Analysis of Deuteronomy Chapter 2
Deuteronomy Chapter 2 is a significant part of Moses’ extensive sermons to the Israelites, recounting their journey and the teachings God imparted to them. This chapter specifically captures their experience of wandering in the wilderness, interactions with various nations, and God’s guidance in their conquests. It elucidates historical events and divine instructions that shaped Israel’s journey and offers profound insights into God’s covenantal faithfulness, justice, and strategic guidance. Here is an in-depth analysis of Deuteronomy Chapter 2:
Verses 1-7: Journey through the Wilderness and Encounter with Edomites
Verse 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.”
This verse sets the stage for Israel’s prolonged wanderings. The wilderness journey reflects a period of divine refinement and punishment for the Israelites’ earlier disobedience. Mount Seir, located in Edom, signifies a place of desolation and testing, emphasizing their need to rely entirely on God for survival and direction.
Verses 2-3: “Then the LORD said to me, ‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward.”
Here, God indicates a change in the direction of their journey. The phrase “You have been traveling long enough” suggests the completion of the period of discipline. Transition northward symbolizes preparation for entering the Promised Land, indicating an end to their wandering and a shift towards their divine mission. It underscores God’s timing and authority in guiding His people.
Verses 4-6: “And command the people, ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So be very careful. Do not 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 as a possession. You shall purchase food from them for money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them for money, that you may drink.'”
God instructs the Israelites to pass through Edom peacefully, recognizing the Edomites as their “brothers” (descendants of Esau). The directive to avoid conflict and compensate for provisions underscores a respect for territorial boundaries established by divine covenant (Genesis 36). This passage demonstrates God’s recognition and preservation of other nations’ inheritances and His justice in honoring His promises to all descendants of Abraham.
Verse 7: “For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.”
This verse highlights God’s providence and faithfulness throughout the wilderness period. Despite their hardships, God’s continuous presence and provision underscore His unwavering support and sustenance. This reminder of divine blessings reinforces the need for trust and obedience as they move forward.
Verses 8-15: Passage through Moab and Ammon
Verses 8-9: “So we went on, away from our brothers, the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road from Elath and Ezion-geber. And we turned and went in the direction of the wilderness of Moab. And the LORD said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the people of Lot for a possession.'”
The Israelites’ journey now takes them toward Moab, descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. Similar to Edom, God commands respect for Moab’s territory, reinforcing the principle of honoring divinely ordained boundaries and relationships. The mention of the “people of Lot” connects the narrative to broader biblical history and covenantal family lines.
Verses 10-12: “(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim. Like the Anakim they are also counted as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the LORD gave to them.)”
This parenthetical explanation provides historical context about the lands Israel passed through, mentioning the Emim and the Horites. These details about earlier inhabitants highlight the concept of divine judgment and inheritance, showing parallels between Israel’s future conquest and past territorial dispossessions. It serves to remind the Israelites of God’s sovereign orchestration in granting land inheritances and the recurring theme of divine justice across generations.
Verses 13-15: “‘Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.’ So we went over the brook Zered. And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from the camp, until they had perished.”
These verses mark the crossing of the brook Zered as a significant milestone in Israel’s journey, coinciding with the end of the generation condemned to die in the wilderness due to disobedience (Numbers 14:35). This reflects divine justice and the fulfillment of God’s warnings, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and the consequences of rebellion. The mention of thirty-eight years, in addition to the two years from Egypt to Kadesh-barnea, completes the forty-year period of judgment.
Verses 16-23: Command to Cross Ammonite Territory
Verses 16-19: “So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, the LORD said to me, ‘Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar. And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.'”
God reiterates His command for peaceful passage through the Ammonite territory, recognizing their possession as descendants of Lot. This reinforces the theme of respecting other nations’ divinely allocated inheritances and underscores God’s broader covenantal arrangements beyond Israel. The distinction between “the men of war” and the new generation signifies a fresh start, highlighting the generational shift and renewal of the journey towards the Promised Land.
Verses 20-23: “(It is also counted as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly lived there—but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim—a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they dispossessed them and settled in their place, as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day. As for the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place.)”
This historical note on the Ammonites, Zamzummim, Rephaim, and other peoples adds depth to Israel’s journey narrative. The repeated emphasis on dispossession by divine intervention (similar to earlier conquests by Edom and Moab) underscores God’s sovereignty in historical events and land distributions. It also aligns Israel’s future conquest with a broader pattern of divine justice, demonstrating that their experience is part of a continuous divine plan.
Verses 24-37: Conquest of Sihon, King of Heshbon
Verses 24-25: “‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.'”
The shift from peaceful passage to commanded conquest with Sihon marks a pivotal moment. God’s directive to engage in battle against Sihon signifies the beginning of Israel’s active possession of the Promised Land. The assurance of victory and the spread of Israel’s reputation reflect divine empowerment and the manifestation of God’s covenant promises to Abraham regarding the land and influence of his descendants (Genesis 15:18-21).
Verses 26-29: “So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, ‘Let me pass through your land. I will go only by the road; I will turn aside neither to the right 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. Only let me pass through on foot, as the sons of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I go over the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving to us.'”
Despite the impending conquest, Moses initially approaches Sihon with a peaceful proposition, mirroring the treatment of Edom and Moab. This attempt at peaceful negotiation underscores Israel’s preference for non-violent resolutions and respect for neighboring nations’ autonomy. It demonstrates the Israelites’ obedience to God’s instructions and their reliance on divine guidance in matters of conflict and diplomacy.
Verses 30-31: “But Sihon the 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 give him into your hand, as he is this day. And the LORD said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.'”
God’s intervention in hardening Sihon’s heart echoes His actions with Pharaoh in Egypt (Exodus 7:3), highlighting divine sovereignty in orchestrating events for His purposes. Sihon’s refusal to allow passage leads to his defeat, showcasing a divine plan where God uses the obstinacy of His enemies to fulfill His promises. This account emphasizes the inevitability of God’s will and the fulfillment of His covenant promises through orchestrated historical events.
Verses 32-35: “Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. And the LORD our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people. And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors. Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured.”
This direct engagement and subsequent victory over Sihon signify a decisive moment for Israel. The complete destruction of the enemy, commanded by God, underscores His judgment and cleansing of the land for His chosen people. The practice of “devoting to destruction” (known as herem) reflects the holy war motif, where cities are entirely destroyed to eliminate pagan influences and consecrate the land for divine purposes.
Verses 36-37: “From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, as far as Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. The LORD our God gave all into our hands. Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the LORD our God had forbidden us.”
The territorial extent of Israel’s victory spans from Aroer to Gilead, illustrating comprehensive conquest enabled by divine support. The refrain of “The LORD our God gave” reinforces that success is attributed to God’s power and favor. The reiterated respect for Ammon’s land boundaries underscores adherence to divine commands and respect for other nations’ inheritances, maintaining the principle of divine justice and order.
Conclusion
Deuteronomy Chapter 2 offers a rich narrative of Israel’s journey marked by divine guidance, covenantal faithfulness, and sovereign justice. It emphasizes themes of reliance on God, respect for divine boundaries, and the fulfillment of God’s promises through historical events. The chapter serves not only as a historical recount but also as a theological reflection on God’s unchanging nature, His justice, and His commitment to His people. It compels the reader to recognize the importance of obedience, the inevitability of divine justice, and the assurance of God’s providential care. Through this journey, the Israelites are reminded of their identity as God’s chosen people, destined to inherit the Promised Land and bear witness to His faithfulness across generations.
