Deuteronomy 2:12 kjv
The 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.
Deuteronomy 2:12 nkjv
The Horites formerly dwelt in Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their place, just as Israel did to the land of their possession which the LORD gave them.)
Deuteronomy 2:12 niv
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 the LORD gave them as their possession.)
Deuteronomy 2:12 esv
The Horites also lived in Seir formerly, but the people of Esau dispossessed them and destroyed them from before them and settled in their place, as Israel did to the land of their possession, which the LORD gave to them.)
Deuteronomy 2:12 nlt
In earlier times the Horites had lived in Seir, but they were driven out and displaced by the descendants of Esau, just as Israel drove out the people of Canaan when the LORD gave Israel their land.)
Deuteronomy 2 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 14:6 | ...smote the Horites in their Mount Seir, unto El-paran... | Horites mentioned in Seir |
| Gen 36:8 | So Esau lived in Mount Seir; Esau is Edom. | Esau settling in Seir |
| Gen 36:20-21 | These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land... | Horites as inhabitants of Seir |
| Gen 36:30 | ...these are the chiefs of the Horites, according to their clans in the land of Seir. | Horite inhabitants |
| Dt 1:8 | 'See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land... | God's promise to give land to Israel |
| Dt 2:5 | ...do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a foot's length, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. | God designated Seir for Edom |
| Dt 2:9 | The Lord said to me, 'Do not harass Moab, nor contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land as a possession, because I have given Ar to the sons of Lot as a possession.' | God designated Ar for Moab |
| Dt 2:19 | 'When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them...for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession...I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.' | God designated Ammon's land |
| Dt 7:1 | "When the Lord your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you... | Israel's future dispossession |
| Dt 9:3 | "Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire...He will subdue them before you... | God's agency in Israel's conquest |
| Jos 11:20 | For it was from the Lord that their hearts were hardened, to meet Israel in battle, in order that he might utterly destroy them... | Divine destruction of inhabitants |
| Jos 21:43-45 | So the Lord gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it...Not one word failed of all the good words which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass. | Fulfillment of God's land promise |
| Judg 11:24 | 'Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever the Lord our God has given us to possess, we will possess.' | God gives nations their land |
| Ps 33:11 | The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. | God's sovereign plan stands |
| Ps 78:55 | He also drove out the nations before them and apportioned them an inheritance by measurement, and made the tribes of Israel dwell in their tents. | God giving inheritance |
| Ps 136:21 | And gave their land as a heritage, For His lovingkindness is everlasting; | God giving land as heritage |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done...saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.' | God's divine plan & sovereignty |
| Jer 32:21 | 'You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, with a strong hand...and gave them this land...' | God gave land to Israel |
| Acts 13:19 | "When He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance—for about 450 years." | God's historical land distribution |
| Acts 17:26 | and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. | God's sovereignty over nations' territories |
| Rom 9:13 | Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." | God's choices concerning Esau |
| Heb 11:8-9 | By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed...and went out...He lived as an alien in the land of promise... | Land promised through faith |
Deuteronomy 2 verses
Deuteronomy 2 12 Meaning
Deuteronomy 2:12 explains that the Edomites, descendants of Esau, dispossessed and destroyed the Horites who formerly lived in Seir, settling in their land. This event is presented as a parallel to Israel's future conquest and inheritance of the land of Canaan, emphasizing that both actions are part of God's sovereign plan for allocating nations' territories. It reassures Israel that their divine mandate to possess Canaan follows a pattern already established by God in history.
Deuteronomy 2 12 Context
Deuteronomy chapter 2 details the final leg of Israel's forty-year wilderness wanderings, specifically focusing on their encounters with the nations bordering Canaan: Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Moses recounts how the Lord commanded Israel not to provoke or attack these nations because God had already assigned their territories to the descendants of Esau (Edomites) and Lot (Moabites and Ammonites). This specific verse (2:12) acts as a historical parenthetical remark, further underscoring the divine precedent for national land ownership. It explicitly draws a parallel between the Edomites' dispossession of the Horites in Seir and Israel's upcoming, God-mandated dispossession of the Canaanites. This explanation serves to justify Israel's actions as a pattern established by God, preparing the new generation of Israelites for the conquest of the Promised Land, confirming that their inheritance is not a result of mere military might, but a divine gift and fulfillment of God's ancient promises.
