Deuteronomy-Chapter-2

-hebraicstudies.net-

Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

YYYYYYY

Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

YYYYYYY

“Deuteronomy Chapter 2”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Deuteronomy Chapter 2 continues Moses’ retrospective address to Israel on the plains of Moab. After recounting the events at ‘Horeb’ in Chapter 1, Moses now turns to the long period of wandering, the Divine instructions regarding the nations related to Israel (Edom, Moab, Ammon), and the eventual shift from wandering to conquest. This chapter is pivotal because it marks the transition from Divinely‑imposed wandering to Divinely‑sanctioned advancement. It also clarifies which lands Israel must not take and which lands are given to them. The chapter ends with the decisive defeat of Sihon king of Heshbon, the first major military victory east of the Jordan.

YYYYYYY

Below are the verses of Deuteronomy Chapter 2:1-37: Whilst below the verses are the Explanation’s an more. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Verses 1-8:

1. “Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto me; and we compassed mount Seir many days. 2. And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke 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 border of your brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you; take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore; 5. contend not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. 6. Ye shall purchase food of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 7. For יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand; He hath known thy walking through this great wilderness; these forty years יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing’. 8. So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah, from Elath and from Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

Explanation: Turning Back to the Wilderness and Passing by Edom. Moses recalls how Israel turned back toward the wilderness by the Sea of Reeds and circled Mount Seir for a long period. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) then commands them to stop circling and proceed northward.

Key points: Edom (descendants of Esau) is explicitly protected. Israel must not provoke them or take their land. Israel must purchase food and water from Edom rather than seize anything. The journey continues along the route of the Arabah, bypassing Edom’s territory.

Meaning: Israel’s relationship with Edom is framed as kinship. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s sovereignty over land allotments is emphasized: He assigns territories to nations, not only to Israel.

The long wandering is portrayed as purposeful, not aimless.

Verses 9-15:

9. And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto me: ‘Be not at enmity with Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession. 10. The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; 11. these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. 12. And in Seir dwelt the Horites aforetime, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which יְהוָה - the LORD gave unto them. 13. Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered’. And we went over the brook Zered. 14. And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight years; until all the generation, even the men of war, were consumed from the midst of the camp, as יְהוָה - the LORD swore unto them. 15. Moreover the hand of יְהוָה - the LORD was against them, to discomfit them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed.

Explanation: Passing by Moab and the Fate of Earlier. Inhabitants אֱלֹהִים - Elohim instructs Israel not to harass or fight Moab, for their land is given to the descendants of Lot. The text notes that earlier peoples (Emim, Rephaim‑like giants) once lived there but were displaced by Moab.

Meaning: Again, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s control over history and land distribution is central.

The mention of ancient peoples highlights the deep antiquity of the region and reinforces that nations rise and fall under divine oversight. Israel is reminded that their wandering was part of a divine plan, culminating in the end of the generation that left Egypt.

Verses 16-23:

16. So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, 17. that יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto me saying: 18. .Thou art this day to pass over the border of Moab, even Ar; 19. and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, harass them not, nor contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. 2.0 That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21. a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but יְהוָה - the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead; 22. as He did for the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day; 23. and the Avvim, that dwelt in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.

Explanation: Passing by Ammon and the Fate of Other Ancient Peoples

Once the previous generation has died out, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim instructs Israel to cross the boundary of Moab and approach Ammon. As with Moab, Israel must not fight Ammon, for their land is also given to Lot’s descendants. The text again references earlier peoples (Zamzummim, Rephaim‑like giants) who were displaced by Ammon.

Meaning: The repetition reinforces the theme: Israel is not free to conquer at will. The land of Ammon is protected by divine decree. The historical notes about vanished peoples emphasize that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim shapes the destinies of all nations, not only Israel.

Verses 24-29:

24. Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of Arnon; behold, I have given into thy 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 peoples that are under the whole heaven, who, when they hear the report of thee, 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 highway, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. 28. Thou shalt 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 my feet; 29. as the children of Esau that dwell in Seir, and the Moabites that dwell in Ar, did unto me; until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu giveth us’.

Explanation: The Command to Engage Sihon and the Offer of Peace

A shift occurs: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim now commands Israel to cross the Arnon and begin taking possession of land from Sihon king of Heshbon. Moses sends messengers offering peaceful passage, requesting to buy food and water similar to the approach to Edom.

Meaning: Israel’s military action is not self‑initiated; it begins only when אֱלֹהִים - Elohim authorizes it. The offer of peaceful passage shows Israel’s preference for non‑aggression unless commanded otherwise. The contrast with Edom, Moab, and Ammon highlights that Sihon’s land is not protected.

Verses 30-37:

30. But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheicha hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 31. And יְהוָה - the LORD said unto me: 'Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before thee; begin to possess his land’. 32. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Jahaz. 33. And יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu delivered him up 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 every city, the men, and the women, and the little ones; we left none remaining; 35. only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken. 36. From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, even unto Gilead, there was not a city too high for us: יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu delivered up all before us. 37. Only to the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and whosesoever יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Eloheynu forbade us”.

Explanation: Sihon’s Refusal and Israel’s Victory.

Sihon refuses peaceful passage because, as the text states, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim “hardened his spirit” to deliver him into Israel’s hand. Israel defeats Sihon, captures his cities, and takes possession of his land from Aroer to Gilead. However, Israel does not approach the land of Ammon, respecting אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s earlier command.

Meaning: The victory is framed as divinely orchestrated, not merely military. The boundaries of conquest are strictly defined. Israel’s obedience conquering where commanded and refraining where forbidden is a central theme. This victory marks the beginning of Israel’s territorial acquisition east of the Jordan, setting the stage for the later allotments to Reuben, Gad, and half‑Manasseh.

YYYYYYY

My Closing Message:

Deuteronomy 2 is a chapter of boundaries, geographical, historical, and moral. It teaches that Israel’s journey is not random but guided, measured, and purposeful. Lands are not taken by human ambition but by divine instruction. The chapter also underscores kinship, restraint, and respect for the territories of related nations. At the same time, it marks the turning point from wandering to destiny: Israel begins to inherit the land promised to them, starting with the defeat of Sihon.

YYYYYYY

Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts” Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

YYYYYYY

“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Enter ...

http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm

Enter ...

https://www.hebraicstudies.net

-hebraicstudies.net-

Email the Rabbi

RBA@hebraicstudies.net

If the email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.

Although the author does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid 1980’,

but there have been occasions where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out of context

under my name, and thus he has been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.

Thus, it is only for this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...