What is happening in this passage of Israel’s journey?

In this passage Moses is reminding the people how God led them after their long wandering. They turned away from Mount Seir, passed by the land of their relatives in Edom, Moab, and Ammon, and were told not to attack them or take their land because God had given those places to them. During these years God provided everything Israel needed, while the unbelieving generation died out. Then God told them to cross the Arnon and face Sihon, king of Heshbon. Sihon refused peaceful passage, attacked, and God handed him and his cities over to Israel.

Why were the Israelites told not to attack Edom, Moab, or Ammon?

God made it very clear that Israel must not fight or “distress” Edom, Moab, or Ammon. Edom came from Esau, Jacob’s brother, and Moab and Ammon came from Lot’s family. God had already given those lands to them as their possessions. Israel was to respect those boundaries, buy food and water with money, and pass through in peace. This shows that God rules over which nations get which lands, and His people must honor that, even if those nations have not treated them well in the past.

What does this passage teach about God’s provision in the wilderness?

Moses reminds the people that for forty years God watched over their journey. God had blessed the work of their hands and knew every step they took through the great wilderness. They lacked nothing, even though they were in a harsh land. Because God had provided so well, they could pay for food and water from others instead of stealing or forcing it. This shows that God can care for His people even in hard places, and that His blessing should lead to honest and fair dealing with others.

Why did it take thirty-eight years to cross from Kadesh-barnea to the brook Zered?

The long delay was not because the distance was far, but because of God’s judgment on the unbelieving generation. Earlier the people had refused to trust God and go into the promised land, so God swore that all the men of war from that generation would die in the wilderness. Those thirty-eight years were the time it took for that generation to be “wasted out” from among the host. The passage says God’s hand was against them until they were consumed, showing that His warnings and threats are as sure as His promises.

Who were the giants mentioned, like the Emims and Zamzummims?

The passage mentions several groups described as giants, such as the Emims in Moab’s land and the Zamzummims in Ammon’s land, as well as the Anakims. They were people who were great, many, and tall. In the past, these strong nations had lived in the land, but God allowed Moab, Ammon, and Esau’s descendants to drive them out and take their places. This history was meant to remind Israel that powerful enemies are no match for God’s plans, and to keep them from pride when they themselves entered and took land from other nations.

Why did God harden Sihon king of Heshbon’s heart?

When Moses sent peaceful words to Sihon, asking only to pass through and pay for food and water, Sihon refused. The passage says God hardened Sihon’s spirit and made his heart stubborn so that Sihon would come out to fight and be handed over to Israel. This shows that God rules even over the decisions of kings. Sihon was not innocent; he resisted peace and opposed God’s people. God used his stubbornness to carry out judgment on him and to give Israel their first victory east of the Jordan, just as He had promised.

Why did Israel destroy Sihon’s cities and people so completely?

After Sihon attacked, God gave him and his cities into Israel’s hand. Israel struck down Sihon, his sons, and all his people, and destroyed the men, women, and little ones in those cities, keeping only the cattle and other goods as spoil. This severe judgment fits with God’s earlier curse on the wicked peoples of that region and His plan to give the land to Israel. It was not random violence but an act of judgment God had warned about. The passage also shows this was not Israel’s pattern with every nation, since they were forbidden to touch Edom, Moab, and Ammon.

What does this passage show about God’s character and rule over nations?

This chapter shows that God rules over all lands and peoples. He gives Mount Seir to Esau’s family, Ar to Lot’s children, and Sihon’s land to Israel. He removes giants before some nations and puts fear of Israel into others. He blesses Israel so they lack nothing, yet He also judges the unbelieving generation and the hostile Amorites. We see both kindness and severity: God is patient, provides for His people, and keeps His promises, but He also sets firm boundaries and brings down those who resist Him and refuse peace.

How can this passage about Israel’s journey apply to my life today?

This passage reminds you that God leads step by step, even through long and confusing seasons. There are times to wait and times to move on, and God’s timing may feel slow but has a purpose. It also shows the need to respect the limits God sets, even when you feel strong enough to push past them. God’s care in the wilderness encourages you to trust Him to provide what you truly need, and His judgment on unbelief warns you not to harden your heart but to respond to His word with faith and obedience.

Deut.2.1

Deuteronomy 2:1

KJV

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

Wanderings in the Wilderness

1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

2 And the Lord spake unto me, saying,

3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:

5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.

6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

7 For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.

8 And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion-gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

9 And the Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

10 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;

11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.

12 The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them.

13 Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered.

14 And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them.

15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.

16 ¶ So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,

17 That the Lord spake unto me, saying,

18 Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:

19 And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;

21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the Lord destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead:

22 As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:

23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)

The Defeat of Sihon

24 ¶ Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.

25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

26 ¶ And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,

27 Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.

28 Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;

29 (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the Lord our God giveth us.

30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.

31 And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.

32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.

33 And the Lord our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.

34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:

35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.

36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the Lord our God delivered all unto us:

37 Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the Lord our God forbad us.

Cross References

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