Bible Commentaries
Deuteronomy 2

Verses 1-37

Review of the Journey (continued)

1. The Red sea] i.e. the Gulf of Akaba. On Mt. Seir see Numbers 20:22-29.

4. Through the coast] RV ’through the border,’ as in Numbers 20:18. The Edomites, however, refused to give them a passage through their country: see Numbers 20:14-21. The Israelites accordingly went southward towards Elath and Ezion-geber at the N. end of the Gulf of Akaba (see Deuteronomy 2:8 and on Numbers 20:22), and so round Edom to the country of the Moabites. 9. The Moabites and the Ammonites (Deuteronomy 2:19) were related to the Israelites, being descended from Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Genesis 19:37-38). The Edomites were descended from Esau, the brother of Jacob. Ar] the capital of Moab, lying on the river Arnon, which formed the northern border of the country (Numbers 21:15, Numbers 21:28).

10-12. These vv. form an antiquarian parenthesis, like Deuteronomy 2:20 to Deuteronomy 23:10. The Emims (RV ’Emhn,’ i.e. the ’terrible ones’) and the Horims (RV ’Horites,’ i.e. the ’cave-dwellers’) are mentioned in Genesis 14:5, Genesis 14:6. The tribes E. of the Jordan seem to have been of great stature: see on Numbers 21:33 to Numbers 35:12. As Israel did] These words must have been written after the occupation of Canaan.

13. On the Zered see Numbers 21:12.

20. The Zamzummims (RV ’Zamzummim’) are probably the same as the Zuzim in Genesis 14:5.

23. The Avims (RV ’Avvim’) dwelt in the SW. of Canaan, in the neighbourhood of Gaza, here called Azzah. Hazerim] RV ’in villages.’ Caphtorims] the Philistines who came from Caphtor, usually identified with Cyprus or Crete: see Genesis 10:14; Amos 9:7; Jeremiah 47:4.