Deuteronomy 2:20-23 Meaning: God's Hand in History
20(That also is considered a land of Rephaim. Rephaim lived there in the past, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
21a great people, many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Yahweh destroyed them from before Israel, and they succeeded them, and lived in their place,
22as he did for the children of Esau who dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place even to this day.
23Then the Avvim, who lived in villages as far as Gaza: the Caphtorim, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them and lived in their place.)
20(That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;
21A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the Lord destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead:
22As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:
23And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
20(That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
21a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Jehovah destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead;
22as he did for the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day.
23And the Avvim, that dwelt in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
20`A land of Rephaim it is reckoned, even it; Rephaim dwelt in it formerly, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummim;
21a people great, and numerous, and tall, as the Anakim, and Jehovah destroyeth them before them, and they dispossess them, and dwell in their stead,
22as He hath done for the sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, when He destroyed the Horim from before them, and they dispossess them, and dwell in their stead, unto this day.
23`As to the Avim who are dwelling in Hazerim unto Azzah, the Caphtorim--who are coming out from Caphtor--have destroyed them, and dwell in their stead.
20(That also is reckoned a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in time past, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummim;
21a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakim; and Jehovah destroyed them before them, and they dispossessed them, and dwelt in their stead;
22as he did to the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, from before whom he destroyed the Horites; and they dispossessed them, and dwelt in their stead, even to this day.
23And the Avvites who dwelt in the hamlets as far as Gazah — the Caphtorim, who came out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Moses pause to mention the Rephaim and Zamzummim? This passage reveals God's sovereignty over the nations long before Israel arrived.
Context
These verses sit inside Moses' long speech recalling Israel's wilderness journey. The people have just crossed the Zered brook, marking the end of the old generation. God tells them not to fight the Ammonites, because He gave that land to Lot's descendants. Then comes this parenthetical note: the Ammonites now live where the Rephaim once did. Moses lists similar examples: the Horites in Seir were removed for Esau's line, and the Caphtorim displaced the Avvim as far as Gaza. The speech is not a history lesson for its own sake. Moses is showing that God has been at work among the nations, clearing and settling peoples, long before Israel takes a single step into Canaan. The pattern is already set.
Key Words
The Hebrew word behind Rephaim (רְפָאִים) points to a people of great stature, often translated as giants. They appear elsewhere in the Old Testament as ancient, fearsome inhabitants of the land. The name Zamzummim (זַמְזֻמִּים) is what the Ammonites called them. The root suggests a meaning like plotters or intriguers a reminder that these were not just tall people but a specific group with their own identity.
The verb destroy (שָׁמַד, shamed) carries the force of complete extermination. It is the same word used later for what God would do to Canaan's nations. The text says Yahweh destroyed them from before the Ammonites. That phrase from before (מִפְּנֵי) literally means from their face, suggesting God cleared the land so a new people could settle.
Moses also uses the verb regarded (חָשַׁב, chashav) in verse 20: this land was considered a land of Rephaim. The word carries a sense of accounting or reckoning. It reminds us that reputation and memory matter. Even after these peoples were gone, the land still carried their name.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian commentators have noted that these verses seem to interrupt the flow of Moses' speech. Some, like Adam Clarke and the Cambridge Bible, suggest they may have been added by a later editor, perhaps Joshua or Ezra. Others see them as a natural historical aside, meant to reassure Israel that God has been working in history all along. The Geneva Bible notes simply read the verses as factual records of God's judgment on earlier inhabitants. Matthew Henry draws attention to the pattern: God prepares land for His people by removing those who oppose Him. Across traditions, readers agree on the main point: God sovereignly controls the rise and fall of nations, and His timing is always right.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers skip this passage as dry history, thinking it has no meaning for today. They see unfamiliar names like Zamzummim and assume it is background noise. In fact, the passage is here for a reason: it shows that God has been working among the nations long before Israel arrived. The same God who removed giants before the Ammonites and Horites before Edom is the God leading Israel. This is not a footnote; it is a quiet assurance that God clears the way for His purposes.
Living This Out
You may feel small compared to the forces that seem to stand against you. The people of Israel faced the same fear when they saw the Anakim (Deuteronomy 1:28). But this passage says: look back. God has been moving in history, removing obstacles, preparing places. He did it before you arrived, and He will do it again.
This week, when you face something that seems too big, remember the Rephaim. They were giant, but they did not stay. God knows how to clear a path. Your job is not to measure the size of the problem but to trust the One who has been at work all along.
Main takeaway: God has been clearing the way for His people long before they arrive, and He can be trusted with whatever stands in your path today.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God made room for the people He loves. He moved big giants so His people could have a place to live. He will always make a way for you.
For ages 9, 12
In these verses, Moses tells about giants called Rephaim and Zamzummim. God removed them so other nations could live there. It shows that God is in charge of all history, not just Israel's story. Even when things look big and scary, God has already prepared the way. You can trust Him with the hard things you face.
Questions People Ask
Who were the Rephaim and Zamzummim?
The Rephaim were a people of great size, often called giants. The Ammonites called them Zamzummim, a name that may mean 'plotters' or 'intriguers'. They lived in the land before the Ammonites took it over. The Old Testament mentions them in several places, including Genesis 14:5 and Deuteronomy 3:11.
Why does Moses include these details in his speech?
Moses is showing Israel that God has been active among the nations long before their conquest of Canaan. By pointing out how God removed the Rephaim, the Horites, and the Avvim, he reassures the people that God can handle any obstacle they face. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty over history.
Are these verses a later addition to Deuteronomy?
Some commentators, like Adam Clarke and the Cambridge Bible, suggest these verses may have been added by a later editor because they interrupt the flow of Moses' speech. Others see them as Moses' own words. Either way, they are part of the inspired text and teach the same lesson about God's providence.
What does the word 'destroyed' mean in this context?
The Hebrew verb shamed means to completely exterminate or annihilate. It is the same word used elsewhere for God's judgment on the Canaanites. The text says Yahweh destroyed the Rephaim 'from before' the Ammonites, meaning He cleared the land completely so they could settle.
How does this passage relate to the Israelites' journey?
The Israelites are about to enter the promised land, and they are afraid of the people there. This parenthetical note shows that God has a long history of removing powerful peoples to make room for others. It builds trust: the same God who cleared the land for the Ammonites and Edomites will clear the land for Israel.
For pastors & researchers
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