Deuteronomy 2 19

Deuteronomy 2:19 kjv

And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:19 nkjv

And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.' "

Deuteronomy 2:19 niv

When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot."

Deuteronomy 2:19 esv

And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.'

Deuteronomy 2:19 nlt

and enter the land of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot. But do not bother them or start a war with them. I have given the land of Ammon to them as their property, and I will not give you any of their land.'"

Deuteronomy 2 verses

Deuteronomy 2 19 Meaning

Deuteronomy 2:19 instructs the Israelites not to harass, attack, or provoke the Ammonites as they pass through their territory. The reason given is that God has already designated their land as a permanent possession for the descendants of Lot, thus denying Israel any claim or right to that specific land. This command demonstrates God's sovereign right to allocate land to various nations.

Deuteronomy 2 19 Context

This verse is part of Moses' recounting of Israel's journey from Kadesh-barnea towards the Promised Land. Chapters 1-3 of Deuteronomy establish the historical prelude to the renewed covenant, emphasizing God's guidance and provision during their forty years in the wilderness. Specifically, Deuteronomy 2 details their circumvention of Edom and Moab, who were distant relatives of Israel. Verse 19 directly follows a similar command regarding the Moabites (Deut 2:9). These instructions highlight that Israel's conquest of Canaan was not a land grab but a specific, divinely sanctioned act of judgment on certain nations, while respecting the boundaries God had set for others. The historical context reflects a time when divine decree was paramount in national formation and territorial rights, distinguishing Israel's unique relationship with YHWH from the aggressive expansion typical of many ancient Near Eastern empires.

Deuteronomy 2 19 Word analysis

• And when thou comest nigh over against: Signifies Israel's directed path under divine guidance, not an arbitrary exploration.
• the children of Ammon: Refers to the descendants of Ben-Ammi, the son born to Lot's younger daughter (Gen 19:38). Their ethnic identity and divine allocation of land were firmly established.
• distress them not: From the Hebrew lo' ta-tzar (לֹא תָצַר). Tatzar means to narrow, straiten, besiege, vex, or cause distress. It forbids any act of aggression, hostility, or harassment.
• nor meddle with them: From the Hebrew v'lo tit-gā̄r (וְלֹא תִתְגָּר). Titgar is a reflexive verb meaning to stir oneself up, to pick a quarrel, provoke, or contend. It emphasizes not initiating or engaging in conflict.
• for I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession: The foundational reason for the command. "Possession" (môrāšāh) denotes an inherited, permanent dwelling place. This asserts God's ultimate sovereignty over all land and its distribution, not just to Israel but also to other nations.
• therefore I will not give thee of the children of Ammon any possession: Reinforces the command with an explicit statement of God's unchanging decree regarding this land. Israel is unequivocally forbidden from acquiring any of Ammon's territory.

Words-group analysis

• "distress them not, nor meddle with them": This double negative command strongly emphasizes absolute non-aggression and non-provocation. It covers both active military engagement and any action that could instigate conflict. It demonstrates a strict limitation on Israel's actions, emphasizing peaceful passage.
• "children of Lot... for a possession": This phrase clarifies the lineage and the basis of the Ammonites' land rights. God's provision for Lot's descendants, just like for Esau and Jacob, signifies His overarching plan for all peoples, highlighting that His sovereignty extends beyond the chosen nation of Israel. This divine allotment provides an unassailable justification for Israel's peaceful approach.
• "I have given it unto the children of Lot... therefore I will not give thee...": This declaration establishes God as the supreme dispenser of land. His past action of giving the land to Ammonites dictates His current and future prohibition for Israel regarding that land. This reinforces that Israel's claims to territory derived solely from divine grant, not from human conquest or ambition, preventing a "might makes right" mentality.

Deuteronomy 2 19 Bonus section

This passage is pivotal in illustrating that YHWH, the God of Israel, is the universal sovereign who ordains the boundaries and habitations of all nations (Acts 17:26), not merely the tribal deity of Israel. This universal governance pre-exists Israel's entry into the land, shaping the very parameters of their inheritance. The distinction between lands given to other peoples (like Edom, Moab, and Ammon) and lands promised to Israel serves a theological purpose: it frames Israel's unique calling within a broader, divine administration of the entire world. It also sets up a poignant contrast: while Israel was initially commanded not to trouble these nations due to God's prior grant, Ammonites and Moabites later exhibited significant hostility towards Israel (Deut 23:3-6), eventually becoming adversaries despite God's initial forbearance on their behalf. This underscores that even divinely allocated boundaries can be subject to human sin and rebellion.

Deuteronomy 2 19 Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:19 succinctly reveals profound truths about God's character and His ordered universe. It showcases His impartial sovereignty over all the earth, distributing land and establishing boundaries for all nations, not just for His covenant people. This command to leave the Ammonites undisturbed demonstrates divine justice and restraint; God dictates Israel's boundaries and conflicts, preventing arbitrary expansion. It's a key example that Israel's conquest was not an endless crusade for land but a precise, bounded, and morally sanctioned act within a divinely ordered world. The passage stands in contrast to common ancient Near Eastern practices of conquest, portraying a God whose authority ensures just order even for those outside the immediate covenant community, teaching Israel (and by extension, us) the importance of obedience to divinely ordained limits and the practice of peace where God commands it.