Deuteronomy 2:5

5 that ye be not moved against them; for I shall not give to you of their land as much as the step of one foot may tread, for I have given the hill of Seir into the possession of Esau. (that ye go not against them; for I shall not give you any of their land, not as much as the step of one foot can tread, for I have given the hill country of Seir to the sons of 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 It sufficeth to you to compass this hill; go ye against the north. (It sufficeth for you to have gone around these hills long enough; now go ye to the north.)
4 And command thou to the people, and say, Ye shall pass by the terms of your brethren, the sons of Esau, that dwell in Seir, and they shall dread you. Therefore see ye diligently, (And command thou to the people, and say, Ye shall pass by the borders, or the territory, of your brothers, the sons of Esau, who live in Seir, and they shall fear you. And so see ye diligently,)
5 that ye be not moved against them; for I shall not give to you of their land as much as the step of one foot may tread, for I have given the hill of Seir into the possession of Esau. (that ye go not against them; for I shall not give you any of their land, not as much as the step of one foot can tread, for I have given the hill country of Seir to the sons of Esau for a possession.)
6 Ye shall buy of them meats for money, and ye shall eat; and ye shall draw, and drink water bought. (Ye shall buy food from them with your money, and then ye shall eat; and ye shall buy some water, and drink it.)
7 Thy Lord God hath blessed thee in all the works of thine hands; he hath known thy way, how thou hast passed this most wilderness, by forty years; and thy Lord God dwelled with thee, and nothing failed to thee. (The Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hands; he hath known thy way, how thou hast passed through this great wilderness for forty years; and the Lord thy God hath been with thee, and thou hast lacked nothing.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.