Deuteronomy 2

The Wilderness Years

1 "Then we turned and a journeyed into the wilderness of the Way of the Red Sea, b as the LORD spoke to me, and we 1 skirted Mount Seir for many days. 2 "And the LORD spoke to me, saying: 3 'You have skirted this mountain c long enough; turn northward. 4 'And command the people, saying, d "You are about to pass through the territory of e your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. 5 "Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, f because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. 6 "You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink. 7 "For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your 2 trudging through this great wilderness. g These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing." '

8 "And when we passed beyond our brethren, the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir, away from the road of the plain, away from h Elath and Ezion Geber, we i turned and passed by way of the Wilderness of Moab. 9 "Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given j Ar to k the descendants of Lot as a possession.' " 10 l (The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as m the Anakim. 11 They were also regarded as 3 giants, like the Anakim, but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 n The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their 4 place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave them.) 13 " 'Now rise and cross over o the 5 Valley of the Zered.' So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered. 14 "And the time we took to come p from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, q until all the generation of the men of war 6 was consumed from the midst of the camp, r just as the LORD had sworn to them. 15 "For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they 7 were consumed.

16 "So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, 17 "that the LORD spoke to me, saying: 18 'This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab. 19 'And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to s the descendants of Lot as a possession.' " 20 (That was also regarded as a land of 8 giants; giants formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them t Zamzummim, 21 u a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim. But the LORD destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, 22 just as He had done for the descendants of Esau, v who dwelt in Seir, when He destroyed w the Horites from before them. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, even to this day. 23 And x the Avim, who dwelt in villages as far as Gaza - y the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their place.) 24 " 'Rise, take your journey, and z cross over the River Arnon. Look, I have given into your hand a Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin 9 to possess it, and engage him in battle. 25 b 'This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations 10 under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall c tremble and be in anguish because of you.'

The Defeat of King Sihon

26 "And I d sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon, e with words of peace, saying, 27 f 'Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the road, and I will turn neither to the right nor to the left. 28 'You shall sell me food for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money, that I may drink; g only let me pass through on foot, 29 h 'just as the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD our God is giving us.' 30 i "But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for j the LORD your God k hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day. 31 "And the LORD said to me, 'See, I have begun to l give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.' 32 m "Then Sihon and all his people came out against us to fight at Jahaz. 33 "And n the LORD our God delivered him 11 over to us; so o we defeated him, his sons, and all his people. 34 "We took all his cities at that time, and we p utterly destroyed the men, women, and little ones of every city; we left none remaining. 35 "We took only the livestock as plunder for ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we took. 36 q "From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and from r the city that is in the ravine, as far as Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us; s the LORD our God delivered all to us. 37 "Only you did not go near the land of the people of Ammon - anywhere along the River t Jabbok, or to the cities of the mountains, or u wherever the LORD our God had forbidden us.

