Deuteronomy 2:1-8

LESSON TWO Deuteronomy 2:1-23

4. PASSING THROUGH EDOM (Deuteronomy 2:1-8)

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Jehovah spake unto me; and we compassed mount Seir many days. 2 And Jehovah spake unto me, saying, 3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward. 4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore; 5 contend not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. 6 Ye shall purchase food of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 7 For Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand; he hath known thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Jehovah thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. 8 So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Eziongeber.
And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 2:1-8

31.

Please notice the time element in Deuteronomy 2:1, Then we turned,when?

32.

Trace on the map the journey here mentioned.

33.

How many years from the time that Jacob and Esau parted company until the day when Israel was to pass through the territory of Esau?

34.

Was there some reason for the fear of the children of Esau?

35.

Why had Jehovah blessed Esau? In what manner?

36.

Where did Israel obtain the money for purchase of food and water?

37.

Give two events that occurred on their way from Kadesh to Zered.

38.

How is it that the attitude of Esau has changed so radically?

AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 2:1-8

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea, as the Lord directed me; and for many days we journeyed around Mount Seir.
2 And the Lord spoke to me [Moses], saying,
3 You have roamed around this mountain country long enough; turn northward.
4 And command the Israelites, You are to pass through the territory of your kinsmen the sons of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. So watch yourselves carefully;
5 Do not provoke or stir them up; for I will not give you of their land, no, not enough for the sole of your foot to tread on, for I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.

6 You shall buy food of them for money, that you may eat, and you shall also buy water of them for money, that you may drink.
7 For the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; He knows your walking through this great wilderness; these forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.
8 So we passed on from our brethren the sons of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, away from the Arabah (wilderness) and from Elath, and from Ezion-geber. We turned and went by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

COMMENT 2:1-8

THEN WE TURNED (Deuteronomy 2:1)That is, from Kadesh (Deuteronomy 1:46). Now the punishment period of Israel's stay in the wilderness is over. They are not now wandering about from camp to camp, but given definite direction to proceed toward their promised home in Canaan.

We have treated the statement of Moses in Deuteronomy 1:46, So ye abode in Kadesh many days, as a summary statement which is not intended to tell all that went on at Kadesh, or how many times Israel encamped there. The fact of the matter is, that there is an approximate thirty-seven[14] year interim between Chapter s one and two of Deuteronomy. The reason for omitting the details of that long wandering period is simple: it does not suit the hortatory nature of Moses-' address to Israel. The many days at Kadesh include a prolonged stay upon the first visit, a return to it after years of wandering, and another prolonged stay. Chapter two, which begins Israel's journey around Edom, comes at the conclusion of their wilderness journeys and at the end of their second stay at Kadesh. This is such an important concept in the chronology that we feel compelled to include McGarvey's excellent treatment of the case. The design of his remarks are primarily to refute certain Higher Critic's charges that the account in Numbers concerning the length of stay in Kadesh differs with the record of Deuteronomyhence showing different authorship. His refutation is also a very competent explanation of Deuteronomy 1:46 to Deuteronomy 2:1. The reader will do well to follow it carefully.

[14] Thirty-eight by the time Israel reaches the Zered river. See Deuteronomy 2:14 and notes.

It is universally assumed by destructive critics that the stay of Israel at Kadesh-Barnea is represented in Numbers as lasting thirty-eight years; while in Deuteronomy, contrary to this, they spent the thirty-eight years circling Mount Seir. [15]

[15] Statements by Driver and Wellhauser are then cited. In part, Driver's statement is, ... the representation in Deut. ii. 1, 14, according to which the thirty-eight years of the wanderings are occupied entirely with circling Mount Seir, will be irreconcilable with JE (that is, with Numbers). He has followed Wellhausen who said the emigrants settled at Kadesh, remaining there for many years.

