Commentary on Deuteronomy, Commentary · Chapter 2
Chapter II.CHAP. II.
Verſe 1 Verſe 1. AND we turned, &c.] From the Borders of the Land of Canaan, to go Southward, till they came to the very ſhore of the Red-Sea. Which, as David Chytraeus computes it, was thirty German miles, from Kadeſh-Barnea.
As the LORD ſpake unto me.] According to the command formerly mentioned, XIV Numb. 25.
And we compaſſed Mount Seir.] The mountainous Country of Edom; whereof Mount Seir was but a part. For when they came to Ezion-gaber, which was upon the Red-Sea, they were ſtill in the Country of Edom, 1 Kings IX. 26. 2 Chron. VIII. 17. For it ſtretched a long way; from the Confines of Canaan, unto Elato and Ezion-geber, on the Red-Sea.
Many days.] Some think that they were marching to and fro along the Borders of this Country, all the time they ſpent from this removal, till they return'd to go towards Canaan again. So that by many days they underſtand the whole XXXVIII years, which paſſed between their departure from Kadeſh-Barnea, till they came over the Brook Zered, v. 14. For when they were at Ezion-gaber (which was fartheſt from Canaan) they were, as I ſaid, upon the Borders of Edom: and ſo they were when they came back again, ſeven and thirty Years after at Mount Hor, XX Numb. 23. XXI. 4. But this muſt not be underſtood, as if all the Stations mentioned XXXIII Numb. after they left Kadeſh-Barnea, till they came hither again, were near to the Country of Edom: Some of them might be remote, though they all lay in that Wilderneſs, which reached from one end of Idumaea to the other.
Ver. 2. And the LORD ſpake unto me, ſaying.] This was in the end of the XXXIXth Year after their Verſe 2 coming out of Egypt; when they had ſpent XXXVII Years, going to and fro ſince their departure from Kadeſh-Barnea. In all which time he gives us no account what paſſed, either in the foregoing Book, or in this: but only ſets down the places of their abode, as I obſerved in the XXXIIIth of NƲMBERS.
Ver. 3. Ye have compaſſed this Mountain long enough.] Verſe 3 i. e. The mountainous Country of Edom, mentioned v. 1.
Turn ye northward.] From Ezion-gaber, which was in the South, towards the North: that is, directly towards the Land of Canaan.
Ver. 4. And command thou the People, ſaying, Ye Verſe 4 are to paſs through the Coast of your Brethren the Children of Eſau, which dwell in Seir.] For they went from Ezion-gaber to Kadeſh, XX Numb. 1. and from thence to Mount Hor, v. 22. (which was in the edge of the Land of Edom, XXXIII Numb. 37.) and from thence they travelled to compaſs the Land of Edom, XXI. 4. i. e. the Eaſtern quarter of it. So that though they did not paſs through the Coaſt of Edom, as we tranſlate it; yet they paſſed by it, and very near unto it; as the Particle beth frequently ſignifies, XXXVII Gen. 13. V Joſh. 13. 1 Sam. XXIX. 1. Though they may be truly ſaid to paſs through their Coast; if thereby we underſtand their Border, or the Confines of their Country.
And they ſhall be afraid of you.] Leſt, wanting a Settlement, the Iſraelites ſhould ſeize upon their Country. Accordingly we find, they raiſed all the force they could make to oppoſe them, XX Numb. 20.
Take ye good heed to your ſelves therefore.] Let not that encourage you to aſſault them.
Verſe 5 Ver. 5. Meddle not with them.] Make not the leaſt attempt upon them.
For I will not give you of their Land, no not ſo much as a foot breadth.] i. e. Not the ſmalleſt Portion.
Becauſe I have given mount Seir unto Eſau for a poſſeſſion.] So Joſhua ſaith expreſly, XXIV Joſh. 4. wherein he made good the Bleſſing of Iſaac, XXVII Gen. 39.
Verſe 6 Ver. 6. Ye ſhall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat, &c.] If you have a mind to any Proviſion that their Country affords, you ſhall not take it, but purchaſe it; as they did their very Water, (v. 29.) which was a ſcarce thing in thoſe dry Countries. And ſo the Iſraelites offered to do, when they treated with them about a paſſage through their Country, XX Numb. 19.
Verſe 7 Ver. 7. For the LORD thy God hath bleſſed thee in all the works of thy hand.] Or, though the LORD hath bleſſed thee, &c. That is, though there is no need of it, God having abundantly provided you with all things neceſſary. But if we follow our tranſlation, the ſenſe is plain; You have wherewith to buy of them what you need, or deſire; therefore do not take it away by force.
