Deuteronomy 2:5

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give^[a] you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth*; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for 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 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

Footnotes

• [a]. no...: Heb. even to the treading of the sole of the foot