Deuteronomy 2:17-27

17 that the LORD spoke to me, saying,

18 You are this day to pass over `Ar, the border of Mo'av:

19 and when you come near over against the children of `Ammon, don't bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you of the land of the children of `Ammon for a possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.

20 (That also is accounted a land of Refa'im: Refa'im lived therein before; but the `Ammonim call them Zamzummim,

21 a people great, and many, and tall, as the `Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place;

22 as he did for the children of Esav, who dwell in Se`ir, when he destroyed the Hori from before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place even to this day:

23 and the `Avvim, who lived in villages as far as `Aza, the Kaftorim, who came forth out of Kaftor, destroyed them, and lived in their place.)

24 Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into your hand Sichon the Amori, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

25 This day will I begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole sky, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of you.

26 I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemot to Sichon king of Heshbon with words of shalom, saying,

27 Let me pass through your land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.

Deuteronomy 2:17-27 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.