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Texts -- Deuteronomy 2:17-37 (NET)

Context
2:17 the Lord said to me, 2:18 “Today you are going to cross the border of Moab , that is, of Ar . 2:19 But when you come close to the Ammonites , do not harass or provoke them because I am not giving you any of the Ammonites ’ land as your possession ; I have already given it to Lot’s descendants as their possession . 2:20 (That also is considered to be a land of the Rephaites . The Rephaites lived there originally ; the Ammonites call them Zamzummites . 2:21 They are a people as powerful , numerous , and tall as the Anakites . But the Lord destroyed the Rephaites in advance of the Ammonites, so they dispossessed them and settled down in their place . 2:22 This is exactly what he did for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir when he destroyed the Horites before them so that they could dispossess them and settle in their area to this very day . 2:23 As for the Avvites who lived in settlements as far west as Gaza , Caphtorites who came from Crete destroyed them and settled down in their place .) 2:24 Get up , make your way across Wadi Arnon . Look ! I have already delivered over to you Sihon the Amorite , king of Heshbon , and his land . Go ahead ! Take it! Engage him in war ! 2:25 This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach .”
Defeat of Sihon, King of Heshbon
2:26 Then I sent messengers from the Kedemoth Desert to King Sihon of Heshbon with an offer of peace : 2:27 “Let me pass through your land ; I will keep strictly to the roadway . I will not turn aside to the right or the left . 2:28 Sell me food for cash so that I can eat and sell me water to drink . Just allow me to go through on foot , 2:29 just as the descendants of Esau who live at Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land the Lord our God is giving us.” 2:30 But King Sihon of Heshbon was unwilling to allow us to pass near him because the Lord our God had made him obstinate and stubborn so that he might deliver him over to you this very day . 2:31 The Lord said to me, “Look ! I have already begun to give over Sihon and his land to you. Start right now to take his land as your possession .” 2:32 When Sihon and all his troops emerged to encounter us in battle at Jahaz , 2:33 the Lord our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down , along with his sons and everyone else . 2:34 At that time we seized all his cities and put every one of them under divine judgment , including even the women and children ; we left no survivors . 2:35 We kept only the livestock and plunder from the cities for ourselves. 2:36 From Aroer , which is at the edge of Wadi Arnon (it is the city in the wadi ), all the way to Gilead there was not a town able to resist us– the Lord our God gave them all to us. 2:37 However , you did not approach the land of the Ammonites , the Wadi Jabbok , the cities of the hill country , or any place else forbidden by the Lord our God .

Pericope

NET

Bible Dictionary

  • Sihon

    [ebd] striking down. The whole country on the east of Jordan, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, was possessed by the Amorites, whose king, Sihon, refused to permit the Israelites to pass through his territory, and put his army in arra...
    [nave] SIHON, king of the Amorites. His seat of government at Heshbon, Num. 21:26. The proverbial chant celebrating the victory of Sihon over the Moabites, Num. 21:26-30. Conquest of his kingdom by the Israelites, Num. 21:21-25; D...

  • Exodus

    [ebd] the great deliverance wrought for the children of Isreal when they were brought out of the land of Egypt with "a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm" (Ex 12:51; Deut. 26:8; Ps 114; 136), about B.C. 1490, and four hundre...

  • Amorites

    [isbe] AMORITES - am'-o-rits; Amorites ('emori, always in the singular like the Babylonian Amurru from which it is taken; Amorraioi): 1. Varying Use of the Name Explained 2. The Amorite Kingdom 3. Sihon's Conquest 4. Disappearance ...
    [nave] AMORITES Descendants of Canaan, Gen. 10:15, 16; 1 Chr. 1:13, 14. Were giants, Amos 2:9. Struck by Chedorlaomer and rescued by Abraham, Gen. 14. Territory of, Gen. 14:7; Num. 13:29; 21:13; Deut. 1:4, 7, 19; 3:8, 9; Josh. 5...

  • Geber

    [ebd] a valiant man, (1 Kings 4:19), one of Solomon's purveyors, having jurisdiction over a part of Gilead, comprising all the kingdom of Sihon and part of the kingdom of Og (Deut. 2; 31).

