Deuteronomy 2:8-12 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 2:8-12 Commentary: Passing Through Edom and Moab
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Moses recounts Israel's journey past Edom and Moab. God commands respect for brother nations and shows His sovereignty over land.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Israel obeys God by respecting the land given to Edom and Moab, learning that divine boundaries are not obstacles but gifts.
- Key words: “Passed by” (עבר, 'avar), indicates going along a border, not through the interior; “possess” (ירש, yarash), both dispossess and inherit.
- Main debate: Whether Edom allowed passage or refused it, resolved by noting Israel skirted the territory without entering the heartland.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereign allocation of land; patient trust in His timing; respect for kinship ties even with hostile neighbors.
- Best use: Teach God’s sovereignty over nations and boundaries, comfort for those in life’s detours, and preparation for trusting God’s promises.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
8So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. We turned away from the Arabah road, which comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber, and traveled along the road of the Wilderness of Moab.
9Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
10(The Emites used to live there, a people great and many, as tall as the Anakites.
11Like the Anakites, they were also regarded as Rephaim, though the Moabites called them Emites.
12The Horites used to live in Seir, but the descendants of Esau drove them out. They destroyed the Horites from before them and settled in their place, just as Israel did in the land that the LORD gave them as their possession.)
WEB World English Bible 2000
8So we passed by from our brothers, the children of Esau, who dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion Geber. We turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9Yahweh said to me, “Don’t bother Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give you any of his land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot for a possession.”
10(The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim.
11These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
12The Horites also lived in Seir in the past, but the children of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them, and lived in their place, as Israel did to the land of his possession, which Yahweh gave to them.)
KJV King James Version 1769
8And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion–gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9And the Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
10The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;
11Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.
12The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
8So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9And Jehovah said unto me, Vex not Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
10(The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim:
11these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
12The Horites also dwelt in Seir aforetime, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which Jehovah gave unto them).
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
8`And we pass by from our brethren, sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, by the way of the plain, by Elath, and by Ezion-Gaber; and we turn, and pass over the way of the wilderness of Moab;
9and Jehovah saith unto me, Do not distress Moab, nor stir thyself up against them in battle, for I do not give to thee of their land for a possession; for to the sons of Lot I have given Ar for a possession.'
10`The Emim formerly have dwelt in it, a people great, and numerous, and tall, as the Anakim;
11Rephaim they are reckoned, they also, as the Anakim; and the Moabites call them Emim.
12And in Seir have the Horim dwelt formerly; and the sons of Esau dispossess them, and destroy them from before them, and dwell in their stead, as Israel hath done to the land of his possession, which Jehovah hath given to them;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
8And we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, by the plain, by Elath, and by Ezion-geber, and we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
9And Jehovah said to me, Distress not the Moabites, neither engage with them in battle; for I will not give thee of their land a possession; for unto the children of Lot have I given Ar as a possession.
10(The Emim dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall as the Anakim.
11They also are reckoned as giants like the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.
12And in Seir dwelt the Horites in times past; and the children of Esau dispossessed them, and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did to the land of their possession, which Jehovah gave to them.)
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
8And when we had passed by our brethren the children of Esau, that dwelt in Seir, by the way of the plain from Elath and from Asiongaber, we came to the way that leadeth to the desert of Moab.
9And the Lord said to me: Fight not against the Moabites, neither go to battle against them: for I will not give thee any of their land, because I have given Ar to the children of Lot in possession.
10The Emims first were the inhabitants thereof, a people great, and strong, and so tall, that like the race of the Enacims,
11They were esteemed as giants, and were like the sons of the Enacims. But the Moabites call them Emims.
12The Horrhites also formerly dwelt in Seir: who being driven out and destroyed, the children of Esau dwelt there, as Israel did in the land of his possession, which the Lord gave him.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 2:8
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators agree that this passage describes Israel’s obedient journey along the borders of Edom and Moab, not a confrontation. Calvin notes that God “desired to prove the obedience of His people” by commanding kindness toward nations that treated them with hostility. Barnes and Cambridge point out that the route went through the Arabah and then turned to the wilderness of Moab, avoiding the heart of Edom’s territory. The parenthetical notes in verses 10, 12 are seen by several commentators (Barnes, Calvin, Clarke) as later insertions or explanatory asides. They draw attention to the earlier inhabitants, the Emim, Rephaim, Anakim, and Horites, whom the Moabites and Edomites had displaced. Calvin and Wesley see these as encouragement for Israel: if God could give the land of giants to Lot’s descendants, He could certainly give Canaan to His people. The central point is clear: God alone assigns territorial boundaries, and Israel must trust His timing and provision rather than seize land that is not yet theirs.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Harmonization view: Israel passed along the border of Edom without entering their interior, reconciling the refusal in Numbers 20 by noting different requests (permission to cross the land vs. to skirt its edge).
