12 The Horims H2752 also dwelt H3427 in Seir H8165 beforetime; H6440 but the children H1121 of Esau H6215 succeeded H3423 them, when they had destroyed H8045 them from before H6440 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead; as Israel H3478 did H6213 unto the land H776 of his possession, H3425 which the LORD H3068 gave H5414 unto them.
As he did H6213 to the children H1121 of Esau, H6215 which dwelt H3427 in Seir, H8165 when he destroyed H8045 the Horims H2752 from before H6440 them; and they succeeded H3423 them, and dwelt H3427 in their stead even unto this day: H3117
And the Horites H2752 in their mount H2042 Seir, H8165 unto Elparan, H364 which is by H5921 the wilderness. H4057
These are the sons H1121 of Seir H8165 the Horite, H2752 who inhabited H3427 the land; H776 Lotan, H3877 and Shobal, H7732 and Zibeon, H6649 and Anah, H6034 And Dishon, H1787 and Ezer, H687 and Dishan: H1789 these are the dukes H441 of the Horites, H2752 the children H1121 of Seir H8165 in the land H776 of Edom. H123 And the children H1121 of Lotan H3877 were Hori H2753 and Hemam; H1967 and Lotan's H3877 sister H269 was Timna. H8555 And the children H1121 of Shobal H7732 were these; Alvan, H5935 and Manahath, H4506 and Ebal, H5858 Shepho, H8195 and Onam. H208 And these are the children H1121 of Zibeon; H6649 both Ajah, H345 and Anah: H6034 this was that Anah H6034 that found H4672 the mules H3222 in the wilderness, H4057 as he fed H7462 the asses H2543 of Zibeon H6649 his father. H1 And the children H1121 of Anah H6034 were these; Dishon, H1787 and Aholibamah H173 the daughter H1323 of Anah. H6034 And these are the children H1121 of Dishon; H1787 Hemdan, H2533 and Eshban, H790 and Ithran, H3506 and Cheran. H3763 The children H1121 of Ezer H687 are these; Bilhan, H1092 and Zaavan, H2190 and Akan. H6130 The children H1121 of Dishan H1789 are these; Uz, H5780 and Aran. H765 These are the dukes H441 that came of the Horites; H2752 duke H441 Lotan, H3877 duke H441 Shobal, H7732 duke H441 Zibeon, H6649 duke H441 Anah, H6034 Duke H441 Dishon, H1787 duke H441 Ezer, H687 duke H441 Dishan: H1789 these are the dukes H441 that came of Hori, H2753 among their dukes H441 in the land H776 of Seir. H8165 And these are the kings H4428 that reigned H4427 in the land H776 of Edom, H123 before H6440 there reigned H4427 any king H4428 over the children H1121 of Israel. H3478 And Bela H1106 the son H1121 of Beor H1160 reigned H4427 in Edom: H123 and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Dinhabah. H1838 And Bela H1106 died, H4191 and Jobab H3103 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 of Bozrah H1224 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Jobab H3103 died, H4191 and Husham H2367 of the land H776 of Temani H8489 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Husham H2367 died, H4191 and Hadad H1908 the son H1121 of Bedad, H911 who smote H5221 Midian H4080 in the field H7704 of Moab, H4124 reigned H4427 in his stead: and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Avith. H5762 And Hadad H1908 died, H4191 and Samlah H8072 of Masrekah H4957 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Samlah H8072 died, H4191 and Saul H7586 of Rehoboth H7344 by the river H5104 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Saul H7586 died, H4191 and Baalhanan H1177 the son H1121 of Achbor H5907 reigned H4427 in his stead. And Baalhanan H1177 the son H1121 of Achbor H5907 died, H4191 and Hadar H1924 reigned H4427 in his stead: and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Pau; H6464 and his wife's H802 name H8034 was Mehetabel, H4105 the daughter H1323 of Matred, H4308 the daughter H1323 of Mezahab. H4314 And these are the names H8034 of the dukes H441 that came of Esau, H6215 according to their families, H4940 after their places, H4725 by their names; H8034 duke H441 Timnah, H8555 duke H441 Alvah, H5933 duke H441 Jetheth, H3509 Duke H441 Aholibamah, H173 duke H441 Elah, H425 duke H441 Pinon, H6373 Duke H441 Kenaz, H7073 duke H441 Teman, H8487 duke H441 Mibzar, H4014 Duke H441 Magdiel, H4025 duke H441 Iram: H5902 these be the dukes H441 of Edom, H123 according to their habitations H4186 in the land H776 of their possession: H272 he is Esau H6215 the father H1 of the Edomites. H123
And Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 saying, H559 Let me pass H5674 through thy land: H776 we will not turn H5186 into the fields, H7704 or into the vineyards; H3754 we will not drink H8354 of the waters H4325 of the well: H875 but we will go along H3212 by the king's H4428 high way, H1870 until we be past H5674 thy borders. H1366 And Sihon H5511 would not suffer H5414 Israel H3478 to pass H5674 through his border: H1366 but Sihon H5511 gathered H622 all his people H5971 together, H622 and went out H3318 against H7125 Israel H3478 into the wilderness: H4057 and he came H935 to Jahaz, H3096 and fought H3898 against Israel. H3478 And Israel H3478 smote H5221 him with the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 and possessed H3423 his land H776 from Arnon H769 unto Jabbok, H2999 even unto the children H1121 of Ammon: H5983 for the border H1366 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 was strong. H5794 And Israel H3478 took H3947 all these cities: H5892 and Israel H3478 dwelt H3427 in all the cities H5892 of the Amorites, H567 in Heshbon, H2809 and in all the villages H1323 thereof. For Heshbon H2809 was the city H5892 of Sihon H5511 the king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 who had fought H3898 against the former H7223 king H4428 of Moab, H4124 and taken H3947 all his land H776 out of his hand, H3027 even unto Arnon. H769 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs H4911 say, H559 Come H935 into Heshbon, H2809 let the city H5892 of Sihon H5511 be built H1129 and prepared: H3559 For there is a fire H784 gone out H3318 of Heshbon, H2809 a flame H3852 from the city H7151 of Sihon: H5511 it hath consumed H398 Ar H6144 of Moab, H4124 and the lords of the high places H1181 of Arnon. H769 Woe H188 to thee, Moab! H4124 thou art undone, H6 O people H5971 of Chemosh: H3645 he hath given H5414 his sons H1121 that escaped, H6412 and his daughters, H1323 into captivity H7622 unto Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites. H567 We have shot H3384 at them; Heshbon H2809 is perished H6 even unto Dibon, H1769 and we have laid them waste H8074 even unto Nophah, H5302 which reacheth unto Medeba. H4311 Thus Israel H3478 dwelt H3427 in the land H776 of the Amorites. H567 And Moses H4872 sent H7971 to spy out H7270 Jaazer, H3270 and they took H3920 the villages H1323 thereof, and drove out H3423 H3423 the Amorites H567 that were there. And they turned H6437 and went up H5927 by the way H1870 of Bashan: H1316 and Og H5747 the king H4428 of Bashan H1316 went out H3318 against H7125 them, he, and all his people, H5971 to the battle H4421 at Edrei. H154 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Fear H3372 him not: for I have delivered H5414 him into thy hand, H3027 and all his people, H5971 and his land; H776 and thou shalt do H6213 to him as thou didst H6213 unto Sihon H5511 king H4428 of the Amorites, H567 which dwelt H3427 at Heshbon. H2809 So they smote H5221 him, and his sons, H1121 and all his people, H5971 until there was none H1115 left H7604 him alive: H8300 and they possessed H3423 his land. H776
And the sons H1121 of Seir; H8165 Lotan, H3877 and Shobal, H7732 and Zibeon, H6649 and Anah, H6034 and Dishon, H1787 and Ezer, H687 and Dishan. H1789 And the sons H1121 of Lotan; H3877 Hori, H2753 and Homam: H1950 and Timna H8555 was Lotan's H3877 sister. H269 The sons H1121 of Shobal; H7732 Alian, H5935 and Manahath, H4506 and Ebal, H5858 Shephi, H8195 and Onam. H208 And the sons H1121 of Zibeon; H6649 Aiah, H345 and Anah. H6034 The sons H1121 of Anah; H6034 Dishon. H1787 And the sons H1121 of Dishon; H1787 Amram, H2566 and Eshban, H790 and Ithran, H3506 and Cheran. H3763 The sons H1121 of Ezer; H687 Bilhan, H1092 and Zavan, H2190 and Jakan. H3292 The sons H1121 of Dishan; H1789 Uz, H5780 and Aran. H765 Now these are the kings H4428 that reigned H4427 in the land H776 of Edom H123 before H6440 any king H4428 reigned H4427 over the children H1121 of Israel; H3478 Bela H1106 the son H1121 of Beor: H1160 and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Dinhabah. H1838 And when Bela H1106 was dead, H4191 Jobab H3103 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 of Bozrah H1224 reigned H4427 in his stead. And when Jobab H3103 was dead, H4191 Husham H2367 of the land H776 of the Temanites H8489 reigned H4427 in his stead. And when Husham H2367 was dead, H4191 Hadad H1908 the son H1121 of Bedad, H911 which smote H5221 Midian H4080 in the field H7704 of Moab, H4124 reigned H4427 in his stead: and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Avith. H5762 