Deuteronomy 2

Secular treaties (formal agreements between nations) often included a section about the past relationship between the two partners. This section reviewed what had happened before the agreement.

In this case, the purpose was to review Israel’s successes and failures since the exodus from Egypt. It reminded the people that God had kept his word, even when they did not obey him.

To prepare the Israelites for life in Canaan, Moses reminded them about life in Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and their past mistakes. He warned them to obey God's covenant. He assured them that God's grace would follow them as they learned to trust and obey the Lord.

Mount Seir was a mountainous area north of the Gulf of Aqaba, east of the Arabah and the Dead Sea (see study note on 1:1).

The Horites first settled there (Genesis 14:6). Many scholars now identify the Horites with the Hurrians. Ancient texts describe the Hurrians as traveling traders and explorers. They lived in many parts of the ancient Near East.

Over time, the descendants of Esau replaced the Horites in Mount Seir (Deuteronomy 2:22). The region was called Edom (meaning “red”), possibly because of the area's rose-red stone.

Numbers 21:10–20 covers the same time period.

I have given: God's gift of a promised land was not only for Israel. He also gave lands to Edom, Moab, Ammon, and the Caphtorites (2:9; 2:19; 2:22–23).

God chose Israel as a special nation (1:31; see also 7:6; 14:2; Exodus 19:5). Yet, he is the God of all nations and has a place and purpose for each one (Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26). This is true even for those who do not acknowledge his rule (Romans 1:16–23).

• our brothers: Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau was the firstborn. Jacob took Esau’s birthright and blessing as the firstborn (Genesis 25:27–34; 27:1–36). This led to intense hostility between Esau and Jacob and their descendants. Yet, Israel still recognized and honored their kinship.

  Out of brotherly loyalty, if not affection, Israel passed by Edom and did not fight the Edomites (see Numbers 20:14–21).

• Arabah road: See study note on Deuteronomy 1:1.

• Elath and Ezion-geber were twin port cities on the Red Sea. They later harbored the merchant ships of King Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and Uzziah (1 Kings 9:26; 1 Kings 22:48; 2 Kings 14:22).

• Lot was Abraham's nephew and Isaac's cousin. God destroyed Sodom, Gomorrah, and other nearby cities. Then Lot and his two unmarried daughters took shelter in a cave east of the Dead Sea (see Genesis 19:30–38). Lot's daughters got their father so drunk that he had sexual relations with them.

  Their children became the nations of Moab and Ammon. Because they were relatives of Israel, they would not disturb the Moabites. King David's great-grandmother Ruth was from Moab (Ruth 1:4). David sent his family to Moab for safety when Saul chased him (1 Samuel 22:3–5).

• Ar was probably the capital of Moab.

The Emites also lived at Shaveh-kiriathaim (Genesis 14:5). This was 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) east of the Dead Sea’s north end.

The Rephaim lived near Ashteroth-karnaim (Genesis 14:5), which might be modern Tell Ashtarah. This is directly east of the Sea of Galilee (see Deuteronomy 1:4).

just as Israel drove out: The Hebrew does not include the phrase the people of Canaan. This passage is often cited as a later addition to Deuteronomy because it seems to presuppose the conquest under Joshua. However, it refers in part to the defeat of peoples east of the Jordan, such as the Amorites under King Sihon and King Og (3:12–17).

The ravine of the Brook of Zered marked the border between Moab and Edom. It began in the highlands of Mount Seir. From there, it flowed down to the southeastern end of the Dead Sea.

The Ammonites, like the Moabites, descended from Lot and his daughters' relationship (see study note on 2:9). For most of their history, the Ammonites lived south and east of the Jabbok River. Their capital was Rabbath Ammon, now known as Amman, Jordan. David arranged for the death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, during the attack on this city (2 Samuel 11:1, 14–21).

The Zamzummites are probably the same as the Zuzites (Genesis 14:5). God removed them from the land earlier so the Ammonites could live there. The God of Israel is also the God of the entire earth. He cares about all nations and has a place and purpose for each one.

• The Caphtorites were descendants of Noah's son Ham and originally came from Crete. This is a large island south of the Greek peninsula. Scholars usually identify the Caphtorites with the Philistines (see Genesis 10:6–14; 1 Chronicles 1:8–12). The Philistines arrived in Canaan through two separate movements.

  One movement happened during the time of the Hebrew patriarchs (see study note on Genesis 21:32). The other movement began around 1200 BC (see study notes on Joshua 13:2; Judges 3:3). This passage probably refers to the earlier settlement.

• The Avvites were native to the lower Mediterranean coastal plain. The early wave of Philistines replaced them in Gaza (compare Joshua 13:2–4).

• The Arnon Valley is a deep canyon formed by the Arnon River. It sometimes marked the border between Moab and Edom (see Numbers 21:13). The river starts deep in the Arabian Desert and flows into the Dead Sea along its eastern shore.

• Sihon the Amorite controlled the area east of the Jordan River, north of the Arnon River, and south of the Ammonite territories (see Numbers 21:21–35). No ancient records mention him except the Bible. His capital, Heshbon, was probably about 24 kilometers (15 miles) southwest of Rabbath Ammon. It is usually considered to be the same place as the impressive ruins at Tell Hesban.

The Wilderness of Kedemoth might be the area north of the Arnon Gorge between Dibon and Mattanah (Joshua 13:18; 21:37).

See Numbers 21:21–32.

God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate (literally God hardened his spirit and strengthened his heart): Like Pharaoh, Sihon refused to repent and encountered God's wrath (see Exodus 7:13). God knew that showing more grace to these rulers would be of no use.

There is mystery in how people harden their own hearts (for example, Exodus 7:13, 22; 8:15) and how God hardens hearts (for example, Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12). What is clear is that God asks for repentance and is ready to forgive. Yet, when people keep ignoring or rejecting him, they may become unable to hear and obey God (see “Hardened Hearts” Theme Note; Romans 1:21–28; 9:17–24).

devoted to destruction (Hebrew kharam): The Hebrew term means dedicating things or people entirely to the Lord. This could be either by destroying them or offering them. The purpose was to protect the Lord’s holiness. It also guarded Israel from pagan idolatry (see also Leviticus 27:28–29).

• Aroer stood on the north rim of the Arnon Gorge. It was about five kilometers (three miles) from Dibon. Aroer marked the southern border of the Amorite kingdom (3:12; 4:48; Joshua 12:2; 13:9, 16, 25).

• The identity of the town located in the gorge itself is not certain.

• Gilead lay north of the Jabbok River. This river formed the northern border of the Amorites under King Sihon. Gilead was famous for its balm (a healing ointment) and other fragrant spices (Jeremiah 8:22; 46:11).

• Like the Moabites, the Ammonites were relatives of Israel and must be left alone (see 2:9).

• The Jabbok River, a major tributary of the Jordan River, marked the border between Gilead to the north and the Amorite kingdom of Sihon to the south. The Ammonites lived east and south of the Jabbok (see 2:19). Jacob wrestled with a stranger at night somewhere at the Jabbok (see Genesis 32:22–32).