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... [ Continue Reading ]
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 permis... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE TO PASS THROUGH THE COAST. — Literally, _Ye are passing through the border._ This was apparently said before the permission was asked, and in view of the request made for it (Numbers 20:17). But Edom _refused to let Israel pass through his coast or border_ (Numbers 20:21). THEY SHALL BE AFRA... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE GIVEN MOUNT SEIR UNTO ESAU — It is worthy of notice that the development of Ishmael preceded that of Isaac, and the inheritance of Esau was won earlier than that of Jacob. (Comp. Genesis 25:16 with Genesis 35:23, and Genesis 36:31 with Genesis 37:1.) Isaac and Israel were still strangers and... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL BUY MEAT... AND... WATER. — Comp. Genesis 14:23, “Lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich,” and Deuteronomy 15:1, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD THY GOD HATH BLESSED THEE. — There is nothing unreasonable in the view suggested by these words, that the Israelites acquired wealth by trade or by ordinary occupations during their wilderness journey. They had skilled workmen among them.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN WE PASSED... FROM... ESAU... THROUGH THE WAY OF THE PLAIN FROM ELATH. — The route from Seir, after Esau’s refusal, was _southward_ to Ezion-geber, at the head of the Gulf of Akabah, and Elath, a few miles south-east of Ezion-geber, on the same coast. They then _turned northward,_ and going roun... [ Continue Reading ]
DISTRESS NOT THE MOABITES... I HAVE GIVEN AR UNTO THE CHILDREN OF LOT. — The children of Lot, like those of Ishmael and Esau, had their earthly inheritance _before the children of Abraham. _... [ Continue Reading ]
(10-12) These three verses which follow should be read parenthetically. THE EMIMS. — See Genesis 14:5, for the first mention of Rephaim, Zuzim, Emim, and Horim. (The termination _im_ is plural in Hebrew, and, like cherubim, does not need the additional _s._) These tribes were flourishing in the tim... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW RISE UP, SAID I. — A continuation of the order in Deuteronomy 2:9. The words “said I” are not needed. THE BROOK ZERED is not yet identified. (See Numbers 21:12.) Several streams run into the Dead Sea on its eastern side south of Arnon; Zered is possibly one of these. Or it may be a tributary of... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL WE WERE COME OVER THE BROOK ZERED. — The root _zârad_ in Chaldee means _to prune._ The name “Zered” signifies the luxuriant foliage and the young shoots, especially of the willow, which are cut off with the knife: so the Targum takes it (Numbers 21:12). Probably the valley was so named from th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS AGAINST THEM. — The best comment on this discipline is to be found in Psalms 90:8, “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance; for all our days are passed away in thy wrath.”... [ Continue Reading ]
AR. — According to Conder, “Rabbath-Moab,” the present ruin R_abba,_ north of Merah.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THOU COMEST NIGH. — Compare Note on Deuteronomy 2:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN OLD TIME. — See Genesis 14 ZAMZUMMIMS = Zuzims (Genesis 14:5).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD DESTROYED THEM BEFORE THEM. — It is noticeable that the conquest of Canaan is here brought into the domain of common history, by comparison with the conquests of gigantic races accomplished by Edom, Moab, and Ammon. The value of this analogy to Moses and Israel is plain. If the children of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE AVIMS WHICH DWELT IN HAZERIM, EVEN UNTO AZZAH, THE CAPHTORIMS... DESTROYED. — “In Hazerim” should apparently be rendered “in villages.” It does not occur elsewhere as a proper name; it is plural in form, and is found in this sense in some other places. “Azzah,” _i.e.,_ Gaza. The Caphtorim: comp.... [ Continue Reading ]
PASS OVER... ARNON. — The territory from Arnon northward to Jabbok had been taken from Moab by the Amorites, and was to be possessed by Israel. (See on Numbers 21:24.)... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEAR OF THEE. — Compare Exodus 15:15 : “All the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away, fear and dread shall fall upon them.”... [ Continue Reading ]
KEDEMOTH. — Mentioned as a city in the plain of Jordan, belonging to Heshbon (Joshua 13:18). WORDS OF PEACE. — By this message Sihon was excepted from the catalogue of the doomed kings and nations, according to the distinction drawn in Deuteronomy 20:10; Deuteronomy 20:15. He therefore brought his... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL I SHALL PASS OVER JORDAN. — This was already determined.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD THY GOD HARDENED HIS SPIRIT, AND MADE HIS HEART OBSTINATE. — Jehovah gave the strength to Sihon, as He had done to Pharaoh, and as He does to all. Sihon was responsible for using the strength which God gave him in opposition to the Divine purposes. To “harden_”_ a man’s spirit is not necess... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I HAVE BEGUN TO GIVE SIHON. — Notice that in all the conquests of Israel Jehovah gave the order to begin the attack. (See Deuteronomy 7:2, and Note on Joshua 13:1.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS SONS. — As the Hebrew is _written,_ it should be _his son_ (possibly a person of distinction).... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UTTERLY DESTROYED. — i.e., _devoted_ to destruction. They made them _chêrem,_ like the spoil of Jericho. This could only be by Divine direction. The word implies nothing less. It will be seen, therefore, that the narrative asserts in this case an extermination of Sihon’s people by the express co... [ Continue Reading ]
AROER. — According to Conder, “the ruin ‘Ar ‘Air, on the north bank of Wâdy Môjib.” (But he makes the Aroer of Numbers 32:34 a different place, and marks it as unknown. Why?) THE CITY THAT IS BY THE RIVER. — The description suggests Rabbath-ammon, but this cannot be referred to here.... [ Continue Reading ]