Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 2

Verses 1-37

Chapter 2

So we turned, and took our journey by way of the wilderness back toward the Red sea. And the LORD spake to me saying, you've compassed this mountain long enough: go north. And he commanded the people. saying, You're to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwelled in Seir. But don't meddle with them; for I have not given you their land, not as much as a foot in it; because I've given mount Seir unto Esau for his possession. So you're to buy your meat and your water but you're only to pass through. For the LORD God has blessed thee in all the works of your hands; and he knows that they walking through this great wilderness: for these forty years that the LORD thy God hath been with thee; you have lacked nothing ( Deuteronomy 2:1-7 ).

And therein is a miracle. And over a million people, forty years, and yet not lacking in that wilderness.

And when you pass by our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelled in Seir, you came to the plains of Eziongaber, and turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. And the LORD said, Don't distress the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give you their land as a possession; because it's given to the children of Lot ( Deuteronomy 2:8-9 ).

Now he is pointing out something: This area of Moab was once inhabited by the Emims and the Emims were relatives to the Anakims who were giants. Now, their fear of going into the land was because there were giants there. Now he's really thinking to build up their faith in God. "Look, you don't have to worry about the giants. God can deliver the giants in your hand. They're not supermen." The Emims used to dwell in this area of Moab until the children of Lot took it and moved in and took it. And they threw the Emims out because God had promised this area to the children of Lot. So, he's pointing out that these giants have been driven out of other territories and one of them, of course, was the territory of Moab which was inhabited by the descendents of Lot.

And the Horims also dwelled in Seir beforetime; but the children of Israel succeeded them, and destroyed them and dwelt there in their stead; And so the space that we came from Kadeshbarnea unto the brook Zered was thirty-eight years ( Deuteronomy 2:12-14 ).

It took them thirty-eight years to make that short journey.

until all of that generation of the men of war were wasted, as the LORD had sworn unto them. For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them. [And so he said] You are to pass through Moab, this day: And when you come near against the children of Ammon, don't distress them, or meddle with them: for I will not give thee the land of the children of Ammon and any possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot. (That also was accounted a land of giants: for giants dwelt there in old times; and the Ammonites called them the Zamzummims ( Deuteronomy 2:14-15 , Deuteronomy 2:18-20 );

Even their name strikes terror in the hearts. Can't you imagine the guys talking around the fire at night saying, "Wow, the Zamzummims are over there"? But again he's pointing out the fact that you don't have to worry about giants. The report was there are giants in the land. You don't have to worry about these giants. These giants were existing here in this land that God gave to the descendents of Lot. In Moab, in Seir and in the area of Ammon, giants were there but God delivered them.

[And so] Rise up, take your journey, pass over the river Arnon: and behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, the king of Heshbon, and his land: and so begin to possess the land ( Deuteronomy 2:24 ).

So north of the area of Jabbok they began to possess the land and they began to destroy the king.

Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for God hardened his heart, made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as he has done. So Sihon came out against all, with all of his people, to fight at Jahaz. And the LORD delivered them; and smote them, and we began to take the land ( Deuteronomy 2:30 , Deuteronomy 2:32-33 )

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