- Source-critical view: The parenthetical notes (vv10-12) and the softened portrayal of Edom suggest a later Deuteronomic editor reworked the tradition to stress divine control and Israel’s obedience.
What is clear: God commanded Israel not to harass Edom or Moab because He gave them their lands, and Israel obeyed this command by taking an alternate route.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Edom's refusal vs. passage | Israel did not engage in battle with Edom; they turned away and passed by the wilderness of Moab. | Some read this as Edom granting limited passage along the border (Wesley, Clarke), while others see it as a sovereign detour that avoided Edomite territory entirely (Calvin). Numbers 20:20-21 describes Edom coming out with a strong hand; the accounts are harmonized by noting different routes or perspectives. |
| Identity of the Emim, Rephaim, and Anakim | These were pre-existing peoples of notable size and strength, regarded as giants by the Israelites. | The extent of their literal giant stature is debated. Gill and Calvin see them as physically tall and fearsome; Clarke suggests that fear and rumor may have magnified their size, and that 'Rephaim' may refer to a class of people rather than a literal height. |
| Parenthetical insertion (vv10-12) | Verses 10-12 interrupt the narrative flow and function as explanatory comments. | Barnes and others suggest these verses were added by a later editor (possibly Ezra or Joshua). Calvin and Matthew Henry treat them as Moses’ own excursus. The theological point, God’s power to displace giants, is affirmed by both views. |
| Past tense in verse 12: 'as Israel did' | The land grant to Israel is certain, based on God’s promise. | Wesley notes the past tense is used prophetically for the future conquest. Some see this as evidence of a later composition after the conquest, while others see it as a statement of faith from Moses’ vantage point. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Israel had just completed nearly forty years in the wilderness. They were now camped near the southern border of Edom, east of the Arabah. The route from Elath and Ezion-Geber, ports on the Gulf of Aqabah (modern Elath/Akaba, see 1 Kings 9:26), led north through the Arabah, the great desert valley stretching from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. This was a trade route, not a direct invasion path. Moses records that they “passed by” their brothers the children of Esau. This seems to contradict Numbers 20, where Edom refused passage with a strong hand. How was this possible?
Commentators resolve the tension by noting that Israel did not pass through Edom but around its eastern border. Cambridge explains that the Hebrew phrase “from with” (me'et) may indicate they simply crossed the boundary line without entering inhabited areas. The Edomites allowed this limited passage, selling food and water (Deuteronomy 2:6,29), even though their king had refused a full corridor. The route turned from the Arabah into the wilderness of Moab, skirting the Dead Sea’s eastern side.
Moab, descended from Lot, was also to be treated with restraint. God had given them the land of Ar, which they had won from the Emim, a people described as “great and numerous, tall as the Anakim.” Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that the Emim were likely a fierce tribe of raiders or giants. The parenthetical information about them and the Horites (cave-dwellers in Seir) serves a dual purpose: it explains how Edom and Moab came to possess their lands, and it builds Israel’s confidence that God can drive out mighty peoples.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note a minor textual variation in Deuteronomy 2:8. The Hebrew reads ’et (sign of the accusative) in the phrase “from with,” but the Cambridge Bible suggests the preposition me’et may be a misreading and proposes reading simply ’et, meaning “we crossed or passed through our brethren.” The early Greek Septuagint and Samaritan texts vary here. No other significant variants are reported by the commentators.
Reception History
This passage has been read across traditions as an example of God’s sovereign control over land and history. The early church saw in it a pattern of respecting civil authorities and the territories God gives to nations. The Reformation brought new attention: Calvin used it to argue that God is free to distribute lands as He wills, and that obedience to His boundaries is a test of faith. In the Wesleyan tradition, Clarke emphasized the moral lesson of respecting even hostile family members. Modern readers often focus on the narrative tension with Numbers 20, seeing this as a demonstration that different scriptural accounts can offer complementary perspectives without contradiction.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s boundaries are good. He told Israel not to take Edom’s or Moab’s land because He had given them those territories. Obedience requires respecting what God has assigned to others.
- God works through apparent detours. Israel could not go straight through Edom, so they took a longer route. Yet God used the delay to teach trust and patience.
- God’s power is greater than giants. The Emim and Rephaim were formidable, but they were displaced by Moab. If God could do that for Lot’s family, He could do it for Israel in Canaan.
Five-point outline
- Leadership that remembers. Moses recounts the journey for the new generation. He does not hide past tension or explain away every contradiction.
