Deuteronomy 2 22

Deuteronomy 2:22 kjv

As 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:

Deuteronomy 2:22 nkjv

just as He had done for the descendants of Esau, who dwelt in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them. They dispossessed them and dwelt in their place, even to this day.

Deuteronomy 2:22 niv

The LORD had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day.

Deuteronomy 2:22 esv

as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day.

Deuteronomy 2:22 nlt

He had done the same for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, for he destroyed the Horites so they could settle there in their place. The descendants of Esau live there to this day.

Deuteronomy 2 verses

Deuteronomy 2 22 Meaning

Deuteronomy 2:22 illuminates God's consistent divine activity in granting territory. It presents a clear analogy: just as the LORD sovereignly acted to dispossess the indigenous Horites from Mount Seir to establish the descendants of Esau (Edomites) in their land, so would He certainly act on behalf of Israel to enable them to take possession of the land He promised them. The verse assures Israel that their impending conquest is not by their might, but by God's powerful intervention, reflecting His faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Deuteronomy 2 22 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 2 describes Israel's journey through the wilderness after their failed attempt to enter the Promised Land from Kadesh Barnea and the subsequent thirty-eight years of wandering. Moses recounts how God commanded Israel to bypass Edom (Esau's descendants), Moab, and Ammon because the LORD had already assigned these territories as perpetual possessions to Lot's descendants and Esau's offspring. This passage emphasizes God's sovereign hand in establishing all nations and determining their territorial boundaries, acting as a historical preamble to Israel's own impending conquest of Canaan. Verse 22 specifically highlights a historical example (the Edomites) to assure Israel of the LORD's certain help in their own forthcoming conflicts.

Deuteronomy 2 22 Word analysis

• As he did (כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה – ka’ăsher ‘āsāh):
  • Significance: Emphasizes divine agency. This is not a chance event, but a deliberate action of God. It sets up a powerful comparative argument, establishing a divine precedent.
  • Highlight: The verb "did" is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action, confirming its historical facticity.
• children of Esau (בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו – bəné ‘Ēśāw):
  • Significance: Refers to the Edomites, direct descendants of Esau. They were kin to Israel through Abraham and Isaac. Their establishment in Seir demonstrates God's general providence over nations, not exclusively His covenant people.
• which dwelt in Seir (הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֵׂעִיר – hayoshvîm bəśe‘îr):
  • Significance: Locates the Edomites. Seir was a specific, geographically distinct region, highlighting the concrete nature of God's land distribution.
• when he destroyed (בְּהַשְׁמִדֹו – bəhashmîdô):
  • Significance: From the root שׁמד (shamad), meaning to annihilate, destroy, cut off. Here, it denotes a decisive, God-initiated action of removing a people group from their land. It's an active Hif'il participle, showing God as the agent.
  • Highlight: The "destroying" refers to the ultimate subjugation and disappearance of the Horites as an independent nation, making way for the Edomites. This does not necessarily mean literal extermination of every individual, but the end of their communal distinctiveness or independent political identity.
• the Horims (אֶת־הַחֹרִים – ’et-haḤōrîm):
  • Significance: An ancient people inhabiting Seir before the Edomites. Their mention verifies that the land was not empty, underscoring the challenge overcome by divine intervention. Their name likely connects to ḥor (cave), suggesting "cave-dwellers," a common lifestyle in rocky regions like Seir.
• from before them (מִפְּנֵיהֶם – mippənêhem):
  • Significance: Indicates a thorough clearing out, making space for the new inhabitants without contest. It emphasizes effective displacement and removal.
• so did Israel (כֵּן עָשָׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל – kēn ‘āsāh yiśrā’ēl):
  • Significance: This phrase uses a prophetic perfect tense, treating a future event (Israel's conquest of Canaan) as already accomplished. It conveys the absolute certainty and divine guarantee of the outcome. It also implies God working through Israel as His agents.
  • Highlight: The "Israel did" refers to Israel as the instrument of God's will; it's still God who empowers and enables the doing.
• unto the land of his possession (לְאֶרֶץ יְרֻשָׁתֹו – lə’ereṣ yərušātô):
  • Significance: Refers to Canaan, the inheritance God promised to Israel. "Possession" (or "inheritance," yerushah) emphasizes that the land is not merely taken, but divinely granted and endowed as a perpetual legacy.
• which the LORD gave unto them (אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה לָהֶם – ’asher nātan YHWH lāhem):
  • Significance: A critical affirmation of divine ownership and donation. It unequivocally attributes the giving of the land directly to Yahweh, eliminating any notion of Israel earning it or conquering it by their own power.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "As he did to the children of Esau... when he destroyed the Horims from before them": This segment establishes the divine pattern. It highlights God's historical action of sovereignly clearing a territory of its inhabitants to establish another nation. This sets up the logical and theological foundation for the parallel.
• "so did Israel unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them": This segment applies the divine pattern to Israel. It states with certainty that Israel will achieve similar success in conquering their promised land. The phrasing underscores that this achievement is a direct result of the LORD's bestowal and active empowerment, not Israel's independent military might. The parallel ensures Israel understood that God's power was not exclusive to their nation but was extended to others for His purposes, demonstrating His universal sovereignty.

Deuteronomy 2 22 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the concept of God as the great Land-Giver and Land-Determiner for all nations, not just Israel. Before giving the land to Israel, He established nations like Edom, Moab, and Ammon in their own pre-determined territories, demonstrating a comprehensive, sovereign blueprint for world geography and human settlement. This perspective implicitly refutes any idea of independent national formation or purely human achievement in territorial claims; ultimately, it is God who determines the "times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" for all peoples (Acts 17:26). The parallel serves as an early biblical example of drawing encouragement and assurance for future divine action based on past divine patterns observed even outside direct covenantal engagements. It exemplifies God's consistency and faithfulness to His word and plan across various historical and national contexts.

Deuteronomy 2 22 Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:22 is a foundational verse that underpins the theological premise of Israel's impending conquest. It moves beyond simply recounting past events to establishing a divine pattern for future action. By highlighting God's prior action on behalf of Esau (Edom), clearing the Horites from Seir, Moses offers irrefutable evidence of the LORD's power and faithfulness to secure lands for His chosen peoples. The very phrase "so did Israel" uses a grammatical construction that declares Israel's future conquest as a guaranteed certainty, an already completed work in God's eyes, not merely a hope or possibility.

This verse teaches Israel several crucial lessons: Firstly, their inheritance of Canaan would not be due to their own strength or merit but solely through God's active intervention and gift. Secondly, God's sovereignty extends over all nations; He establishes their boundaries, raises some, and displaces others according to His divine will (cf. Acts 17:26). Thirdly, if God would do this for a nation outside of His covenant people, how much more would He act for Israel, His special chosen people, to fulfill the ancient promises made to their fathers? This understanding was designed to build their faith and courage as they prepared to face the formidable inhabitants of Canaan. It serves as a potent reminder that divine promise always precedes human possession, and divine power enables the fulfillment of that promise.