He knoweth thy walking through this great Wilderneſs.] Hath directed and proſpered thee (as the word knoweth ſignifies in many places, I Pſal. 6. XXXI. 7.) in thy Travels through a dangerous Wilderneſs.
Theſe forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.] He had mercifully provided for them ſo conſtantly, that he let them want nothing neceſſary for their ſupport. This was the Sum of the Argument why they ſhould not moleſt the Edomites, nor take any thing by ſtealth from them; becauſe they were in no need; and God hath given that Country to the Children of Eſau, as he intended to give Canaan to the Iſraelites.
Their being in the Wilderneſs forty Years, is mentioned alſo VIII. 2. XXIX. 5. beſides other places of Scripture. For from the fifteenth day of the firſt Month, in which their Fathers came out of Egypt, (XXXIII Numb. 5.) to the tenth day of the ſame Month in which they went over Jordan into Canaan, (IV Joſh. 19.) there were but five days wanting of compleat forty Years. I cannot but here note alſo, that this is one of thoſe places wherein Onkelos mentions the MEMRA, i. e. WORD of Jehovah, which can ſignifie nothing but a Divine Perſon: For thus he tranlates theſe words, The WORD of the LORD thy God hath been thy helper: thou haſt not wanted any thing.
Ver. 8. And when we paſſed by from our Brethren the Verſe 8 Children of Eſau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain.] i. e. Through the Wilderneſs of Zin.
From Elath and from Ezion-gaber.] Two places upon the Red-Sea: the laſt of which [Ezion-gaber] ſignifies as much as the Spine, or Back-bone of a Man. So called, becauſe there were great ragged Rocks in that Port, (as Bochart obſerves) like thoſe at Dyracchium in Macedonia: which had its Name alſo from thence, Lib. I. Canaan. Cap. XLIV.
We turned.] After they were denied paſſage through their Country, and had gone through thoſe Stations mentioned XXXIII Numb. 41, 42, &c.
And paſſed by the Wilderneſs of Moab.] See XXI Numb. 11. Going by the Eaſt ſide of their Country, XI Judg. 18.
Verſe 9 Ver. 9. And the LORD ſaid unto me, Diſtreſs not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.] He would not have them force their way through his Country; becauſe the King of Moab refuſed them a paſſage, as the King of Edom had done, XI Judg. 17. For their Country now was but ſmall, ſince Sihon King of the Amorites had taken from them all the beſt of it, which lay between Arnon and Jabbok: of which the Iſraelites had poſſeſſed themſelves by the conqueſt of Sihon. So that they had only that Portion remaining, which lay upon the Dead-Sea: which David, in after times, ſubdued.
For I will not give thee of their Land for a poſſeſſion.] No more than of Edom, v. 5.
Becauſe I have given Ar.] It is likely the Capital City gave Name to the whole Country about it. At leaſt Ar (which was the chief City of Moab, XXI Numb. 15, 28.) is put here for all the Land of Moab; as Mount Seir for all the Land of Edom, v. 1.
Ʋnto the Children of Lot for a poſſeſſion.] Though the Moabites were now a wicked People; yet for their pious Anceſtors ſake, from whom they were deſcended, God would not have them diſpoſſeſſed.
Verſe 10 Ver. 10. And the Emims dwelt there in time past, &c.] A terrible People, as the very Name imports, both for their number and for their ſtrength; being of a large ſize like Anakims. See XIV Gen. 5.
Verſe 11 Ver. 11. Which alſo were accounted Giants, as the Anakims, &c.] Which ſeems to have been their name; or elſe Rephaim: but to diſtinguiſh them from others of that name in Canaan, the Moabites called them Emims.
Ver. 12. The Horims alſo dwelt in Seir before-time.] They were the ancient Inhabitants of Mount Seir; as the Emims were of the Country of Moab, XIV Gen. 6. XXXVI. 20. Verſe 12
But the Children of Eſau ſucceeded them.] Planted themſelves in that Mountain.
When they had deſtroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their Land.] When the Children of Eſau expelled the Horites, or the Children of Lot the Emmims, is no where recorded; nor who were their Leaders in theſe Expeditions. But they ſeem to be here remembred, as an Encouragement to the Iſraelites to hope; that they might drive out the Inhabitants of Canaan, (who were not ſtronger than theſe) as they had already driven the Amorites out of the Country of Sihon, as it here follows.