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Horites

    [ebd] cave-men, a race of Troglodytes who dwelt in the limestone caves which abounded in Edom. Their ancestor was "Seir," who probably gave his name to the district where he lived. They were a branch of the Hivites (Gen. 14:6; 36:...

  • Arnon

    [isbe] ARNON - ar'-non ('arnon; Arnon): Is first mentioned in Nu 21:24 as the border between Moab and the Amorites. "The valleys of Arnon" in the next verse undoubtedly indicate the numerous wadies contributary to the main stream. ...
    [smith] (roaring), the river or torrent which formed the boundary between Moab and the Amorites, on the north of Moab, (Numbers 21:13,14,24,26; Judges 11:22) and afterwards between Moab and Israel (Reuben). (2:24,36; 3:8,12,16; 4:48;...
    [nave] ARNON A river emptying into the Dead Sea from the east. Boundary between Moabites and Amorites, Num. 21:13, 14, 26; 22:36; Deut. 2:24, 36; 3:8, 16; Josh. 12:1. Fords of, Isa. 16:2. Miracles at, Num. 21:14.

  • Kedemoth

    [isbe] KEDEMOTH - ked'-e-moth, ke-de'-moth (qedhemoth, "eastern parts"): From the wilderness to which this town gave its name, Moses sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites in Heshbon (Dt 2:26). It was given by Moses to the ...
    [smith] (beginnings), one of the towns in the district east of the Dead Sea allotted to the tribe of Reuben, (Joshua 13:18) given by the Merarite Levites. (Joshua 21:37; 1 Chronicles 6:79) It possibly conferred its name on the "wi...
    [nave] KEDEMOTH A city of Moab, allotted to Reuben and the Merarite Levites, Josh. 13:18; 1 Chr. 6:79. Encircled by a wilderness of same name, Deut. 2:26.

  • Hazerim

    [ebd] villages, probably the name of the temporary villages in which the nomad Avites resided (Deut. 2:23).
    [isbe] HAZERIM - ha-ze'-rim, haz'-er-im (chatserim): Is rendered in the King James Version (Dt 2:23) as the name of a place in the Southwest of Palestine, in which dwelt the Avvim, ancient inhabitants of the land. The word means "v...
    [smith] (villages). The Avim, or more accurately the Avvim, are said to have lived "in the villages (Authorized Version ?Hazerim?) as far as Gaza," (2:23) before their expulsion by the Caphtorim.
    [nave] HAZERIM, a district in the S. of Canaan, Deut. 2:23.

  • GOLIATH

    [ebd] great. (1.) A famous giant of Gath, who for forty days openly defied the armies of Israel, but was at length slain by David with a stone from a sling (1 Sam. 17:4). He was probably descended from the Rephaim who found refuge...
    [smith] (splendor), a famous giant of Gath, who "morning and evening for forty days" defied the armies of Israel. (1 Samuel 17:1) ... (B.C. 1063.) He was possibly descended from the old Rephaim [GIANTS], of whom a scattered remnan...

  • DEUTERONOMY

    [isbe] DEUTERONOMY - du-ter-on'-o-mi: 1. Name 2. What Deuteronomy Is 3. Analysis 4. Ruling Ideas 5. Unity 6. Authorship 7. Deuteronomy Spoken Twice 8. Deuteronomy's Influence in Israel's History 9. The Critical Theory LITERATURE 1....

  • Zamzummims

    [ebd] a race of giants; "a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims" (Deut. 2:20, 21). They were overcome by the Ammonites, "who called them Zamzummims." They belonged to the Rephaim, and inhabited the country afterwards o...
    [nave] ZAMZUMMIMS, called also Zuzims. A race of giants, Gen. 14:5; Deut. 2:20, 21.

  • Ammonite

    [ebd] the usual name of the descendants of Ammon, the son of Lot (Gen. 19:38). From the very beginning (Deut. 2:16-20) of their history till they are lost sight of (Judg. 5:2), this tribe is closely associated with the Moabites (J...

