신명기 Chapter 2

Translation: ESV

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.

Key Message

Waiting until God's appointed time is also within God's providence, and during that process a new generation is prepared.

▸After the failure at Kadesh-barnea, Israel turned toward the Red Sea and wandered around Mount Seir for a long time.

After the failure at Kadesh-barnea, Israel turned toward the Red Sea and wandered around Mount Seir for a long time. 'Many days' compresses the thirty-eight years of wilderness wandering into a brief phrase. This wandering was not meaningless but took place under God's permission and represented the process by which a new generation was being prepared.

2

Then the LORD said to me,

Key Message

After God's silence there will always come a new word. The time of waiting is not God's abandonment but His preparation.

▸After the long silence of wandering, God speaks again.

3

'You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward

Key Message

God gives the command to move forward at the right time. Even after a long wait, one must be ready to hear the command to advance.

▸With the phrase 'long enough' comes a command to advance in a new direction.

4

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.

Key Message

God has given each nation—even Edom, related to Israel—their territory and rights. Even when one's claim is just, restraint that does not encroach on a brother is necessary.

▸The Edomites, descendants of Esau, are called Israel's 'brothers.

5

Do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of a foot, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

Key Message

God has appointed a territory for each nation. Being satisfied with what one has been given and not coveting what belongs to others is God's will.

▸God states clearly that Edom's land will not be given to Israel.

6

You shall purchase food from them with money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink.

Key Message

Even the strong must not take what belongs to the weak without fair payment. God's people must act justly toward neighboring nations.

▸While passing through Edom, Israel had to purchase food and water at a fair price.

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.'

Key Message

Throughout the entire forty years in the wilderness God knew Israel and supplied all their needs. God's provision continues even in moments we do not perceive it.

▸The declaration that during forty years of wilderness life Israel 'lacked nothing' is remarkable.

8

"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.

Key Message

Sometimes a detour is necessary rather than a direct route. Going around what God has not permitted is obedience.

▸The specific route of Israel's journey is recorded: bypassing the territory of Edom (the sons of Esau) via the Arabah, Elath, and Ezion-geber before heading toward the wilderness of Moab.

9

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.'

Key Message

God is not only the God of Israel but the God of the whole world who distributes land to all nations.

▸Just as with Edom, Moab is also land that God gave to the sons of Lot, so Israel must not encroach on it.

10

(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim.

Key Message

God's sovereign providence is at work within the history of every nation.

▸A historical note explains that the Emim, a giant people like the Anakim, formerly lived in Moab.

11

Like the Anakim they are also counted as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim.

Key Message

Scripture is grounded in historical reality, and God's providence is accomplished within the concrete history of diverse peoples.

▸Rephaim is the general term for giant peoples throughout the Canaan region, while Emim is the local name for the Rephaim in the Moab area.

12

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.)

Key Message

God governs the movements and settlements of all nations throughout history. Israel's conquest of Canaan is an event within God's universal governance of history.

▸Just as Esau's descendants drove out the Horites and took possession of Seir, so Israel will drive out the Canaanites and take possession of their land.

13

'Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.' So we went over the brook Zered.

Key Message

Crossing a new boundary in obedience to God's command is an act of faith.

▸Crossing the brook Zered is an important geographical landmark in Israel's journey.

14

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.

Key Message

God's judgment is certain. But even during the period of judgment, God is preparing a new generation.

▸The precise figure of thirty-eight years is given.

15

For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from the camp, until they had perished.

Key Message

God's judgment is just; and when that judgment is complete, a new era of grace begins.

▸The expression 'the hand of the LORD was against them' emphasizes that these deaths were not from natural causes alone but from God's active judgment.

16

"So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people,

Key Message

The old must pass away before the new can begin. God's judgment opens the way for new grace.

▸The complete passing of the rebellious generation was the precondition for a new departure.

17

the LORD said to me,

Key Message

God always speaks anew. Even after long silence, God's word points a new direction.

▸After the new generation is ready, God speaks again.

