Deuteronomy Chapter 2
Moses Remembers the Desert Years and the March On to Canaan
A. Moses remembers the desert years.
1. (Deuteronomy 2:1-7) Moses remembers the journey through the land of Edom.
“Then we turned and journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me, and we skirted Mount Seir for many days. And the LORD spoke to me, saying: ‘You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward. And command the people, saying, “You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink. For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”’”
The command to leave Mount Seir marked the end of a long period of wandering. Israel’s circling of Mount Seir represented years of delay caused by unbelief and rebellion, but now God was directing them forward again toward their destiny. The Lord’s instruction to turn northward showed that the time of discipline was over and that it was time to move toward the land He promised.
“You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau”: This reminder highlighted the family connection between Israel and Edom. The Edomites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother of Jacob. Though the relationship between their ancestors was strained, God still regarded them as brethren. Israel was commanded to respect these distant relatives and not take what was not theirs. God had given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession, and Israel was not to interfere with what God had sovereignly allotted to another.
“Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land”: This statement underscores that Israel was not to act like a conquering empire taking whatever land they desired. Their mission was not imperial expansion, but obedience to divine direction. Even though they were strong enough to overpower Edom, Israel was to restrain itself in submission to God’s word. This principle remains a test of faith and humility: trusting that what God withholds is just as important as what He gives.
“You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink”: God required Israel to deal honorably with Edom, paying for provisions instead of taking them by force. This revealed that the Lord not only governs nations but also the ethics of His people. Israel’s conduct toward Edom was to reflect righteousness and restraint.
“How we treat those weaker than ourselves is always a measure of true character.” Israel, though stronger, was to act with respect and fairness. Strength unrestrained by righteousness becomes tyranny. The Lord desired His people to demonstrate that might does not make right, and that obedience to His commands was more important than asserting their own power.
“For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.” God’s faithfulness sustained Israel throughout their wanderings. Though they were in a barren wilderness, they were never forsaken. Their clothes did not wear out, manna came daily, and water was provided when needed. God’s awareness of their “trudging” through the wilderness shows His intimate care. He was not a distant deity, but a personal provider who had seen every step of their hardship.
2. (Deuteronomy 2:8-15) Moses remembers the journey through Moab.
“And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the plain, away from Elath and Ezion Geber, we turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab. Then the LORD said to me, ‘Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ (The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. They were also regarded as giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim. The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave them.) ‘Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.’ So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered. And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the LORD had sworn to them. For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they were consumed.”
“Passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab”: Just as the Edomites were related to Israel through Esau, the Moabites were related through Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Once again, God commanded Israel not to engage in conflict with a related nation. Moab’s land was given to the descendants of Lot, and Israel was to pass peacefully through their territory. God’s sovereignty in the affairs of nations is displayed clearly here. He establishes the borders and inheritances of nations as He sees fit (Acts 17:26).
The history lesson given here served to remind Israel that God’s control extended beyond their nation. “The Emim had dwelt there in times past,” a people mighty and fearsome, as tall as the Anakim. Yet they were defeated, and their land was now possessed by Moab. This history proved that God had displaced powerful nations before and could easily do so again on Israel’s behalf when the time was right.
The mention of the Emim, Anakim, and Horites refers to the ancient giant races that populated Canaan and surrounding lands. The Hebrew term Rephaim used here is often translated “giants,” but literally means “fearsome ones.” These people were physically large and warlike, and their presence instilled dread in the hearts of others. The Moabites called them Emim, while the Ammonites called a similar group Zamzummin (Deuteronomy 2:20). The destruction of these groups by Edom and Moab demonstrated that God could empower even lesser nations to overcome formidable enemies.
“The time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years”: In a single verse, Moses summarized nearly four decades of history. This period represents the time of divine judgment, when Israel’s unbelieving generation perished in the wilderness. Their wandering accomplished nothing of significance in terms of progress—it was simply time passing until God’s word was fulfilled. The “hand of the LORD was against them” signifies His active opposition to their unbelief. Those who refused to trust Him at Kadesh Barnea could not enter the Promised Land, just as disbelief today prevents men from entering into God’s rest (Hebrews 3:19).
This passage underscores the seriousness of rebellion and the faithfulness of divine justice. God’s promises do not fail, but neither does His word of judgment. The generation that disbelieved was consumed in the wilderness, but the new generation—those of faith—would inherit the promise.
B. Moses Remembers the Nations They Encountered on Their Way to Canaan
1. (Deuteronomy 2:16–23) Going through the land of the Ammonites.
