been taken from the Amorites
with others; near this lay a wilderness, which took its name from it, and seems to be the same
with Jeshimon, Num_21:20. Aben Ezra takes it to be the wilderness of Matthanah, which
according to Jerom (g) was situated on Arnon, twelve miles to the east of Medeba; see
Num_21:18 from hence messengers were sent by Moses:
unto Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace; in a peaceable and respectful manner, desiring
to be at peace and in friendship with him, and a continuance of it, which was done to leave him
inexcusable; as afterwards a like method was ordered to be taken, when they came to any city, to
proclaim peace, and if an answer of peace was given, no hostilities were to be committed,
Deu_20:10,
3. Henry, “Moses sends to Sihon a message of peace, and only begs a passage through his land,
with a promise to give his country no disturbance, but the advantage of trading for ready money
with so great a body, Deu_2:26-29. Moses herein did neither disobey God, who bade him contend
with Sihon, nor dissemble with Sihon; but doubtless it was by divine direction that he did it, that
Sihon might be left inexcusable, though God hardened his heart. This may illustrate the method
of God's dealing with those to whom he gives his gospel, but does not give grace to believe it.
27 “Let us pass through your country. We will stay on the
main road; we will not turn aside to the right or to the left.
1. Gill, “Let me pass through thy land,.... See Gill on Num_21:22, I will go along by the highway;
the king's highway, as in the place referred to, the public road: I will neither turn to the right
hand nor to the left; to go into his fields and vineyards, and gather the fruit, or tread down the
corn and vines, or do any manner of mischief to them; see the above place.
28 Sell us food to eat and water to drink for their price in
silver. Only let us pass through on foot—
1. Gill, “Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat,.... If they thought fit to have provision
of them, they desired no other but to pay for it: and give me water for money, that I may drink;
see Deu_2:6, only I will pass through on my feet; for they were all footmen, Num_11:21, of the
phrase; see Gill on Num_20:19.

30. 29 as the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, and the
Moabites, who live in Ar, did for us—until we cross the
Jordan into the land the LORD our God is giving us.”
1. God blest his people Israel by means of the descendants of Esau and Lot. They were related to
them as the seed of Abraham. Here are the so called good guys being blest and aided in their
survival by the so called bad guys. Beware of judging, for you will be judged as you judge, and
many have cast off Esau and Lot as worthless scum of the earth when God chose to bless them
and use them to bless his people Israel.
2. Gill, “As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto
me,.... Which respects, as Jarchi observes, not the affair of passing through their land requested,
for neither of them granted that, but buying food and drink; for though the Edomites at first
seem not to have granted that, yet afterwards they did. The mountain of Seir, and the city Ar, are
put for the whole countries of Edom and Moab: until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which
the Lord our God giveth us; this is observed to remove any suspicion or jealousy of their seizing
his country, and taking possession of it, and dwelling in it; since they only proposed to pass
through it on their journey to the land of Canaan, which lay on the other side Jordan, over which
they must pass in order to possess it, which they had a right unto by the gift of God.
30 But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass
through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit
stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into
your hands, as he has now done.
1. Gill, “But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him,.... Or through his country, as
was desired: for the Lord had hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate; as he did
Pharaoh's, for whom he will he hardens; so that he would not listen to the proposals made to him,
nor grant the requests asked of him, but with pride and haughtiness of spirit despised and
disdained Israel: that he might deliver him into thine hand; that so an opportunity might offer of
fighting with him, and taking his country from him; whereas, had he been peaceable and flexible,
he had continued in the enjoyment of his land, and Israel would not have had that advantage
against him; but God, who has the hearts of kings and of all men in his hands, so wrought upon
him that he should take the steps he did, which made way for the delivery of him and his country
into the hands of the Israelites: as appeareth this day: for when Moses made this speech, the

31. kingdom of Sihon was possessed by the Israelites, Num_21:24.
31 The LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver
Sihon and his country over to you. Now begin to conquer
and possess his land.”
1. Gill, “And the Lord said unto me,.... After or about the time when the messengers were sent to
Sihon, perhaps when they had returned and had brought his answer: behold, I have begun to
give Sihon and his land before thee; by hardening his heart, which was a sure token of his ruin,
and a leading step to the delivery of him into the hands of Israel: begin to possess, that thou
mayest inherit his land; move towards it and enter into it, not fearing any opposition made by
him.
32 When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in
battle at Jahaz,
1. Gill, “Then Sihon came out against us,.... Perceiving they were upon their march towards his
land or into it, he gathered all his people and went out of Heshbon their capital city, where he
resided: he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz; a city which he had taken from the king of Moab,
and which in later times, after the captivity of the ten tribes, came into their hands again,
Isa_15:4; see Gill on Num_21:21
KD, “Deu_2:32-33 Defeat of Sihon, as already described in the main in Num_21:23-26. The war
was a war of extermination, in which all the towns were laid under the ban (see Lev_27:29), i.e.,
the whole of the population of men, women, and children were put to death, and only the flocks
and herds and material possessions were taken by the conquerors as prey.
33 the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we
struck him down, together with his sons and his whole
army.

