Let me pass through thy land ,.... See Gill on Numbers 21:22 , I will go along by the highway ; the king's highway, as in the place referred to, the public road: I will neither turn to the right hand nor to the left ; to go into his fields and vineyards, and gather the fruit, or tread down the corn and vines, or do any manner of mischief to them; see the above place. read more
CONQUEST OF THE KINGDOM OF SIHON . Sihon and his people were Amorites, who had settled on the east of the Jordan in Gilead. But though not included in the original promise to Abraham, God had assigned this territory to the Israelites; and, therefore, he commanded the people under Moses to cross the Amen, and take the first step towards possessing the Promised Land, by assailing Sihon, King of Heshbon, assuring them that from that day he would "put the dread and fear of them upon... read more
Warrantable warfare. Sihon, King of Heshbon, opposed with physical force the fulfillment of Israel's destiny; and, having provoked war, provokes it to his own destruction. I. THE NECESSITY FOR WAR . The question whether war is ever just and legitimate must be answered in the affirmative. Still, this does not justify all war. The majority of wars are indefensible. War is a barbarous instrument, and, as intelligence advances, can be replaced by better methods of conquest. But it... read more
The destruction of Sihon, King of the Amorites. Moses here recalls the first stage in the conquest. By Divine direction, the pilgrims are to advance upon the land of the Amorites, and they are promised an important victory over them. And here we have to notice— I. THE REASONABLE PROPOSAL MADE TO SIHON THE KING . ( Deuteronomy 2:26-29 .) This was for permission to pass through his land to Canaan, undertaking to disturb nothing and to pay for all supplies. Nothing... read more
The conquest of Sihon. Sihon, though an Amorite, was not to be unconditionally destroyed. He had, like Pharaoh, an opportunity given him of averting ruin by acceding to a most courteous and reasonable request; but, like Pharaoh in this respect also, he hardened his heart, and took the course which made his destruction inevitable. We are led to consider— I. SIHON 'S OPPORTUNITY . ( Deuteronomy 2:26-30 .) It was not given him in the hope that he would avail himself of it; for it... read more
Along by the high way ; literally, by the way , by the way , i . e . always, continuously by the way, the public road, called in Numbers 20:17 and Numbers 21:22 , "the king's way," probably because made and kept up by the king. read more
From Kadesh to Jordan (2:1-3:29)God told the Israelites that if they went through the land of Edom, they were not to seize any territory. This was partly because Edom was Israel’s brother nation (being descended from Esau), and partly because the Edomites’ territory, formerly possessed by the Horites, had been given them by God (2:1-7). Similar restrictions applied to Israel’s relations with the nations of Moab and Ammon, both of which were also related to Israel (being descended from Lot).... read more
3. The conquest of the kingdom of Sihon 2:24-37This 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 Deuteronomy 2:25; Deuteronomy 2:29-31; Deuteronomy 2:33; Deuteronomy 2:36."’All the nations under heaven’ (Deuteronomy 2:25) is an idiomatic hyperbole signifying all the nations in the vicinity; that is, at least from horizon to horizon (under heaven)." [Note: Kalland, p. 32.] "The process of... read more
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 2:24-37
God having tried the self-denial of his people in forbidding them to meddle with the Moabites and Ammonites, and they having quietly passed by those rich countries, and, though superior in number, not made any attack upon them, here he recompenses them for their obedience by giving them possession of the country of Sihon king of the Amorites. If we forbear what God forbids, we shall receive what he promises, and shall be no losers at last by our obedience, though it may seem for the present to... read more