- Respecting kinship. Edom and Moab were brothers through Esau and Lot. Even when family is hostile, God calls His people to act honorably.
- Buying what is offered. Israel purchased food and water rather than demanding it. This sets a pattern for dealing with neighbors.
- Learning from history (the parentheses). The notes about the Emim and Horites are more than geography. They show that God is the Lord of history who displaces one people to settle another.
- Looking ahead to the Promised Land. The closing phrase “as Israel did to the land of his possession” (v12) points forward to Canaan. What God did for others, He will do for His own.
Illustration hooks
- A family reunion where old grievances surface. Instead of forcing the issue, you take the scenic route and still maintain the relationship.
- A property dispute between neighbors. The court assigns each a lot, and you learn to respect the boundary even if the other side is difficult.
- A stage of life that feels like a detour, job loss, chronic illness, closed doors. Later you see how God used that time to strengthen you for what came next.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why did God forbid Israel from taking land from wicked nations like Moab? Doesn’t justice require judgment?
- Is this passage at odds with Numbers 20, where Edom refuses passage? Which account is accurate?
- Are “giants” real, or is that just ancient legend? How should we understand the Emim and Rephaim?
Leading a Discussion
This passage challenges us to trust God’s timing when a door slams shut. Israel had to go around Edom instead of through it. In what situations has a closed door made you rethink your route? How did God provide along the detour?
Discussion questions
- Read Numbers 20:20-21. How does the Edomite refusal there compare with the account in Deuteronomy 2:8-12? What factors might explain the difference?
- God commands Israel not to “vex” or “contend” with Moab. What does that tell you about God’s character and His care for all nations, even those outside the covenant?
- Verses 10-12 are a parenthetical note about the Emim, Rephaim, and Horites. Why would Moses include this information at this point? How might it have encouraged the Israelites?
- The text says that the Lord gave Ar to Lot’s descendants as a possession. How does God’s sovereignty over land apply to nations today? Are there limits?
- How does this passage help you understand the difference between the land God gives you and the land He gives others?
- Verse 12 says Israel “did to the land of his possession, which the Lord gave to them.” Notice the past tense for a future event. How does faith speak in such confident terms?
- What “borders” in your life, relationships, careers, resources, might God be asking you to respect rather than cross? How can you honor His boundaries without resentment?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 20:20 | He said, “You shall not pass through.” Edom came out against him with many people, and with a strong hand. |
| Numbers 20:21 | Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him. |
| Numbers 33:35 | They traveled from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion Geber. |
| Deuteronomy 1:1 | These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suf, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. |
| Judges 11:18 | Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. |
| I Kings 9:26 | King Solomon made a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. |
| II Kings 14:22 | He built Elath and restored it to Judah. After that the king slept with his fathers. |
| II Kings 16:6 | At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and live there to this day. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke argues that the word "giants" in this passage is a mistranslation; the Hebrew "Rephaim" is simply the name of a people. He suggests the Emim, Anakim, and Rephaim were probably the same wandering plunderers, with their enormous stature exaggerated by fear and rumor.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the place name Elath means trees, still fitting the palm groves at Akaba. He notes that Moabites and Ammonites, being Lot's descendants, were Israel's kinsmen like the Edomites. He suggests the verses about the Emims, Horims, and Anakims may be a later insertion.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that God forbade Israel from harming the Moabites not because those people deserved kindness, but because God had sovereignly allotted them their land as a special favor to the descendants of Lot. He adds that God is always free to take back what He gives when sin warrants it.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible for Schools provides
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that God granted land to Lot's descendants (Moab) and Esau's descendants (Edom) by driving out the former giant inhabitants just as He would for Israel. This shows God's sovereign right to assign territories to nations and His pattern of fulfilling promises by removing prior occupants.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill traces a pattern of God clearing land for his people: the Emims and Horims were giants who formerly lived where Moab and Edom later settled. He sees these earlier dispossessions as evidence that Israel, too, will drive out the Canaanites and possess the land God promised them.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jfb notes that God gave Moab special protection not because they were righteous, but because they descended from Lot. He then draws a parallel: just as Moab and Edom conquered their giant predecessors, Israel should trust God to expel the Canaanites, despite their own weakness.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that God gave Moab and Ammon to Lot's descendants just as He gave Canaan to Israel, so Israel must not touch those lands. He also observes that the 38-year delay at the Brook Zered was God's judgment: the old generation of disobedient warriors had to die off completely before the new generation could enter.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley observes that the Emims were terrifying in stature and strength, yet the Moabites drove them out. This serves as encouragement: if God dispossessed such giants for Moab, He will certainly drive out the Canaanites for Israel. He also notes that the phrase "the Lord gave" uses the prophetic past tense for a future event.