Deuteronomy 2:1

Wanderings in the Wilderness

1 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea,^[a] as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

Deuteronomy 2:1 in Other Translations

1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

1 "Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea, as the LORD told me. And for many days we traveled around Mount Seir.

1 “Then we turned around and headed back across the wilderness toward the Red Sea, just as the LORD had instructed me, and we wandered around in the region of Mount Seir for a long time.

1 Then we turned around and went back into the wilderness following the route to the Red Sea, as God had instructed me. We worked our way in and around the hills of Seir for a long, long time.

1 "Then we turned back and headed for the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, as the Lord had told me, and we traveled around the hill country of Seir for many days.

Deuteronomy 2:1 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:1

Then we turned
From Kadesh, where they had been many days, and so also their backs on the land of Canaan, on the borders of which they had been:

and took our journey into the wilderness, by the way of the Red sea, as
the Lord spake unto me;
( Deuteronomy 1:40 )

and we compassed Mount Seir many days;
many think by Mount Seir is meant the whole mountainous country of Edom, about which they travelled to and fro in the wilderness that lay near it for the space of thirty eight years, which they suppose are meant by many days; but I rather think they came to this mount towards the close of the thirty eight years, before they came to Kadesh, from whence they sent messengers to Edom, which they went round about for several days,

Deuteronomy 2:1 In-Context

1 Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had directed me. For a long time we made our way around the hill country of Seir.

2 Then the LORD said to me,

3 “You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.

4 Give the people these orders: ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, but be very careful.

5 Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on. I have given Esau the hill country of Seir as his own.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 14:27; S Numbers 21:4
• 2. S Numbers 24:18

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "the Sea of Reeds"