Deuteronomy 2 9

Deuteronomy 2:9 kjv

And 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.

Deuteronomy 2:9 nkjv

Then 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 descendants of Lot as a possession.' "

Deuteronomy 2:9 niv

Then the LORD said to me, "Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession."

Deuteronomy 2:9 esv

And the LORD said to me, 'Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the people of Lot for a possession.'

Deuteronomy 2:9 nlt

the LORD warned us, 'Do not bother the Moabites, the descendants of Lot, or start a war with them. I have given them Ar as their property, and I will not give you any of their land.'"

Deuteronomy 2 verses

Deuteronomy 2 9 Meaning

Deuteronomy 2:9 conveys God's specific command to Israel not to provoke or engage in warfare with the Moabites as they journey toward the Promised Land. This prohibition stems from God's prior act of granting the territory of Ar to the descendants of Lot, establishing their rightful inheritance through divine decree. It highlights God's sovereign authority over all nations and their allotted territories, even those outside of Israel.

Deuteronomy 2 9 Context

Deuteronomy chapter 2 begins Moses' recollection of Israel's journey after 38 years in the wilderness. It marks the shift from wandering to preparation for entering Canaan. Prior to Deuteronomy 2:9, God instructs Israel to bypass the Edomites (descendants of Esau) and avoid provoking them, as their territory was a divine gift to Esau (Dt 2:4-6). This verse then applies a similar command to the Moabites, the descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. The overall context emphasizes God's precise directions for the route to Canaan, particularly regarding engagement (or non-engagement) with the peoples bordering the land, underscoring His sovereignty over all nations and their ancestral lands, not just Israel's inheritance. It contrasts sharply with the subsequent commands to engage with other nations, like Sihon and Og, whose lands were designated for Israel's conquest due to their rejection of peace and God's decree.

Deuteronomy 2 9 Word analysis

• "And the LORD said to me,"
  • This phrase indicates a direct divine command and revelation given to Moses, emphasizing the authoritative source of the instruction.
• "Do not harass" (Hebrew: al tsūrū, אַל־תָּצַר)
  • Tsūrū comes from the root tswr (צור), meaning "to lay siege to," "to shut in," "to distress," or "to vex."
  • The command al tsūrū means "do not distress them" or "do not show hostility against them by force." It implies not putting them in a state of siege or direct military oppression.
• "Moab" (Hebrew: Mo'av, מוֹאָב)
  • Descendants of Lot through his elder daughter (Gen 19:37). Their territory was east of the Dead Sea.
  • The command reflects a historical kinship link through Abraham's family, indicating a boundary to Israel's conquests based on existing divine land grants.
• "or contend with them in battle," (Hebrew: al titgāru, אַל־תִּתְגָּר־בָּם מִלְחָמָה)
  • Titgāru comes from the root gārāh (גָּרָה), meaning "to contend," "to strive," "to provoke to war."
  • This is a strong, emphatic prohibition against initiating conflict or provoking hostility. It goes beyond mere non-harassment to a complete avoidance of military engagement.
  • Milchāmāh (מִלְחָמָה) means "war" or "battle."
• "for I will not give you any of their land as a possession," (Hebrew: kī lōʾ-ʾetten lĕkhā mēʾart͡sām yerushāh)
  • Kī lōʾ-ʾetten emphasizes a definite refusal from God.
  • Yerushāh (יְרֻשָׁה) means "inheritance" or "possession." This clarifies the reason for non-engagement: God has not allotted this specific land to Israel.
• "because I have given Ar to the children of Lot as a possession." (Hebrew: kī lēvanēy-Lot nātattī ʾet-ʿĀr morāshāh)
  • Nātattī (נָתַתִּי) is a perfect tense verb, "I have given," signifying a completed divine act. This is a divine, immutable decree.
  • Ar: This is the principal city and region of Moab, serving as metonymy for their entire territory. It's south of the Arnon River.
  • Children of Lot: This refers collectively to both Moab (Gen 19:37) and Ammon (Gen 19:38), both deriving from Lot, highlighting their common ancestry and their divinely ordained shared inheritance.

Deuteronomy 2 9 Bonus section

The specific protection of Moab and Ammon contrasts sharply with their later animosity and opposition towards Israel (e.g., Balak of Moab hiring Balaam, the Ammonites' attacks, and their later exclusion from the assembly of the Lord). This indicates that God's protection of their land was not based on their righteousness but on His prior, sovereign allocation. This verse underscores the distinction between a permanent land grant (like Ar to Lot's descendants) and conditional permissions (like passage through Edom, which was denied) or specific commands for conquest due to inhabitants' wickedness and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham. This command also highlights the theme that God’s plans are precise, requiring careful obedience to every detail of His instruction, rather than Israel presuming where they could and could not go or who they could and could not engage.

Deuteronomy 2 9 Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:9 succinctly reveals a profound aspect of God's universal sovereignty: His distribution of territory extends beyond just the land promised to Israel. While Israel was commanded to conquer Canaan, God had already designated other lands for other peoples, even those not in covenant relationship with Him, based on their familial ties (Lot, Esau). This command teaches Israel, and us, that God operates with principles of justice, recognizing and respecting prior divine grants, and not all lands were destined for Israel's conquest. It served as a divine limitation on Israel's military expansion, instructing them in obedience and differentiating God's chosen nation from a ruthless conqueror. This established boundaries for the nascent nation, demanding humility and adherence to divine decrees rather than acting out of territorial ambition, ensuring they understood that even their conquests were under His direction, not their own will or greed.