Deuteronomy 2:15-25

15 The LORD’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.
16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died,
17 the LORD said to me,
18 “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar.
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.”
20 (That too was considered a land of the Rephaites, who used to live there; but the Ammonites called them Zamzummites.
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.
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.
23 And as for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorites coming out from Caphtor[a] destroyed them and settled in their place.)

Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon

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.
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.”

Deuteronomy 2:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 2

In this chapter Moses goes on with his account of the affairs of the people of Israel, and what befell them, how they turned into the wilderness again; but passes over in silence their travels there, till they came to Mount Self, where having been some time they were bid to depart, De 2:1-3, and were directed not to meddle with the Edomites, or take anything from them, but pay them for what they should have of them, since they lacked not, De 2:4-8, nor to distress the Moabites, of whose country, as formerly inhabited, and also of Edom, some account is given, De 2:9-12, when they were bid to go over the brook Zered, to which from their coming from Kadeshbarnea was the space of thirty eight years, in which time the former generation was consumed, De 2:13-16 and now passing along the borders of Moab, they were ordered not to meddle with nor distress the children of Ammon, of whose land also, and the former inhabitants of it, an account is given, De 2:17-23, then passing over the river Arnon, they are bid to fight with Sihon king of the Amorites, and possess his land, De 2:24,25 to whom they sent messengers, desiring leave to pass through his land, and to furnish them with provisions for their money, as the Edomites and Moabites had done, De 2:26-29 but he refusing, this gave them an opportunity to attack him, in which they succeeded, slew him and his people, and took possession of his country, De 2:30-37.

Cross References 18

  • 1. Psalms 106:26; Jude 1:5
  • 2. S Numbers 21:15
  • 3. S Genesis 19:38
  • 4. 2 Chronicles 20:10
  • 5. S ver 9
  • 6. S Genesis 14:5
  • 7. ver 10
  • 8. S Genesis 14:6; Genesis 36:8
  • 9. Joshua 13:3; Joshua 18:23; 2 Kings 17:31
  • 10. S Genesis 10:19
  • 11. S Genesis 10:14
  • 12. Jeremiah 47:4; Amos 9:7
  • 13. Numbers 21:13-14; Judges 11:13,18
  • 14. S Deuteronomy 1:7
  • 15. Deuteronomy 3:6
  • 16. S Genesis 35:5; Deuteronomy 11:25
  • 17. Joshua 2:9,11; 1 Chronicles 14:17; 2 Chronicles 14:14; 2 Chronicles 17:10; 2 Chronicles 20:29; Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 13:13; Isaiah 19:16
  • 18. Exodus 15:14-16

Footnotes 1

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