  1. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:40
    'But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea.'
  2. Cross References
    Numbers 14:25
    "Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valley; tomorrow turn and move out into the wilderness by the Way of the Red Sea."
  3. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:7
    "For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing."'
    Deuteronomy 2:14
    And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the LORD had sworn to them.
  4. Cross References
    Numbers 20:14 - 21
    Now Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom. "Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardship that has befallen us.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 23:7
    You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were an alien in his land.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 36:8
    So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.
    Joshua 24:4
    To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
  7. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 8:2 - 4
    And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
    Matthew 6:8
    Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
    Matthew 6:32
    For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
  8. Cross References
    Judges 11:18
    And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
    1 Kings 9:26
    King Solomon also built a fleet of ships at Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.
  9. Cross References
    Numbers 21:4
    Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 21:15
    And the slope of the brooks That reaches to the dwelling of Ar, And lies on the border of Moab.
    Numbers 21:28
    For fire went out from Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It consumed Ar of Moab, The lords of the heights of the Arnon.
    Deuteronomy 2:18
    This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab.
    Deuteronomy 2:29
    'just as the descendants of Esau who dwell in Seir and the Moabites who dwell in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD our God is giving us.'
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 19:36 - 38
    Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 14:5
    In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim.
  13. Cross References
    Numbers 13:22
    And they went up through the South and came to Hebron; Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
    Numbers 13:33
    "There we saw the giants ( the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
    Deuteronomy 9:2
    "a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you heard it said, 'Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?'
  14. Cross References
    Genesis 14:6
    And the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
    Genesis 36:20
    These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah.
    Deuteronomy 2:22
    Just as He had done for the descendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, even to this day.
  15. Cross References
    Numbers 21:12
    From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered.
  16. Cross References
    Numbers 13:26
    Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
  17. Cross References
    Numbers 14:33
    And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness.
    Numbers 26:64
    But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai.
    Deuteronomy 1:34
    And the LORD heard the sound of your words, and was angry, and took an oath, saying.
    Deuteronomy 1:35
    Surely not one of these men of this evil generation shall see that good land of which I swore to give to your fathers.
  18. Cross References
    Numbers 14:35
    'I the LORD have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.'"
    Ezekiel 20:15
    So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, 'flowing with milk and honey,' the glory of all lands.
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 19:38
    And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name BenAmmi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.
    Numbers 21:24
    Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 14:5
    In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim.
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:10
    (The Emim had dwelt there in times past, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim.
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 36:8
    So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom.
    Deuteronomy 2:5
    Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 14:6
    And the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness.
    Genesis 36:20 - 30
    These were the sons of Seir the Horite who inhabited the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah.
  24. Cross References
    Joshua 13:3
    From Sihor, which is east of Egypt, as far as the border of Ekron northward ( which is counted as Canaanite); the five lords of the Philistines - the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites.
  25. Cross References
    Genesis 10:14
    Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim).
    1 Chronicles 1:12
    Pathrusim, Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and the Caphtorim).
    Jeremiah 47:4
    Because of the day that comes to plunder all the Philistines, To cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper who remains; For the LORD shall plunder the Philistines, The remnant of the country of Caphtor.
    Amos 9:7
    Are you not like the people of Ethiopia to Me, O children of Israel?" says the LORD. "Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, The Philistines from Caphtor, And the Syrians from Kir?
  26. Cross References
    Numbers 21:13
    From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
    Numbers 21:14
    Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: "Waheb in Suphah, The brooks of the Arnon.
    Judges 11:18
    And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
  27. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:4
    After he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.
  28. Cross References
    Exodus 23:27
    I will send My fear before you, I will cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
    Deuteronomy 11:25
    No man shall be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the land where you tread, just as He has said to you.
    Joshua 2:9
    And said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
  29. Cross References
    Exodus 15:14 - 16
    The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
  30. Cross References
    Numbers 21:21 - 32
    Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying.
    Deuteronomy 1:4
    After he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei.
    Judges 11:19 - 21
    'Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, "Please let us pass through your land into our place."
  31. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 20:10
    When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it.
  32. Cross References
    Numbers 21:21
    Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying.
    Numbers 21:22
    "Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory."
    Judges 11:19
    'Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, "Please let us pass through your land into our place."
  33. Cross References
    Numbers 20:19
    So the children of Israel said to him, "We will go by the Highway, and if I or my livestock drink any of your water, then I will pay for it; let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.
  34. Cross References
    Numbers 20:18
    Then Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.
    Deuteronomy 23:3
    An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever.
    Deuteronomy 23:4
    Because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
    Judges 11:17
    Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, "Please let me pass through your land." But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained in Kadesh.
  35. Cross References
    Numbers 21:23
    But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.
  36. Cross References
    Joshua 11:20
    For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that He might utterly destroy them, and that they might receive no mercy, but that He might destroy them, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
  37. Cross References
    Exodus 4:21
    And the LORD said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.
  38. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 1:3
    Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them.
    Deuteronomy 1:8
    'See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers - to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - to give to them and their descendants after them.'
  39. Cross References
    Numbers 21:23
    But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.
  40. Cross References
    Exodus 23:31
    And I will set your bounds from the Red Sea to the sea, Philistia, and from the desert to the River. For I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
    Deuteronomy 7:2
    And when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
  41. Cross References
    Numbers 21:24
    Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.
  42. Cross References
    Leviticus 27:28
    Nevertheless no devoted offering that a man may devote to the LORD of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the LORD.
  43. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 3:12
    And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, and half the mountains of Gilead and its cities, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites.
    Deuteronomy 4:48
    From Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, even to Mount Sion (that is, Hermon).
    Joshua 13:9
    From Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the town that is in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon.
  44. Cross References
    Joshua 13:9
    From Aroer which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the town that is in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain of Medeba as far as Dibon.
    Joshua 13:16
    Their territory was from Aroer, which is on the bank of the River Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the ravine, and all the plain by Medeba.
  45. Cross References
    Psalms 44:3
    For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
  46. Cross References
    Genesis 32:22
    And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
    Numbers 21:24
    Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified.
    Deuteronomy 3:16
    And to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave from Gilead as far as the River Arnon, the middle of the river as the border, as far as the River Jabbok, the border of the people of Ammon.
  47. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 2:5
    Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.
    Deuteronomy 2:9
    "Then the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
    Deuteronomy 2:19
    'And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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