Keraia
Deuteronomy 2

Deuteronomy 2:8

Wanderings in the Wilderness · Deuteronomy 2:1–23
Read Deuteronomy 2

Translations

Modern
So 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.
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And we passed beyond our brothers, the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir, by the way of the plain, by Elath and Ezion-geber, and we turned and passed by the way of the Wilderness of Moab.
Latin
Cumque transissemus fratres nostros filios Esau, qui habitabant in Seir, per viam campestrem de Elath, et de Asiongaber, venimus ad iter quod ducit in desertum Moab.

Original

Hebrew
English
So 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.

Notes

Deuteronomy 2:8

  • our brothers: Isaac had two sons: Esau and Jacob. Esau was the firstborn. Jacob took Esau’s birthright and blessing as the firstborn (Genesis 25:27–34; 27:1–36). This led to intense hostility between Esau and Jacob and their descendants. Yet, Israel still recognized and honored their kinship.

    Out of brotherly loyalty, if not affection, Israel passed by Edom and did not fight the Edomites (see Numbers 20:14–21).

  • Arabah road: See study note on Deuteronomy 1:1.

  • Elath and Ezion-geber were twin port cities on the Red Sea. They later harbored the merchant ships of King Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and Uzziah (1 Kings 9:26; 1 Kings 22:48; 2 Kings 14:22).

Deuteronomy 2:2–25

Numbers 21:10–20 covers the same time period.

Deuteronomy 1:6–4:40

Secular treaties (formal agreements between nations) often included a section about the past relationship between the two partners. This section reviewed what had happened before the agreement.

In this case, the purpose was to review Israel’s successes and failures since the exodus from Egypt. It reminded the people that God had kept his word, even when they did not obey him.

To prepare the Israelites for life in Canaan, Moses reminded them about life in Egypt, their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and their past mistakes. He warned them to obey God's covenant. He assured them that God's grace would follow them as they learned to trust and obey the Lord.

Theme notes and profiles

Esau

People

Esau: Isaac's firstborn son; sold birthright to Jacob; became Edom

Places

Arabah: A desert region in the Jordan Valley and southward Elath: Edomite port on the Red Sea; fortified by Judah Ezion-geber: Israelite encampment; port city on Red Sea Moab: Ancient kingdom east of the Dead Sea in Jordan Seir: Region inhabited by Edomites, descendants of Esau

Glossary

Arabah Archaeology and the Bible Deuteronomy, Book of Elath Ezion-Geber Gulf of Aqaba Numbers, Book of Red Sea Seir (Place) Wilderness

Topics

Elath: A City of Idumea Ezion-Gaber (Ezion-Geber): Last Encampment of Israel Before Coming to the |Wilderness of Zin| Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Ijeabarim Before Moab: Orders Given Respecting Moab