32. 1. Gill, “And the Lord our God delivered him before us,.... With their lands: and we smote him
and his sons, and all his people; with the edge of the sword; slew them all: the Cetib or textual
reading is his son, though the Keri or margin is his sons, which we follow. So Jarchi
observes, it is written his son, because he had a son mighty as himself, he says.
2. Henry, “ Sihon began the war (Deu_2:32), God having made his heart obstinate, and hidden
from his eyes the thing that belonged to his peace (Deu_2:30), that he might deliver him into the
hand of Israel. Those that meddle with the people of God meddle to their own hurt; and God
sometimes ruins his enemies by their own resolves. See Mic_4:11-13; Rev_16:14.
Israel was victorious. 1. They put all the Amorites to the sword, men, women, and children
(Deu_2:33, Deu_2:34); this they did as the executioners of God's wrath; now the measure of the
Amorites' iniquity was full (Gen_15:16), and the longer it was in the filling the sorer was the
reckoning at last. This was one of the devoted nations. They died, not as Israel's enemies, but as
sacrifices to divine justice, in the offering of which sacrifices Israel was employed, as a kingdom
of priests. The case being therefore extraordinary, it ought not to be drawn into a precedent for
military executions, which make no distinction and give no quarter: those will have judgment
without mercy that show no mercy.
34 At that time we took all his towns and completely
destroyed[c] them—men, women and children. We left no
survivors.
1. Gill, “And the Lord our God delivered him before us,.... With their lands: and we smote him
and his sons, and all his people; with the edge of the sword; slew them all: the Cetib or textual
reading is his son, though the Keri or margin is his sons, which we follow. So Jarchi
observes, it is written his son, because he had a son mighty as himself, he says.
2. This sounds horrible, and it was, but it was God's will, for it was his judgment that they had to
be eliminated like a cancer in the body, for their evil way of life was so bad that they would
contaminate his people in a way that would lead to their destruction. It was a matter of self
defense, for when Israel did not eliminate the people God demanded of them, they were infected
with their idolatry, and this led to them be wiped out in the wrath of God. Sometimes horrible
things are necessary for survival. Sometime a leg or arm has to be cut off to save the patient, and
these people needed to be cut off to save his people. A doctor who would have compassion for
cancer cells and so leave some of them in the patient, would be a killer and murderer. He is
obligated to eliminate all of it if it is possible, and so it was with these people who had to be
destroyed.

33. 35 But the livestock and the plunder from the towns we
had captured we carried off for ourselves.
1. Gill, “Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves,.... These they did not destroy, but
preserved alive for their own use and profit, and took them as their own property: and the spoil
of the cities which we took; as household goods, gold, silver, and whatever valuable was found by
them; this they took as plunder, and shared it among themselves.
36 From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge, and from
the town in the gorge, even as far as Gilead, not one town
was too strong for us. The LORD our God gave us all of
them.
1. Gill, “From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river Arnon.... Upon the border of Moab, and
the principal city of it; see Jer_48:19. and from the city that is by the river; or even the city that is
in the midst of the river, the city Aroer, which seems to be meant; see Jos_12:2. This river is
afterwards called the river of Gad, 2Sa_24:5 in the midst of it Aroer was, perhaps because it was
possessed by the tribe of Gad: even unto Gilead; Mount Gilead and the country adjacent to it,
which belonged to Og king of Bashan: there was not one city too strong for us; that could hold
out against them, when attacked and besieged by them, but presently surrendered: the Lord our
God delivered all unto us; Moses ascribes all the victories and success they had unto the Lord,
not to their own might and power, but to the power of God with them, and his blessing on them.
2. KD, “They proceeded this way with the whole of the kingdom of Sihon. “From Aroër on the
edge of the Arnon valley (see at Num_32:34), and, in fact, from the city which is in the valley,” i.e.,
Ar, or Areopolis (see at Num_21:15), - Aroër being mentioned as the inclusive terminus a quo of
the land that was taken, and the Moabitish capital Ar as the exclusive terminus, as in Jos_13:9
and Jos_13:16; “and as far as Gilead,” which rises on the north, near the Jabbok (or Zerka, see at
Deu_3:4), “there was no town too high for us,” i.e., so strong that we could not take it.
3. Barnes, “Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon - Aroer stood on the north bank of
the river, and was assigned Jos_13:9, Jos_13:16 to the tribe of Reuben, of which it formed the
most southerly city. The valley of the Arnon is here deep, and the descent to it abrupt. In Roman

