Chapter 2

1 The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edomites, 9 nor with the Moabites, 17 nor with the Ammonites, 24 but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them.

Palestine in Biblical Times

1. We turned. They now went southward, toward the shore of the Red Sea.

Mount Seir. The hilly country of the Edomites, of which Mt. Seir itself was part (see 1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chron. 8:17).

3. Long enough. Thirty-nine years had passed since the Israelites’ departure from Egypt; they spent about 38 years in wandering.

Northward. That is, from Ezion-geber toward Moab and Canaan.

4. Your brethren. The descendants of Esau (Deut. 23:7; Amos 1:11; Obadiah 10, 12; Mal. 1:2).

Take ye good heed. The inhabitants of Edom would be nervous and apprehensive, and might as a result make a sudden attack upon Israel. On the other hand, their awareness of the fear in the hearts of the Edomites might lead Israel to take advantage of that fear and invade the country.

5. Unto Esau. See Joshua 24:4. God deals faithfully even with those outside the covenant relationship. God had promised certain temporal blessings to the descendants of Esau, and would fulfill His word.

6. Buy meat. Literally, “buy food” (see Gen. 41:35, 36, 48; 42:7, 10; 44:1, 25; 47:24). The verb translated “to buy” is of buying grain (Gen. 47:14), whereas the noun from the same root means “corn” (Gen. 42:1, 2, 19, 26; 43:2; 44:2; 47:14; Amos 8:5).

Buy water. Water is a precious commodity in the desert wastes, and may easily become the cause of strife (see Gen. 26:17–22).

7. Thy walking. The care of God applies even to the details of the journey of life (Ps. 1:6).

Forty years. A round number. From the Passover in Egypt to the first Passover in Canaan, at Gilgal (Joshua 4:19; 5:10), was exactly 40 years (see p. 187).

8. Elath. Their direction from Seir had been southward to Ezion-geber on the Gulf of Aqaba and Elath, which probably lay close to Ezion-geber on the coast. Then skirting the territory of Edom as they turned and traveled northward, they reached the territory of Moab.

9. Given Ar. The descendants of Lot, like those of Ishmael and Esau, had their inheritance confirmed to them before the seed of Abraham occupied what had been assigned to them. Ar was apparently the chief city of that territory, and gave its name to the entire region (Num. 21:15, 28).

10. Emims. For mention of the people and their city, Shaveh Kiriathaim, see Gen. 14:5 and Joshua 13:19.

12. Horims. The ancient inhabitants of Mt. Seir (Gen. 14:6; 36:20), the Hurrians, whose history, language, and religion have but recently come to light (see p. 138).

13. The brook Zered. Compare Num. 21:12. The modern WaЖdi elРHesa, at the southeastern corner of the Dead Sea.

14. The men of war. An expression used to designate men 20 years of age and over (Num. 1:3).

Wasted out. Not one remained (Num. 26:64, 65).

The Lord sware. See Num. 14:28, 29.

18. Pass over. That is, to skirt the border, but without crossing it.

19. Children of Ammon. They were not to trespass upon the territory of the children of Ammon, but to pass through the territory of Sihon the king in Heshbon (see Num. 21:13, 24).

20. Zamzummins. See Gen. 14:5. Beyond the fact that these people were a race of giant stature, and were driven out of their country by the Ammonites, we have no information concerning them.

21. Destroyed them. The Ammonites were used by the Lord to discipline the people.

22. The Horims. See v. 12.

23. Avims. See Joshua 13:3, 4. The original inhabitants of southwest Palestine, dispossessed by the Philistines.

Caphtorims. See on Gen. 10:14; also Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7.

24. Rise ye up. See Num. 21:13. The command to cross the Arnon and invade the territory adjacent to the Jordan inhabited by the Amorites.

Sihon the Amorite. Sihon had taken this territory from the Moabites, who in turn withdrew to the south of the Arnon.

25. The dread. Compare the promise to Moses (Ex. 15:15, 16), and the experience of Joshua with the Amorites at Gibeon (Joshua 10:11).

26. Kedemoth. See Joshua 13:18; 21:37; 1 Chron. 6:79, where a city of that name is mentioned in the plain of Jordan.

27. High way. A royal highway maintained for the expeditious travel of officials and troops (Num. 20:17; 21:22). Traces of this ancient highway remain today, from the Gulf of Aqaba northward through Transjordan.

28. Thou shalt sell. The Israelites offered every inducement for the granting of a peaceful passage.

29. Pass over Jordan. An assurance to Sihon that they had no intention of settling in his land, since their inheritance lay beyond the Jordan.

30. Not let us pass by. He was suspicious of their sincerity and questioned the reasonableness of their request (see Num. 21:23).

Hardened his spirit. That is, allowed Sihon’s obstinacy to run its course.

Made his heart obstinate. The Hebrew verb thus translated means “to be strong,” “to be stout,” “to be firm.” It is elsewhere translated “strengthen” (Deut. 3:28; Ps. 27:14), “confirm” (Isa. 35:3), “fortify” (Nahum 2:1), “was stedfastly minded” (Ruth 1:18). The Lord would not interfere with the natural operation of Sihon’s heart and intents, but would confirm him in it (see on Ex. 4:21). One may use the God-given strength of mind and heart to continue in the wrong or to turn to the right. The Lord does not force a man to the one or to the other, but ever stands ready to cooperate by His Spirit with the man who chooses the good. The same word is translated in Joshua 1:6 as “be … of a good courage.”

34. Utterly destroyed. Literally, “placed under a ban,” “set apart.” Such an act might be performed only at God’s command. The same was done with respect to Jericho.

36. Aroer. An Amorite city on the right bank of the river Arnon, about 13 mi. from the Dead Sea (see Joshua 12:2; 13:16; 2 Kings 10:33). Its modern name is ФAraЖ Фir.

37. Jabbok. See Num. 21:24; Judges 11:22. According to the divine command the territory of the Ammonites was not invaded. Ambition must ever be in harmony with the will of God and not seek to go beyond the limits He has set. Then success in this life will be all blessing. But if one goes beyond God’s will to seek more than He permits, success in the venture may well prove to be Dead Sea fruit.

Ellen G. White comments

1-37PP 433-435

3-6PP 414

4, 5 PP 423

6, 7 PP 424

7     PP 406

9     PP 433

14, 15  PP 406

19   PP 433

24, 25  PP 434

27, 28, 30        PP 433

32-34PP 435