The only way to determine the reality of this alleged contradiction is to trace carefully the representations in the two books separately, and then compare them to see their differences, if any appear. We begin with that in Numbers. In 14:25, after the sentence has been pronounced on the men of that generation, God issues the command, -Tomorrow turn ye, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.-' Driver says of this, -Whether they did this, is not stated;-' and it is true that it is not stated; but the command was given, and Moses, who was the leader and commander of the host, always moved at God's command; and the pillar of cloud, which guided every movement, undoubtedly did the same. It is not necessary, then, that the text should say that they did move. On the contrary, it would require a statement of the text that they did not move, to justify us in supposing that they did not. But this inference, plain as it is, is not our only ground for concluding that they obeyed the command. In later verses of the same chapter (32, 33) God says to the people: -Your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness. And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be consumed in the wilderness.-' How could they be -wanderers in the wilderness forty years-' if they remained thirty-eight years at Kadesh? It is necessarily implied that they were to leave Kadesh and wander about. [In Deuteronomy, this entire period of wandering (i.e. the period of punishment or curse after their refusal to go up and conquer the land) is covered in six versesDeuteronomy 1:40-46.]

The narrative next proceeds through Chapter s 15-19 of Numbers, with a group of new statutes (Numbers 15:1-41); the acount of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 16:40); the punishment of those who murmured over the fate of these men and their fellow conspirators (Numbers 16:41-50); the confirmation of Aaron's priesthood (Numbers 17:1-13); some new statutes in reference to the priesthood and the Levites (Numbers 18:1-32); and the statute in reference to the ashes of the red heifer (Numbers 19:1-22). Then comes the statement; -And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there-' (Numbers 20:1). How could it be here said that after these intervening events -they came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and abode in Kadesh,-' if they had been in Kadesh during the whole intervening time? Undoubtedly, this is a return to Kadesh; and the assertion that they -abode in Kadesh,-' [also in Deuteronomy 1:46] grossly misinterpreted as referring to the whole thirty-eight years, clearly refers to the stay there after this return. The first month here mentioned, as all parties agree, is the first month of the fortieth year. We need not go outside the Book of Numbers, then, the very book which is charged with teaching that Israel abode at Kadesh thirty-eight years, to see that by necessary implications it shows that they left Kadesh after the affair of the spies, wandered in the wilderness until all but the last of the forty years had expired, and then returned again to Kadesh.

This conclusion, drawn from the course of events, is sustained by the evidence of the itinerary of the wilderness wanderings, also recorded in Numbers. In this itinerary (Numbers 33) Kadesh is mentioned only once, it being the intention of the writer to name the forty-two places of formal encampment, without regard to the number of times that Israel may have encamped at any one place. When Kadesh is mentioned, it is, as we have seen, in connection with the arrival there in the first month of the fortieth year. But they reached that place [the first time], and sent forth the twelve spies at the time of the first ripe grapes in the second year out of Egypt (Numbers 13:20). Hazeroth is the last camping-place mentioned in the account of the journey before reaching Kadesh (Numbers 12:16, cf. Numbers 13:26); but in the itinerary there are between Hazeroth and Kadesh nineteen encampments. This could not have been true of the first arrival in Kadesh: consequently we must conclude that these nineteen encampments were made between the first and second arrival in that place, or during the wanderings of thirty-eight years, of which we know but little. Thus it appears, from every point of view furnished by the Book of Numbers, that this interval of thirty-eight years was not spent at Kadesh, but at emcampments lying in between the first and second visit to that place.

Now let us turn to Deuteronomy, and see if there is anything there to contradict this conclusion. Here in (Deuteronomy 2:14), Moses says to the people: -And the days in which we came from Kadesh-Barnea, until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as Jehovah sware unto them.-' The terms here employed show that he is counting from the time that Jehovah sware this; that is, from the first visit to Kadesh. This is made equally clear by the fact that the places of encampment since the last visit to that place are named in Numbers 33:38-44, and they are only five in number. The first of them, Mount Hor, was reached in the fifth month of the last year of the wanderings (Numbers 33:38), and the others were passed a little later in the same year. The -many days-' that were passed in compassing Mount Seir (the land of Edom), which Driver understands as including the thirty-eight years, were spent after leaving Kadesh the last time; for Moses says: -So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according to the days that ye abode there. Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Jehovah spake to me: and we compassed mount Seir many days-' (Deuteronomy 1:46 to Deuteronomy 2:1). The circuit occupied many days compared with the small space around which they had to pass. The many days which they spent in Kadesh included the forty spent by the spies in their march through Canaan, together with some days previous, and some days after this march, and, during the last visit, the days of mourning for Miriam, probably thirty, [cf. Numbers 20:29, Deuteronomy 34:8] and much the greater part of the time from the first month to the fifth, in which they reached Mount Hor (Numbers 20:1; Numbers 20:22 [and Numbers 33:38-39]).[16]

[16] Authorship of Deuteronomy, pp. 91-94. Our additions are in brackets.