As Iſrael did unto the Land of his poſſeſſion, which the LORD gave unto them.] Some have argued from hence, that this Book was not written by Moſes, but by ſome body elſe, after they had got poſſeſſion of the Land of Canaan. But it is manifeſt, this may relate to what they had done already in diſpoſſeſſing Sihon King of the Amorites, and Og King of Baſhan, of their Country: which, it is expreſly ſaid, Moſes had given for a poſſeſſion to the Tribe of Reuben and Gad, and the half Tribe of Manaſſeh; and that by God's direction, XXXII Numb. 33. XXXIV. 14, 15. and in this Book, XXIX. 8. This hath been obſerved by many; particularly by Huetius in his Demonſtratio Evangelica, Propoſ. IV. Cap. XIV. N. XV.
Ver. 13. Now riſe up, ſaid I, and get you over the Verſe 13 Brook Zered, &c.] Which elſewhere we tranſlate, the Valley of Zered. See XXI Numb. 12.
Ver. 14. And the ſpace in which we came from Kadeſh-Barnea, Verſe 14 until we came over the Brook Zered, was thirty eight years.] For it is evident by the ſtory in Numbers that they came to Kadeſh-Barnea about the fourth Month of the ſecond Year after they came out of Egypt. See upon XII Numb. 16. And if we ſuppoſe that they removed from hence in the ſeventh or eighth Month of that Year; it is certain that they could not come to this Brook, till the ſeventh or eighth Month of the fortieth Year. For Aaron died at Mount Hor on the firſt day of the fifth Month of this Year; and we muſt allow two or three Months time, for all that followed between that and this, viz. the conqueſt of King Arad, and of Sihon, and Og, &c.
Ʋntil all the Generation of the Men of War.] So they were called, who were above twenty years old, I Numb. 3.
Were waſted out from among the People.] Utterly conſumed, ſo that not one of them was left, XXVI Numb. 64, 65.
As the LORD ſware unto them.] See XIV Numb. 28, 29.
Verſe 15 Ver. 15. For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them to deſtroy them from among the Hoſt. Some of them, it is likely, died a Natural death; but many of them might in the courſe of Nature have lived longer, if God had not ſeveral ways cut them off before their time.
Ʋntil they were conſumed.] By one Plague or other, which God ſent among them: So that a great deal of their time, in the thirty eight Years before mentioned, were ſpent, it is likely, in burying, and mourning for their dead.
Verſe 16, 17. Ver. 16, 17. So it came to paſs, when all the Men of War were conſumed and dead from among the People, that the LORD ſpake unto me, ſaying.] This was ſpoken, it is probable, juſt as they paſſed over the Brook Zered; or in their next Station at Dibon-Gad, XXXIII Numb. 45.
Ver. 18. Thou art to paſs through Ar, the Coast of Verſe 18 Moab, this day.] Or rather, to paſs by the Border of Moab: for they were not permitted to come into their Country, v. 9. See upon v. 4.
Ver. 19. And when thou comest nigh over againſt the Verſe 19 Children of Ammon.] As they did after the conqueſt of Sihon King of the Amorites: whoſe Country bordered upon the Ammonites, XXI Numb. 13, 24.
Diſtreſs them not, neither meddle with them.] The ſame command with that about the Edomites and Moabites, v. 5, 9.
For I will not give thee of the Land of the Children of Ammon any poſſeſſion.] As he had ſaid before of the Land of Moab, v. 9.
Becauſe I have given it unto the Children of Lot for a poſſeſſion.] To the Deſcendants of his youngeſt Son; as he had done the Country of Moab to the Children of the eldeſt.
Ver. 20. And that alſo was accounted a Land of Giants, Verſe 20 &c.] Was called the Country of Giants, or Rephaim: for People ſo called inhabited it.
And the Ammonites called them Zamzummims.] Changed their Names, it is probable, from Zuzims, (See XIV Gen. 5.) as they were called before, into Zamzummims. But why they were called, either by the one Name or the other, it is but conjectured. Some conceive they were called Zuzims, from their ſwiftneſs, or nimble running; which in Warriours, was a quality always highly valued: and Zamzummims from their abominable Wickedneſs; or their craft and cunning in doing Miſchief.
Ver. 21. A people great, and many, and tall as the Anakims.] The ſame deſcription which he gave of the Emims, v. 10.
