Deuteronomy 2:5

5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because ¹I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 5 Meddle not with them
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, ( Zechariah 14:4 ) , meaning not till the days of the Messiah, when Edom should be a possession of Israel; see ( Numbers 24:18 ) , ( Obadiah 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 ( Genesis 36:8 ) ( Joshua 24:4 ) .

Deuteronomy 2:5 In-Context

3 'You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward

4 and command the people, "You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful.

5 Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

6 You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink.

7 For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing."'

Cross References

• 1. [See ver. 4 above]