“So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, that the LORD spoke to me, saying: ‘This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab. And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle 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 descendants of Lot as a possession.’ (That was also regarded as a land of giants; giants formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the LORD destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, just as He had done for the descendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, even to this day. And the Avim, who dwelt in villages as far as Gaza; the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their place.)”
After nearly forty years of wandering, the old generation of unbelief had perished, and God began to move the new generation toward conquest. The phrase “when all the men of war had finally perished” marks a solemn transition point. It was only when the old generation was gone that God renewed His command to advance. Disobedience had delayed His plan, but His purpose was never thwarted.
“I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon”: Just as with Edom and Moab, Israel was forbidden from taking any territory belonging to the Ammonites. These nations were related to Israel through Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and were under divine protection. God’s dealings with these nations show His sovereign control over the distribution of land and the rise and fall of peoples. He assigns inheritance to each according to His will.
The description of the land of Ammon as formerly inhabited by “giants” adds historical depth. The Hebrew term Rephaim appears again, rendered here as Zamzummim by the Ammonites. These were fearsome, powerful peoples, comparable to the Anakim who had terrified Israel at Kadesh Barnea. Yet, “the LORD destroyed them before them,” giving the Ammonites victory. This demonstrates that God had empowered even pagan nations to overcome these giant tribes, proving that physical size and military might are nothing before the sovereignty of God.
The reference to the Caphtorim who came from Caphtor (likely Crete or the Aegean region) and destroyed the Avim near Gaza shows that the Lord’s dealings with nations extended far beyond Israel. These details form a miniature history of divine providence, showing how God orders conquests and dispossessions to fulfill His larger redemptive plan. For Israel, this reminder was intended to build faith: the God who empowered Moab, Ammon, and Edom to conquer strong peoples would now go before Israel to defeat the Canaanites.
2. (Deuteronomy 2:24–37) Moses remembers the conquest of Sihon, king of the Amorites.
“‘Rise, take your journey, and cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and engage him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.’ And I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will turn 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, just as the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD our God is giving us.’ But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day. And the LORD said to me, ‘See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.’ Then Sihon and all his people came out against us to fight at Jahaz. And the LORD our God delivered him over to us; so we defeated him, his sons, and all his people. We took all his cities at that time, and we utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining. We took only the livestock as plunder for ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we took. From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; the LORD our God delivered all to us. Only you did not go near the land of the people of Ammon; anywhere along the River Jabbok, or to the cities of the mountains, or wherever the LORD our God had forbidden us.”
“Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through”: Despite Israel’s peaceful request, Sihon refused safe passage and instead chose war. His pride and hostility led to his own destruction. This event was first recorded in Numbers 21, where Israel’s victory over Sihon marked the beginning of their military triumphs east of the Jordan. God had promised, “I have given into your hand Sihon,” showing that victory was already determined before the battle began.
“The LORD your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand”: The hardening of Sihon’s heart parallels Pharaoh’s hardness during the Exodus. God’s sovereignty does not negate human responsibility; rather, it affirms it. The Lord allowed Sihon’s own prideful and rebellious heart to solidify in its course. He did not make Sihon wicked, but confirmed him in the wickedness he already chose. As Romans 9:18 says, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.”
“That He might deliver him into your hand”: God’s hardening of Sihon’s heart had a redemptive purpose. It set the stage for Israel’s victory and for the manifestation of God’s power to all nations. The Lord used Sihon’s rebellion as the very means to fulfill His promise to Abraham. God often allows the stubbornness of the wicked to accomplish His righteous ends.
“We utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining”: This severe judgment must be understood in light of divine justice. The Amorites were an exceedingly corrupt and idolatrous people. Their destruction was not arbitrary conquest but God’s judgment executed through Israel. The war against Sihon and the Amorites was one of the ḥerem or “ban” wars, where everything was devoted to destruction because of overwhelming wickedness (see Deuteronomy 7:2). Such total judgment reflected both the holiness of God and His patience, which had long been extended since the time of Abraham (Genesis 15:16).
“There was not one city too strong for us”: The phrase literally means “not one city too high for us,” referring to fortified, walled cities. Thirty-eight years earlier, this had been Israel’s greatest fear (Deuteronomy 1:28). Now, walking in faith rather than fear, Israel found that every wall fell before the Lord. The difference between defeat and victory lay not in military strength but in belief and obedience. What once seemed impossible now became effortless under God’s command.
In all these victories, the pattern is consistent: God gives the command, the promise, and the power. Israel’s part is simple obedience. When they believed, they triumphed; when they doubted, they wandered. This account not only reminds Israel of God’s faithfulness but also warns future generations that unbelief forfeits blessing.