Verſe 21 But the LORD deſtroyed them before them.] i. e. Before the Ammonites; who expelled them out of their Country, and it's like cut off the moſt of them.
And they ſucceeded them, and dwelt in their Land.] This is ſo often repeated, to poſſeſs the Minds of the Iſraelites, with a ſenſe of God's Providence, which rules every where; diſplacing one People, and ſetling another in their ſtead; and fixing their Bounds alſo, which they ſhall not paſs without his leave.
Verſe 22 Ver. 22. As he did to the Children of Eſau, which dwelt in Seir, when he deſtroyed the Horites from before them, &c.] He repeats this (which he had ſaid before v. 12.) becauſe it was a freſher Inſtance of God's diſpoſal of Countries unto what People he pleaſes: and nearly touched the Iſraelites, becauſe they were their Brethren.
Verſe 23 Ver. 23. And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah.] Unto which he adds an inſtance, which ſeems to be elder than any of the former, concerning a People called Avims; who inhabited ſome part of the Land of Canaan, whither they were going. For though we do not read of Hazerim in any other place; yet Azzah, i. e. Gaza, was in the Country of the Philiſtims; who expelled theſe Avims. And David Chytraeus thinks that Hazerim was a Town, afterward in the Tribe of Judah, called Haza-gaddah, XV Joſh. 27.
The Caphtorim which came out of Caphtor.] That is, ſome People of Cappadocia; who were near of Kin to the Philiſtims. See X Gen. 14.
Deſtroyed them, and dwelt in their ſtead.] Concerning which, ſee in the place above-named. Unto which I ſhall only add, That the Avims being expelled out of Canaan by the Caphtorims, went, it is very probable, over Euphrates and ſettled there; till the King of Aſſyria brought ſome of them back again, to plant the Country of Samaria, 2 Kings XVII. 31. where we tranſlate this word Avites. See Bochart. in his Phaleg. Lib. IV. Cap. XXXVI.
Ver. 24. Riſe ye up, take your Journey, and paſs over Verſe 24 the River Arnon. See XXI Numb. 13, 14.
Behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon King of Heſhbon, and his Land, &c.] You your ſelves ſhall do to him, what your Brethren, the Children of Eſau, did to the Horites, and the Moabites to the Emims, and the Children of Ammon to the Zamzummims, and the Caphtorims to the Avims. By which their Fiaith might ſtill be more confirmed, that the People of Canaan, though never ſo mighty, ſhould not be able to ſtand before them.
Ver. 25. This day will I begin to put the dread of thee, Verſe 25 and the fear of thee, upon the Nations that are under the whole Heaven.] Eſpecially upon the Canaanites; wno were ſtruck, no doubt, with Terror by this Conqueſt, as they had been by all that befell the Egyptians, II Joſh. 10, 11.
Who ſhall hear the report of thee.] This explains what he means by the hyperbolical expreſſion before going, the Nations under the whole Heaven; that is, as many as ſhall hear of theſe things.
And ſhall tremble, and be in anguiſh becauſe of thee.] As Women in travel are.
Ver. 26. And I ſent Meſſengers out of the Wilderneſs Verſe 26 of Kedemoth.] There is a City of this Name mentioned by Joſhua XIII. 18. from whence this Wilderneſs had its denomination. Some take it to be the ſame with that called Jeſhimon, XXI Numb. 20.
Ʋnto Sihon King of Heſhbon with words of peace.] A friendly Meſſage, deſiring there might be no quarrel between him and the Iſraelites; who deſired nothing but the common Offices of Humanity.
Verſe 27 Ver. 27. Let me paſs through thy Land.] Which was the direct way to the Fords of Jordan.
I will go along by the high way.] Not turning into the Fields or Vineyards, as it is expreſſed XXI Numb. 22. In the Hebrew the word is doubled, bederech bederech, by the way, by the way: which ſeems to be a vehement affirmation, to aſſure them they would not ſtir out of the High-way.
I will neither turn unto the right hand, nor to the left.] Not ſtep aſide, out of the common Rode, (called the King's High-way) which was free for all People.
Verſe 28 Ver. 28. Thou ſhalt ſell me meat for money, that I may eat, &c.] They offered to pay for whatſoever they wanted; which is included in Meat and Drink.
Only I will paſs through on my feet.] Barely have a paſſage through his Country.
Verſe 29 Ver. 29. As the Children of Eſau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me.] He doth not mean that they granted Iſrael a paſſage through their Country; but that they did not deny to ſell them Meat and Drink for their Money, as they paſſed by their Coaſts.
