Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat ,.... If they thought fit to have provision of them, they desired no other but to pay for it: and give me water for money, that I may drink ; see Deuteronomy 2:6 , only I will pass through on my feet ; for they were all footmen, Numbers 11:21 , of the phrase; see Gill on Numbers 20:19 . read more
As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me ,.... Which respects, as Jarchi observes, not the affair of passing through their land requested, for neither of them granted that, but buying food and drink; for though the Edomites at first seem not to have granted that, yet afterwards they did. The mountain of Seir, and the city Ar, are put for the whole countries of Edom and Moab: until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the Lord our... read more
As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir - See the note on Numbers 20:21 . 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
As the … did unto me . This refers expressly to the fact that the Edomites and Moabites did not hinder the Israelites from passing through their country, though they were far from friendly, and dealt in an unbrotherly way with them, for which the Moabites were afterwards placed under a ban ( Deuteronomy 23:3 ). read more
Deuteronomy 2:28. On my feet Or, with my company who are on foot, which is added significantly, because, if their army had consisted as much of horsemen as many other armies did, their passage through this land might have been more mischievous and dangerous. read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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