Deuteronomy 2 12 Word analysis
The Horites (הַחֹרִים - ha-Horim): Refers to an ancient people, primarily cave-dwellers, who inhabited the mountainous region of Seir before the Edomites. Their mention establishes a historical baseline for land ownership. This signifies a preceding, distinct culture and people group in that specific territory. They are also referenced in Gen 14:6 and in the genealogies of Gen 36:20-30, showing their prior presence in Seir.
also lived formerly: This phrase emphasizes the pre-existence of the Horites in Seir, prior to Edomite settlement. It sets up the idea of one people being displaced by another, underscoring the dynamic nature of territorial occupation under divine oversight.
in Seir: The mountainous region south of the Dead Sea, historically associated with Esau and his descendants, the Edomites. This geographical marker is key to understanding the historical comparison.
but the sons of Esau (בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו - b'nei Esav): Refers to the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. They are presented as the conquering force who took possession of Seir. Their successful conquest here highlights God's sovereignty in granting nations their dwelling places (Dt 2:5).
dispossessed them (יִירָשׁוּם - yirashum, from יָרַשׁ - yarash): Meaning "to inherit, to take possession of, to dispossess." This verb implies a forceful displacement and the establishment of new ownership. The term is crucial as it is also used for Israel's divinely mandated inheritance of Canaan (Dt 1:8). This highlights a common pattern of divine operation.
and destroyed them from before them (וַיַּשְׁמִידֻם מִפְּנֵיהֶם - vayyashmidum mippenehem, from שָׁמַד - shamad): Shamad means "to destroy, annihilate, make desolate." This phrase signifies a complete and decisive removal, leaving no inhabitants to oppose the new occupants. It underlines the thoroughness of the dispossession, forming a strong parallel to the commanded annihilation of the Canaanites by Israel (Dt 7:2). This is not just displacement but utter destruction for their being completely replaced.
and settled in their place: This denotes the completion of the takeover, with the conquering group establishing themselves as the new residents and inheritors of the land.
just as (כַּאֲשֶׁר - ka'asher): A crucial comparative particle. This explicitly draws a parallel between the historical event of the Edomites and the future actions of Israel. It suggests that Israel's conquest is not unique or without precedent but operates within God's established historical patterns for nations and land. It provides divine sanction and understanding.
Israel did to the land of their possession: Refers to what Israel will do as they enter and conquer Canaan. The text uses the past tense here idiomatically, looking forward to an event certain to happen, as if it already has. It reinforces the certainty of the divine promise and command.
which the Lord gave to them (אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה לָהֶם - asher natan YHVH lahem): This emphasizes that Israel's future inheritance of Canaan is a divine grant, not a conquest by their own might alone. It underscores God's active role as the dispenser of land and the fulfiller of His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land of Canaan. It grounds the future military action in divine command and promise.
Deuteronomy 2 12 Bonus section
This verse encapsulates a powerful truth about God's absolute sovereignty over nations and their dwelling places on earth. It reveals that the historical ebb and flow of peoples and territories are not arbitrary but orchestrated by God. The phrase "just as Israel did" is prophetic perfect, signifying a certainty—Israel's actions in Canaan are as certain as the historical fact of the Edomites in Seir. This passage is a part of Moses' broader teaching in Deuteronomy 2-3 where he consistently points out that all land allocations were decided by God. For instance, even the Anakim, fierce giants who inhabited various lands, were cleared out by nations like the Caphtorim and Ammonites (Dt 2:10-11, 20-21), demonstrating that God has historically removed obstacles for the inheritance of other nations as well, making Israel's case no exception but rather another instance of His powerful hand at work.
Deuteronomy 2 12 Commentary
Deuteronomy 2:12 provides a theological and historical framework for understanding Israel's divinely commanded conquest of Canaan. It explains that the Edomites' displacement of the Horites from Seir, accompanied by their destruction and subsequent settlement, mirrors what the Lord intends for Israel in the Promised Land. This historical precedent is crucial; it reassures the Israelites that their actions are not merely aggressive land acquisition, but rather the execution of a pre-ordained divine plan.
God, in His sovereignty, dispenses land to nations according to His purpose. Just as He gave Seir to Esau (Dt 2:5) and the lands of Moab and Ammon to the sons of Lot (Dt 2:9, 19), He is now giving Canaan to Israel. The complete dispossession and destruction observed with the Horites underscore the thoroughness expected and enacted by God in preparing the land for His chosen people. This concept counters any potential moral objections by showing that this is God's pattern throughout history for justly relocating nations for His purposes. The verse reaffirms that Israel’s inheritance is not achieved through human strength alone but is a covenant fulfillment—a direct gift from Yahweh, reflecting His faithful promise-keeping from the days of Abraham.