18

'Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar,

Key Message

God's guidance is specific and clear. The path of following God has a definite direction.

▸God gives a specific geographical instruction: pass through Ar, the boundary of Moab.

19

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.'

Key Message

God appointed the lands of nations related to Israel—Edom, Moab, Ammon—as belonging to them. Israel's expansion was to occur only within God's appointed boundaries.

▸Ammon, like Moab, descended from Lot (from Lot's younger daughter, Gen.

20

(That also is counted as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly lived there, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,

Key Message

Behind every historical change lies God's sovereign providence.

▸Ammon's land was also formerly the territory of the Rephaim (giants).

21

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,

Key Message

God governs the history of all nations, not Israel alone.

▸The destruction of the powerful Zamzummim before the Ammonites is stated directly to be because 'the LORD destroyed them.

22

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.

Key Message

God's governance of history operates on consistent principles—not as a privilege exclusive to Israel but applicable to all nations.

▸The analogy between Esau's dispossession of the Horites in Seir and Ammon's dispossession of the Zamzummim shows that God's governance of history operates on consistent principles.

23

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.)

Key Message

Behind every movement and settlement of peoples in history lies God's providence.

▸The Philistines (the Caphtorim) drove out the Avvim and settled on the coastal plain of Canaan as part of the same historical pattern.

24

'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.

Key Message

When God declares 'I have given,' it is an already-completed fact. Faith means receiving God's promise as reality and moving forward.

▸Crossing the Arnon River is the start of a new advance.

25

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.'

Key Message

The fact that God is with us strikes fear into enemies; that fear is Israel's most powerful weapon.

▸'This day' signals the beginning of a new era.

26

"So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon the king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying,

Key Message

God's people must pursue peace before war. War follows only after the possibility of peace is exhausted.

▸Before beginning hostilities, Israel first proposed peace.

27

'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.

Key Message

Even an honest and fair proposal can be refused. But God's people must always first pursue peace and fairness.

▸Israel proposed simply passing through—not plundering or settling.

28

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,

Key Message

God's people must practice fairness and honesty in their dealings with neighbors.

▸Israel proposed to buy food and water at a fair price.

29

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.'

Key Message

On the journey toward the destination, detours are sometimes necessary, and God leads through every path to that destination.

▸Moses mentions that the sons of Esau (Edom) and the Moabites allowed Israel to pass through.

30

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.

Key Message

No human refusal can prevent God's sovereign plan. God uses every situation to accomplish His purpose.

▸Sihon's refusal is explained as God having hardened his spirit and heart.

31

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.'

Key Message

God acts first. Our role is to participate in faith in what God has already begun.

▸'I have begun to give' means God has already started acting.

32

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

Key Message

Even the enemy's attack is powerless before God's promise.

▸Sihon attacked first.

33

And the LORD our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people.

Key Message

All victory comes from God. Attributing the credit for victory to God rather than to human ability is the posture of faith.

▸The victory was because the LORD 'gave him over,' not because of Israel's military strength.

34

And we captured all his cities at that time and devoted to destruction every city, men, women, and children. We left no survivors.

Key Message

God's judgment is just, and Israel was used as an instrument of God's judgment. But this principle must be understood in a new way in light of Christ.

▸The devotion to destruction (cherem) was the ancient Israelite practice in holy war of dedicating everything to God without taking plunder.

35

Only the livestock we took as spoil for ourselves, with the plunder of the cities that we captured.

Key Message

God's commands require complete obedience. Partial obedience is disobedience.

▸The devotion to destruction applied to people; the livestock and goods were taken by Israel.

36

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.

Key Message

When God is with us, no enemy can prevail.

▸The entire kingdom of Sihon, from the Arnon to Gilead, was handed over to Israel.

37

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, and wherever the LORD our God had forbidden us.

Key Message

Even in the time of victory, observing the boundaries God has set is true obedience.

▸While conquering Sihon's kingdom, Israel did not touch Ammon's territory.