AND TOOK OUR JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS BY THE WAY TO THE RED SEA (Deuteronomy 2:1)A glance at the map will show that their journey brought them next to the northeast arm of the Red Sea, the gulf of Aqaba, in their journey around mount Seir.

AND WE COMPASSED MOUNT SEIR MANY DAYS (Deuteronomy 2:1)This was literally true. Commencing their journey at Kadesh on the west, they travelled along the western side of the mountain range of Seir or Edom to Ezion-geber; then they turned and passed close to its southern border; then they turned again and traversed the wilderness of Arabia, close to the eastern border; and they finally entered and marched across Moab on its northern border.[17]

[17] Josiah L. Porter, in The New Self-Interpreting Bible Library

This was the land of Esau or Edom (cf. Deuteronomy 2:8, Numbers 21:4, Genesis 32:3). The Number's account of this journey (Deuteronomy 21:4-9) indicates an especially difficult one, for the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way, and they spake against God, and against Moses. The result was the sending of the fiery serpents and much people of Israel died. The Apostle Paul therefore exhorts us, Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer (1 Corinthians 10:10). A fiery serpent of brass was made at the command of God, and set upon a standard, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived (Numbers 21:9)a blessed figure of Christ himself: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

Unfortunately, this brazen serpent was later worshipped as an idol. It was finally destroyed during Hezekiah's reign (2 Kings 18:4).

On the time involved in this journey, see under Deuteronomy 2:14.

YE ARE TO PASS THROUGH THE BORDER OF YOUR BRETHREN THE CHILDREN OF ESAU (Deuteronomy 2:4)Compare this statement with verse eight, So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau. That is, they went through the east side of Edom, thus, in a sense, went by them.[18] They bypassed mount Seir as such. Israel had previously attempted to go through by entering from the southwest, sending messengers from Kadesh (Numbers 20:14-22), but this was neither the will of Edom nor of God.. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him. (Numbers 20:20-21) Had God intended for Israel to take this route, defeat of the Edomites would have been no problem. But his directions were otherwise. Moses-' record states, Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Jehovah spake unto me. (Deuteronomy 2:1). One observes God's specific directions all through this passage. And their bitter defeat at Hormah (Deuteronomy 1:44) when they attempted to battle the Amorites without God's approval, must still have been in the minds of the very few of the older generation that were still alive.

[18] Others understand verse eight to mean simply, so we got by (past) our other brethren the children of Esaui.e., without any trouble or battle. Nevertheless, Israel's course was through part of their country.

The first route would have been much shorter and easier, for it was to be along the king's highway (Numbers 20:17) whereas this route was extremely difficult, and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way (Numbers 21:4). But Israel was always blessed when God's directions were followedeven if such obedience meant difficulties.

Their first attempt to pass through this country, prior to encompassing the land, had been flatly refused (Numbers 20:14-21) This was after the nearly thirty-eight years of punishment, for their return to Kadesh was on the first month of the fortieth year (Numbers 20:1). Israel's offer at that time was generous and kind enough: Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.. And if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet (Numbers 20:17; Numbers 20:19). Edom's answer was an armed troop that came out against Israel.. wherefore Israel turned away from him. And they journeyed from Kadesha statement that coincides exactly with Deuteronomy 1:46 to Deuteronomy 2:1. Then follows (in Numbers) the death of Aaron at mount Hor, mourning for him for thirty days, a victory over the Canaanites at Hormah, and the long discouraging circuit of mount Seir, with the murmuring and the punishment by serpents.

Finally, God is able to say Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward (Deuteronomy 2:3). And now, after many days, somehow Edom's whole disposition toward Israel has drastically changed! The very privileges Edom had previously refused, are now allowed, Water and food are purchased (Deuteronomy 2:6). So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau (Deuteronomy 2:8).

Why the great change in Edom's attitude? Why the kindness now, where there had been hostility and enmity? Simply because God had now decided that his people were to go through. In his own good time, God decrees the blessings that are appropriate for his peopleand no earthly power is able to thwart his designs, Nebechadnezzar expressed this very truth when he said of God, ... he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth (Daniel 4:35); and Daniel himself could say to Belshazzar that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men,. he setteth up over it whosoever he will (Daniel 5:21).