And when Hadad H1908 was dead, H4191 Samlah H8072 of Masrekah H4957 reigned H4427 in his stead. And when Samlah H8072 was dead, H4191 Shaul H7586 of Rehoboth H7344 by the river H5104 reigned H4427 in his stead. And when Shaul H7586 was dead, H4191 Baalhanan H1177 the son H1121 of Achbor H5907 reigned H4427 in his stead. And when Baalhanan H1177 was dead, H4191 Hadad H1908 reigned H4427 in his stead: and the name H8034 of his city H5892 was Pai; H6464 and his wife's H802 name H8034 was Mehetabel, H4105 the daughter H1323 of Matred, H4308 the daughter H1323 of Mezahab. H4314 Hadad H1908 died H4191 also. And the dukes H441 of Edom H123 were; duke H441 Timnah, H8555 duke H441 Aliah, H5933 duke H441 Jetheth, H3509 Duke H441 Aholibamah, H173 duke H441 Elah, H425 duke H441 Pinon, H6373 Duke H441 Kenaz, H7073 duke H441 Teman, H8487 duke H441 Mibzar, H4014 Duke H441 Magdiel, H4025 duke H441 Iram. H5902 These are the dukes H441 of Edom. H123
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Deuteronomy 2
Commentary on Deuteronomy 2 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 2
De 2:1-37. The Story Is Continued.
1. Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea—After their unsuccessful attack upon the Canaanites, the Israelites broke up their encampment at Kadesh, and journeying southward over the west desert of Tih as well as through the great valley of the Ghor and Arabah, they extended their removals as far as the gulf of Akaba.
we compassed mount Seir many days—In these few words Moses comprised the whole of that wandering nomadic life through which they passed during thirty-eight years, shifting from place to place, and regulating their stations by the prospect of pasturage and water. Within the interval they went northward a second time to Kadesh, but being refused a passage through Edom and opposed by the Canaanites and Amalekites, they again had no alternative but to traverse once more the great Arabah southwards to the Red Sea, where turning to the left and crossing the long, lofty mountain chain to the eastward of Ezion-geber (Nu 21:4, 5), they issued into the great and elevated plains, which are still traversed by the Syrian pilgrims in their way to Mecca. They appear to have followed northward nearly the same route, which is now taken by the Syrian hadji, along the western skirts of this great desert, near the mountains of Edom [Robinson]. It was on entering these plains they received the command, "Ye have compassed this mountain (this hilly tract, now Jebel Shera) long enough, turn ye northward" [De 2:3].
4. the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir … shall be afraid of you—The same people who had haughtily repelled the approach of the Israelites from the western frontier were alarmed now that they had come round upon the weak side of their country.
5-7. Meddle not with them—that is, "which dwell in Seir" (De 2:4)—for there was another branch of Esau's posterity, namely, the Amalekites, who were to be fought against and destroyed (Ge 36:12; Ex 17:14; De 25:17). But the people of Edom were not to be injured, either in their persons or property. And although the approach of so vast a nomadic horde as the Israelites naturally created apprehension, they were to take no advantage of the prevailing terror to compel the Edomites to accept whatever terms they imposed. They were merely to pass "through" or along their border, and to buy meat and water of them for money (De 2:6). The people, kinder than their king, did sell them bread, meat, fruits, and water in their passage along their border (De 2:29), in the same manner as the Syrian caravan of Mecca is now supplied by the people of the same mountains, who meet the pilgrims as at a fair or market on the hadji route [Robinson]. Although the Israelites still enjoyed a daily supply of the manna, there was no prohibition against their eating other food when opportunity afforded. Only they were not to cherish an inordinate desire for it. Water is a scarce commodity and is often paid for by travellers in those parts. It was the more incumbent on the Israelites to do so, as, by the blessing of God, they possessed plenty of means to purchase, and the long-continued experience of the extraordinary goodness of God to them, should inspire such confidence in Him as would suppress the smallest thought of resorting to fraud or violence in supplying their wants.