  • Philistines

    [isbe] PHILISTINES - fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi): I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES 1. Race and Origin 2. Religion 3. Individual Philistines Mentioned 4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision 5. H...
    [smith] (immigrants), The origin of the Philistines is nowhere expressly stated in the Bible; but as the prophets describe them as "the Philistines-from Caphtor," (Amos 9:7) and "the remnant of the maritime district of Caphtor" (Jere...
    [nave] PHILISTINES Descendants of Mizraim, Gen. 10:14; 1 Chr. 1:12; Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7. Called Cherethites, 1 Sam. 30:14-16; Ezek. 25:16; Zeph. 2:5; Casluhim, Gen. 10:14; 1 Chr. 1:12; Caphtorim, Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7. Territory of...

  • Aroer

    [isbe] AROER - a-ro'-er (`aro'er; Aroer): (1) A city of the Amorites which stood on the northern edge of the Arnon (Dt 2:36, etc.). Taken by Israel, it shared the vicissitudes of the country north of the river, and when last named ...
    [smith] (ruins). A city on the torrent Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon king of the Amorites and afterwards of the tribe of Reuben, (2:36; 3:12; 4:48; Joshua 12:2; 13:9,16; Judges 11:26; 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chr...
    [nave] AROER 1. A city of the Amorites in the valley of the river Arnon, Deut. 4:48. Conquered by Israelites, Deut. 2:36; 3:12; Judg. 11:26. Taken by Hazael, 2 Kin. 10:33. 2. A city built, or, probably more correctly, rebuilt, b...

  • Jahaz

    [ebd] trodden down (called also Jahaza, Josh. 13:18; Jahazah, 21:36; Jahzah, 1 Chr. 6:78), a town where Sihon was defeated, in the borders of Moab and in the land of the Ammonites beyond Jordan, and north of the river Arnon (Num. ...
    [isbe] JAHAZ - ja'-haz (yahats, Isa 16:4; Jer 48:34, yahatsah, or yahtsah, Nu 21:23; Dt 2:32; Josh 13:18; 21:36, the King James Version "Jahazah"; Jdg 11:20; Jer 48:21; 1 Ch 6:78, "Jahzah"): This is the place where in a great battl...
    [nave] JAHAZ, called also Jahaza, Jahazah, and Jahzah. A Levitical city in Reuben, taken from the Moabites, Josh. 13:18; 21:36; Isa. 15:4; Jer. 48:21. Sihon defeated at, Num. 21:23; Deut. 2:32; Judg. 11:20.

  • Ar

    [nave] AR, a city of Moab, Num. 21:15; Deut. 2:9, 18, 24, 29. Destruction of, Num. 21:26-30; Isa. 15:1.

  • GIANTS

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Gen. 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monste...
    [isbe] GIANTS - ji'-ants The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew words nephilim (Gen 6:4; Nu 13:33); repha'im (Dt 2:11,20; 3:11,13; Josh 12:4, etc.); rapha' (1 Ch 20:4,6,8), or raphah (2 Sam 21:1...

  • RIVER

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. 'aphik, properly the channel or ravine that holds water (2 Sam. 22:16), translated "brook," "river," "stream," but not necessarily a perennial stream (Ezek. 6:3; 31:12; 32:6; 34:13). (2.) Heb. nahal, in winter a "t...
    [isbe] RIVER - riv'-er: (1) The usual word is nahar (Aramaic nehar (Ezr 4:10, etc.)), used of the rivers of Eden (Gen 2:10-14), often of the Euphrates (Gen 15:18, etc.), of Abana and Pharpar (2 Ki 5:12), the river of Gozan (2 Ki 17...

  • Ammonites

    [nave] AMMONITES Descendants of Ben-ammi, one of the sons of Lot, Gen. 19:38. Character of, Judg. 10:6; 2 Kin. 23:13; 2 Chr. 20:25; Jer. 27:3, 9; Ezek. 25:3, 6; Amos 1:13; Zeph. 2:10. Territory of, Num. 21:24; Deut. 2:19; Josh. 1...
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Questions

  • Their origin is nowhere expressly stated in the Bible; but since the prophets describe them as "the Philistines from Caphtor" (Amos 9:7), and "the remnant of the maritime district of Caphtor" (Jer. 47:4), it is probable that ...
  • The Ammonites were so called (Deu. 2:19). They were a cruel, covetous, proud, reproachful, vindictive, superstitious and idolatrous nation (see Amos 1:13; Zep. 2:10; Eze. 25:3,6; Judg. 10:6; Jer. 27:3). Their chief city was R...