Ʋntil I paſs over Jordan, unto the Land which the LORD our God giveth us.] This was ſaid to move Sihon to conſent to their deſire; by letting him underſtand they intended nothing againſt his Country: being ſecure of a Settlement in the Land of Canaan; unto which they prayed him to let them paſs quietly.
Ver. 30. But Sihon King of Heſhbon would not let us Verſe 30 paſs by him.] Refuſed to agree to this reaſonable demand.
For the LORD thy God hardned his ſpirit, and made his heart obſtinate, &c.] Gave him over to his own inflexible Humour, which was ſet upon violent Courſes; from which God did not divert him, (becauſe he intended to deſtroy him) but rather ordered things ſo, that his Mind ſhould be inraged and diſturbed, and ſo unable to conſider things prudently, and diſcern what belonged to his peace: which is the utmoſt that can be meant by hardning his Spirit, and making his heart obſtinate. Which as it is a ſin, cannot be aſcribed unto God: but as it is a puniſhment, might juſtly be inflicted by him upon Sihon for his former ſins.
Ver. 31. And the LORD ſaid unto me, behold, I Verſe 31 have begun to give Sihon and his Land.] This was ſaid when Moſes ſaw him coming out to battle againſt them, (as it follows in the next Verſe) at which time he is ſaid to begin to give them his Country, becauſe he had abſolutely reſolved it: and, it's probable, ſo confounded his Forces, that they were as good as already conquered.
Before thee.] Into their Power: that they might go into it at their pleaſure.
Begin to poſſeſs, that thou mayest inherit his Land.] In the ſame ſenſe he bids Moſes begin to poſſeſs, i. e. prepare to take poſſeſſion of it. See III. 2.
Ver. 32. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all Verſe 32 his people, to fight at Jahaz. See XXI Numb. 23.
Ver. 33. And the LORD our God delivered him before us, and we ſmote him, and his Sons, and all his People.] They won the Field, and killed him, his Verſe 33 Sons, and all that came out to fight with them. And R. Solomon ſaith his Sons were like himſelf, very great Men.
Verſe 34 Ver. 34. And we took all his Cities at that time.] After this Victory, they took his whole Country, as is related XXI Numb. 24, 25. and the Cities belonging to it, are mentioned XXXII. 34, 35, &c.
And utterly deſtroyed the Men, and the Women, and the little Ones of every City, we left none to remain.] They being part of thoſe wicked People the Amorites; whom God had condemned to utter deſtruction. For the Amorites came out of Canaan, and took this Country from the Moabites and the Children of Ammon.
Verſe 35 Ver. 35. Only the Cattle we took for a prey unto our ſelves, &c.] They had the Divine Warrant for this, no doubt; as they had for the Extirpation of the People.
Verſe 36 Ver. 36. From Aroer which is by the brink of the River Arnon.] This River divided Moab from the Kingdom of Sihon, (XXI Numb. 13, 24.) upon which the City of Aroer ſtood: which was now in the poſſeſſion of Sihon, though belonging formerly to the Moabites.
And from this City that is by the River.] This ſome take to be the City Ar, XXI Numb. 15. But I think theſe words ſhould rather be tranſlated, even the City in the River: meaning Aroer ſtill, as a remarkable place, being incompaſſed with the River, XII Joſh. 2. For Ar, I think, was never in the poſſeſſion of the Amorites; being the capital City of Moab.
Even unto Gilead.] Chapter III.For half of Gilead belonged to the Country of Sihon, XII Joſh. 2. and given to the Tribe of Gad, XV Joſh. 2. And the other half belonged to the Kingdom of Og, (as we read in the ſame place, XII Joſh. 5.) and was given to the half Tribe of Manaſſeh, XIII Joſh. 31.
Ver. 37. Only unto the Land of the Children of Ammon Verſe 37 thou cameſt not.] That is, into no part of their Country, which was then in their poſſeſſion: but all that the Amorites had taken from them was given to the Gadites, XIII Joſh. 25.
Nor unto any place in the River Jabbok.] To no place beyond that River, which was the Border of the Children of Ammon, XXI Numb. 24. XII Joſh. 2.
Nor into the Cities of the Mountains.] Much leſs into the mountainous parts of the Country of the Amorites.
Nor unto whatſoever the LORD our God forbad us.] The words in the Hebrew are, And all whatſoever the LORD our God commanded us, i. e. not to meddle withal.