Deuteronomy 2:11

11 The Emites were thought to be Rephaites, like the Anakites, but the Moabite people called them Emites.

Deuteronomy 2:11 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:11

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 ( Genesis 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 ( Genesis 14:5 ) since they had it from the Moabites, a people of a later date.

Deuteronomy 2:11 In-Context

9 Then the Lord said to me, "Don't bother the people of Moab. Don't go to war against them, because I will not give you any of their land as your own; I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their own."

10 (The Emites, who lived in Ar before, were strong people, and there were many of them. They were very tall, like the Anakites.

11 The Emites were thought to be Rephaites, like the Anakites, but the Moabite people called them Emites.

12 The Horites also lived in Edom before, but the descendants of Esau forced them out and destroyed them, taking their place as Israel did in the land the Lord gave them as their own.)

13 And the Lord said to me, "Now get up and cross the Zered Valley." So we crossed the valley.