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The list of stopping places Moses recorded here differs from the one in 33:41-49. Apparently neither list is complete but both are selective. Archaeologists have not yet identified most of the sites Moses mentioned here. The ...
  • This account fits chronologically after 21:13. It records two great victories that God gave His people over two of the mighty Amorite kings."The term Amorite has various meanings in the OT: Canaanites generally (e.g., Gen. 15...
  • 22:1-20 Moab had not attacked Israel as the people of God had moved north along Moab's eastern border. In fact the Moabites sold the Israelites bread and water (Deut. 2:29). The Moabites probably counted on Sihon, who had for...
  • Let me share with you a couple of quotations that point out the importance of this book."Deuteronomy is one of the greatest books of the Old Testament. Its significance on the domestic and personal religion of all ages has no...
  • I. Introduction: the covenant setting 1:1-5II. Moses' first major address: a review of God's faithfulness 1:6-4:40A. God's past dealings with Israel 1:6-3:291. God's guidance from Sinai to Kadesh 1:6-462. The march from Kades...
  • This brief section places the events that follow in their geographical and chronological setting. It introduces the occasion for the covenant, the parties involved, and other information necessary to identify the document and...
  • ". . . an explicit literarystructure to the book is expressed in the sermons or speeches of Moses; a substructureis discernible in the covenantal character of the book; and a theologicalstructure is revealed in its theme of t...
  • Following Israel's second departure from Kadesh (Num. 20) the nation set out for "the wilderness"(v. 1). This was probably the wilderness of Moab to the east of the Dead Sea. They travelled by "the way to the Red Sea"(v. 1). ...
  • This narrative closely parallels the one in Numbers 21:21-32. In this account Moses emphasized for the people God's faithfulness to them. Note especially verses 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, and 36."All the nations under heaven' (v. 25...
  • "The passage at hand is without comparison as a discourse on the doctrine of God."56Moses' three rhetorical questions (vv. 32-34) clearly point out the uniqueness of Yahweh."In addition to His self-disclosure in event, in his...
  • These verses are similar to 1:4-5. They summarize and introduce with historical references what follows. In a larger sense these verses summarize all of chapters 1-3. This is narration about Moses, not a discourse by Moses."T...
  • "From a literary standpoint Deut 9:1-10:11 is a travel narrative much like Deut 1:6-3:29, with which, in fact, it shares much in common. For example, both are introduced (1:1-5; 9:1-6) and concluded (3:29; 10:11) by a setting...
  • In the preceding chapter Moses explained the proper types of marital union. In this chapter he set forth the proper types of union of individuals with the covenant community.This section of verses (vv. 1-8) deals with people ...
  • The emphasis in this section is on God's faithfulness in bringing Israel to its present position (cf. 1:6-4:40). To do this God had provided for the people in the wilderness and had given them victory over some of their enemi...
  • As preparation for entering Canaan, Joshua sent spies to reconnoiter the area Israel would enter."Although Joshua had received a promise from the Lord of His almighty help in the conquest of Canaan, he still thought it necess...
  • When the people had dealt with the sin of Achan as God had commanded, Israel was ready to engage the enemy again.8:1-2 In view of Israel's defeat God's encouraging words were necessary to strengthen Joshua's resolve (cf. 1:9)...
  • The translation "again did"in verse 1 implies that the Philistine oppression followed the Ammonite oppression chronologically. However the Hebrew idiom these words translate does not necessarily mean that. It can also mean, a...
  • This oracle clarifies that God's purposes for Egypt, another nation the Judeans wanted to trust for help during this time of Assyrian expansion, would involve judgment followed by blessing. The passage consists of three palis...
  • It is not possible to date this oracle exactly, but Jeremiah evidently gave it sometime during Josiah's reign (640-609 B.C.; v. 1).47:1 Jeremiah received a message from the Lord concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh conqu...
  • 9:7 Rhetorically Yahweh asked if Israel was not just like other nations. It was in the sense that it was only one nation among many in the world that lived under His sovereign authority. The Ethiopians (Cushites) were a remot...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Joshua 1:1-11The closest connection exists between Deuteronomy and Joshua. The narrative may be read as running on without a break. It turns away from the lonely grave up on the mountain to the bustling camp and the new leade...
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