World English Bible
- Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me; and we encircled Mount Seir many days.
- The LORD spoke to me, saying,
- “You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward.
- Command the people, saying, ’You are to pass through the border of your brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore be careful.
- Don’t contend with them; for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.
- You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat. You shall also buy water from them for money, that you may drink.’”
- For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has known your walking through this great wilderness. These forty years, the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.
- So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
- The LORD said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.”
- (The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim.
- These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
- The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place, as Israel did to the land of his possession, which the LORD gave to them.)
- “Now rise up and cross over the brook Zered.” We went over the brook Zered.
- The days in which we came from Kadesh Barnea until we had come over the brook Zered were thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the middle of the camp, as the LORD swore to them.
- Moreover the LORD’s hand was against them, to destroy them from the middle of the camp, until they were consumed.
- So, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
- the LORD spoke to me, saying,
- “You are to pass over Ar, the border of Moab, today.
- When you come near the border of the children of Ammon, don’t bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you any of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession, because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.”
- (That also is considered a land of Rephaim. Rephaim lived there in the past, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
- a great people, many, and tall, as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them from before Israel, and they succeeded them, and lived in their place,
- as he did for the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place even to this day.
- Then the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza: the Caphtorim, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them and lived in their place.)
- “Rise up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
- Today I will 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.”
- I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
- “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.
- You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink. Just let me pass through on my feet,
- as the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar, did to me, until I pass over the Jordan into the land which the LORD our God gives us.”
- But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into your hand, as it is today.
- The LORD said to me, “Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you. Begin to possess, that you may inherit his land.”
- Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz.
- The LORD our God delivered him up before us; and we struck him, his sons, and all his people.
- We took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. We left no one remaining.
- Only the livestock we took for plunder for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities which we had taken.
- From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The LORD our God delivered up all before us.
- Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near: all the banks of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and wherever the LORD our God forbade us.
In Deuteronomy Chapter 2, Moses narrates the continued wilderness journey of Israel, highlighting God’s sovereign guidance and meticulous care over their travels. At first glance, this chapter recounts mundane movements and encounters, easily glossed over. Yet behind the route details and regional boundaries lies a profound spiritual lesson: God faithfully guides those who trust Him, even through the seemingly endless wilderness journeys of life.
Consider how patiently and precisely God directs their travels:
“Then we turned back and set out toward the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea, as the LORD had directed me … and the LORD said to me, ‘You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.’” (Deuteronomy 2:1-3, New International Version)
After their disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea, the Israelites wandered decades in harsh desert terrain. Notice carefully—God was directing every step, even when their destination was unclear. God sets boundaries, saying explicitly not to provoke Edom, descendants of Esau (Genesis 36 details Edom’s lineage), for He had already granted that land to Esau:
“Do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, not even enough to put your foot on.” (Deuteronomy 2:5, New International Version)
God demonstrates His sovereignty over nations. He distributes inheritance and establishes boundaries for all peoples according to His purposes. This idea echoes throughout the Bible, evident in passages such as Acts 17:26:
“From one man he made all the nations… he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” (Acts 17:26, New International Version)
We see a careful reminder of God’s provision in the wilderness:
“The Lord your God has blessed you… He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything.” (Deuteronomy 2:7, New International Version)
Pause and consider the grace here: despite decades of discipline for disbelief, God’s provision never ceased. Israel received the bread of heaven—the manna (Exodus 16:31)—daily proof that God sustained them despite their failure. How easily we forget, focusing on temporary scarcity rather than remembering divine sufficiency!
Historically, this narrative aligns with known Ancient Near Eastern peoples and territories. Edom (modern-day southern Jordan), Moab, and Ammon (further north in what’s now Jordan) are consistently attested in archaeological discoveries. The description of “Rephaites” or giant peoples (verses 10-12) intriguingly parallels regional legends and myths in extra-biblical sources at the time. Terms such as “Zamzummites” (verse 20) appear only here in Scripture, reflecting authentic local names preserved historically.
These details, often overlooked, show the historicity and care of biblical transmission—encouraging us that our faith rests not on myth but historical reality. God engages real people, in real places, in history.
When they finally confront opposition from King Sihon (verses 24-37), victory comes through carefully obeying God’s strategic instructions. Israel’s first military success east of Jordan is a vivid illustration of the theme of trust and obedience—victory comes not by human skill alone, but by careful adherence to God’s voice.
Theologically, this teaches us about spiritual warfare today. The faithful conquer not by strength or numbers, but by obedience to God’s commands (see Ephesians 6:10-17 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-4). Renowned theologian John Calvin writes about passages like this, highlighting that Israel’s victory is fundamentally spiritual, illustrating reliance on God’s Word rather than military prowess.
Western audiences may overlook the significance of hospitality and negotiating safe passage (verse 27-28). In the ancient Near East, failed hospitality could mean war. Moses’ request for peaceful passage underscores respected cultural protocols; Sihon’s hostile rejection thus justified Israel’s defensive actions morally and spiritually.
Spiritually, these wilderness wanderings compel us soberly to analyze our lives: do we wander aimlessly in disobedience, or do we journey purposefully under God’s direction—obeying even when the journey feels slow and uncertain?
The Hebrew root verb סָבַב (“sabab”) repeatedly appears in verses 1 and 3, translated as “turning around” or “going around.” It vividly reflects the wilderness experience of repetitious wandering, symbolizing our spiritual journeys when we resist wholehearted obedience. Allow this word to challenge our hearts: How much unnecessary ‘sabab’ are we doing in our own spiritual walk through stubbornness or unbelief?
As we reflect on journeying obediently, consider meditating upon the classic hymn, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” beautifully capturing these wilderness wanderings’ spiritual significance—in trusting God’s guidance through uncertain terrain.
“Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.”
O Gracious Lord,
Thank You for Your faithful guidance, even through my times of
stubbornness and unbelief. You have lovingly provided for me, patiently
directing every step of my life’s wilderness journeys. Keep me mindful
of Your sovereignty and grace. Grant me obedience to Your Word,
confidence in Your provision, and courage against spiritual opposition.
Forgive my unnecessary wanderings, and lead me onward, step by step,
into Your perfect will.
Through Christ Jesus, Who is my guide and salvation. Amen.
Narrated version of this devotional on Deuteronomy Chapter 2