8-18. we passed … through the way of the plain—the Arabah or great valley, from Elath ("trees") (the Ailah of the Greeks and Romans). The site of it is marked by extensive mounds of rubbish.
Ezion-geber—now Akaba, both were within the territory of Edom; and after making a circuit of its southeastern boundary, the Israelites reached the border of Moab on the southeast of the Salt Sea. They had been forbidden by divine command to molest the Moabites in any way; and this special honor was conferred on that people not on their own account, for they were very wicked, but in virtue of their descent from Lot. (See on De 23:3). Their territory comprised the fine country on the south, and partly on the north of the Arnon. They had won it by their arms from the original inhabitants, the Emims, a race, terrible, as their name imports, for physical power and stature (Ge 14:5), in like manner as the Edomites had obtained their settlement by the overthrow of the original occupiers of Seir, the Horims (Ge 14:6), who were troglodytes, or dwellers in caves. Moses alluded to these circumstances to encourage his countrymen to believe that God would much more enable them to expel the wicked and accursed Canaanites. At that time, however, the Moabites, having lost the greater part of their possessions through the usurpations of Sihon, were reduced to the small but fertile region between the Zered and the Arnon.
13. Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered—The southern border of Moab, Zered ("woody"), now Wady Ahsy, separates the modern district of Kerak from Jebal, and, indeed, forms a natural division of the country between the north and south. Ar, called in later times Rabbah, was the capital of Moab and situated twenty-five miles south of the Arnon on the banks of a small but shady stream, the Beni Hamed. It is here mentioned as representative of the country dependent on it, a rich and well-cultivated country, as appears from the numerous ruins of cities, as well as from the traces of tillage still visible on the fields.
16. all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people—The outbreak at Kadesh on the false report of the spies had been the occasion of the fatal decree by which God doomed the whole grown-up population to die in the wilderness [Nu 14:29]; but that outbreak only filled up the measure of their iniquities. For that generation, though not universally abandoned to heathenish and idolatrous practices, yet had all along displayed a fearful amount of ungodliness in the desert, which this history only hints at obscurely, but which is expressly asserted elsewhere (Eze 20:25, 26; Am 5:25, 27; Ac 7:42, 43).
19-37. when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them—The Ammonites, being kindred to the Moabites, were, from regard to the memory of their common ancestor, to remain undisturbed by the Israelites. The territory of this people had been directly north from that of Moab. It extended as far as the Jabbok, having been taken by them from a number of small Canaanitish tribes, namely, the Zamzummins, a bullying, presumptuous band of giants, as their name indicates; and the Avims, the aborigines of the district extending from Hazerim or Hazeroth (El Hudhera) even unto Azzah (Gaza), but of which they had been dispossessed by the Caphtorim (Philistines), who came out of Caphtor (Lower Egypt) and settled in the western coast of Palestine. The limits of the Ammonites were now compressed; but they still possessed the mountainous region beyond the Jabbok (Jos 11:2). What a strange insight does this parenthesis of four verses give into the early history of Palestine! How many successive wars of conquest had swept over its early state—what changes of dynasty among the Canaanitish tribes had taken place long prior to the transactions recorded in this history!
24-36. Rise ye up … and pass over the river Arnon—At its mouth, this stream is eighty-two feet wide and four deep. It flows in a channel banked by perpendicular cliffs of sandstone. At the date of the Israelitish migration to the east of the Jordan, the whole of the fine country lying between the Arnon and the Jabbok including the mountainous tract of Gilead, had been seized by the Amorites, who, being one of the nations doomed to destruction (see De 7:2; 20:16), were utterly exterminated. Their country fell by right of conquest into the hands of the Israelites. Moses, however, considering this doom as referring solely to the Amorite possessions west of Jordan, sent a pacific message to Sihon, requesting permission to go through his territories, which lay on the east of that river. It is always customary to send messengers before to prepare the way; but the rejection of Moses' request by Sihon and his opposition to the advance of the Israelites (Nu 21:23; Jud 11:26) drew down on himself and his Amorite subjects the predicted doom on the first pitched battlefield with the Canaanites. It secured to Israel not only the possession of a fine and pastoral country, but, what was of more importance to them, a free access to the Jordan on the east.