34. times it was spanned by a viaduct, the ruins of which still remain, and which was probably built
on the lines of the original structure of Mesha 2Ki_3:5. Aroer here must not be confounded with
“Aroer, which is before Rabbah” Jos_13:25. This latter place was “built,” “i. e.” rebuilt, by the
Gadites Num_32:34; it belonged to that tribe, and was consequently far to the north of the
Arnon. A third Aroer in the tribe of Judah is mentioned in 1Sa_30:28.“The city that is by the
river,” literally, “in the midst of the river” (compare Jos_13:9, Jos_13:16) is Ar Moab (compare
Num_21:15 note).
4. Gill, “They took possession of all they had; their cities (Deu_2:34), their goods (Deu_2:35), and
their land, Deu_2:36. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. What a new world did Israel
now come into! Most of them were born, and had lived all their days, in a vast howling
wilderness, where they knew not what either fields or cities were, had no houses to dwell in, and
neither sowed nor reaped; and now of a sudden to become masters of a country so well built, so
well husbanded, this made them amends for their long waiting, and yet it was but the earnest of a
great deal more. Much more joyful will the change be which holy souls will experience when they
remove out of the wilderness of this world to the better country, that is, the heavenly, to the city
that has foundations.
37 But in accordance with the command of the LORD our
God, you did not encroach on any of the land of the
Ammonites, neither the land along the course of the
Jabbok nor that around the towns in the hills.
1. Gill, “Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not,.... Which was then in their
possession; otherwise what Sihon had took away from them, that the children of Israel came into
and enjoyed, as before observed, Deu_2:19. nor unto any place of the river Jabbok; any town or
city situated on this river, which was the border of the children of Ammon, Deu_3:16; see Gill on
Gen_32:22, nor unto the cities in the mountains; much less did they penetrate into the innermost
parts of their country, the mountainous part thereof, and the cities there: nor unto whatsoever
the Lord our God forbad us: whether in Edom, Moab, or Ammon, particularly the latter, of
which he is more especially and peculiarly speaking.
2. KD, “Only along the land of the Ammonites the Israelites did not come, namely, along the
whole of the side of the brook Jabbok, or the country of the Ammonites, which was situated upon
the eastern side of the upper Jabbok, and the towns of the mountain, i.e., of the Ammonitish
highlands, and “to all that the Lord had commanded,” sc., commanded them not to remove. The
statement, in Jos_13:25, that the half of the country of the Ammonites was given to the tribe of
Gad, is not at variance with this; for the allusion there is to that portion of the land of the

35. Ammonites which was between the Arnon and the Jabbok, and which had already been taken
from the Ammonites by the Amorites under Sihon (cf. Jdg_11:13.).
3. Clarke, “Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not - God gave them their
commission; and those only were to be cut off, the cup of whose iniquity was full. Though the
Moabites and Ammonites were thus spared, they requited good with evil, for they fought against
the Israelites, and cast them out of their possessions, Jdg_11:4, Jdg_11:5; 2Ch_20:1, etc., and
committed the most shocking cruelties; see Amo_1:13. Hence God enacted a law, that none of
these people should enter into the congregation of the Lord even to their tenth generation: see
Deu_23:3-6.
4. Barnes, “Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not - God gave them their
commission; and those only were to be cut off, the cup of whose iniquity was full. Though the
Moabites and Ammonites were thus spared, they requited good with evil, for they fought against
the Israelites, and cast them out of their possessions, Jdg_11:4, Jdg_11:5; 2Ch_20:1, etc., and
committed the most shocking cruelties; see Amo_1:13. Hence God enacted a law, that none of
these people should enter into the congregation of the Lord even to their tenth generation: see
Deu_23:3-6.
5. F. B. MEYER, “THIS chapter .is full of restrictions and prohibitions. There were territories
which Israel was forbidden to enter at that time; though afterward, in the days of David,
Solomon, and Hezekiah, they were all included in the possessions of the chosen people.
There are temporary limitations in all lives. Paul was forbidden to preach the Word in Asia, when
first he came on its frontiers; though two or three years after he so filled it with his teaching that
the trade of the silversmiths, who made shrines for Diana, was affected.
Limitations in our Usefulness.--Provinces of holy endeavor seem shut against you, as the Gentile
world from the public ministry of Jesus. Nevertheless, do your best in what is open, as He did for
the Jews, and the rest will be unbarred; but if not, in God's good time, the field will be cultivated
by hands specially instructed and prepared.
Limitations in Knowledge.--There are mysteries which, in the earlier stages of their experience,
are not made known to the saints; but which we come to know, as we follow on to know the Lord.
And while there may be much in God's providence that is difficult to understand, yet our
knowledge of Himself may increase as the years go by, until we glory in this, that we understand
and know Him (Jer. 9:23).
Limitations in Experience.--Not to every one is it given to feel Christ's love as Rutherford did.
Some are excluded from the sunny realms, as Cowper was. Such is the choice of God for them,
and it must be best; but they shall all attain one day to the stature of the perfect man, and possess
the blessedness from which they are now restrained.
All 68 of my books are on scribd at the link below.

36. http://www.scribd.com/doc/21734034/LIBRARY-OF-FREE-CHRISTIAN-BOOKS