II.(1) Then.—In the original simply “And.” There is no note of time.By the way of the Red sea.—i.e., in the direction of the Gulf of Akabah, southwards.As the Lord spake unto me.—In Numbers 14:25, as noted on Deuteronomy 1:40.Many days.—Until near the close of the thirty-ninth year of the exodus. read more
(3) Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.—Apparently this command must have been issued when they were in Kadesh the second time, at the commencement of the fortieth year (Numbers 20:1). It was from this encampment that Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom asking permission to pass through his territory. It would be interesting to know when it was decided that Israel should enter the land of promise by passing over Jordan, instead of going through the Negeb. Did... read more
Deuteronomy 2:30 Professor Andrew Harper remarks on this verse that the writer 'does not mean... to lay upon God the causation of Sihon's obstinacy, so as to make the man a mere helpless victim. His thought rather is, that as God rules all, so to Him must ultimately be traced all that happens in the world. In some sense all acts, whether good or bad, all agencies, whether beneficent or destructive, have their source in, and their power from, Him. But nevertheless men have moral responsibility... read more
THE DIVINE GOVERNMENTDeuteronomy 1:1-46; Deuteronomy 2:1-37; Deuteronomy 3:1-29AFTER these preliminary discussions we now enter upon the exposition. With the exception of the first two verses of chapter 1, concerning which there is a doubt whether they do not belong to Numbers, these three chapters stand out as the first section of our book. Examination shows that they form a separate and distinct whole, not continued in chapter 4; but there has been a great diversity of opinion as to their... read more
3. After the Forty Years and From Conflict to Conquest CHAPTER 2 1. From Kadesh to the land of the Amorites (Deuteronomy 2:1-23 ) 2. The command to possess (Deuteronomy 2:24-25 ) 3. The conquest of Sihon (Deuteronomy 2:26-37 ) The many days in the first verse are the thirty-eight years. We must notice the little word “we.” “We turned and took our journey into the wilderness.” Moses, Aaron, his sons, Joshua, Caleb and the faithful Levites turned back with the unfaithful, murmuring... read more
2:1 Then {a} we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir {b} many days.(a) They obeyed, after God had chastised them.(b) Eight and thirty years, as in De 2:14. read more
WILDERNESS WANDERINGS (vs.1-25) From Kadesh Barnea Israel had to virtually retrace their steps, going back toward the Red Sea. Believers today find similar experiences because of lack of faith. Instead of progressing in the path of obedience to God, we must go back to learn afresh what the Red Sea deliverance means, for this speaks of the judgment of sin in the flesh by means of the cross of Christ, and if we do not learn it properly as we begin our wilderness history, we shall have to... read more
REVIEW OF ISRAEL ’S HISTORY A book written by Canon Bernard entitled The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament, shows not only that the contents of its books are inspired, but their arrangement and order as well. The same might be said of the Old Testament, especially of the Pentateuch. To illustrate, the purpose of the Bible is to give the history of redemption through a special seed. In Genesis we have the election of that seed (Abraham), in Exodus their redemption, in Leviticus their... read more
Providential Lines Deuteronomy 2:0 There is a remarkable expression in the fifth verse "because." The same expression occurs in the ninth verse "because." The same word occurs in the nineteenth verse "because." Yet it is the infinite God who speaks and puts himself in the position of one who would explain to his creatures his reasons for making certain allotments. Instead of speaking as one might suppose the Eternal Majesty of the Universe to speak, he seems to place himself upon a level with... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 2:1-37
Review of the Journey (continued)1. The Red sea] i.e. the Gulf of Akaba. On Mt. Seir see Numbers 20:22-29. 4. Through the coast] RV ’through the border,’ as in Numbers 20:18. The Edomites, however, refused to give them a passage through their country: see Numbers 20:14-21. The Israelites accordingly went southward towards Elath and Ezion-geber at the N. end of the Gulf of Akaba (see Deuteronomy 2:8 and on Numbers 20:22), and so round Edom to the country of the Moabites. 9. The Moabites and the... read more