Keraia
Deuteronomy 2

Deuteronomy 2:9

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

Translations

Modern
Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And YHWH said to me, “Do not harass Moab and do not contend with them in battle, for I will not give to you of their land as a possession, because to the sons of Lot I have given Ar as a possession.”
Latin
Dixitque Dominus ad me: Non pugnes contra Moabitas, nec ineas adversus eos prælium: non enim dabo tibi quidquam de terra eorum, quia filiis Loth tradidi Ar in possessionem.

Original

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

Notes

Deuteronomy 2:9

  • Lot was Abraham's nephew and Isaac's cousin. God destroyed Sodom, Gomorrah, and other nearby cities. Then Lot and his two unmarried daughters took shelter in a cave east of the Dead Sea (see Genesis 19:30–38). Lot's daughters got their father so drunk that he had sexual relations with them.

    Their children became the nations of Moab and Ammon. Because they were relatives of Israel, they would not disturb the Moabites. King David's great-grandmother Ruth was from Moab (Ruth 1:4). David sent his family to Moab for safety when Saul chased him (1 Samuel 22:3–5).

  • Ar was probably the capital of Moab.

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

Lot

People

Lot: Abraham's nephew; rescued from Sodom's destruction

Places

Ar: The capital city of Moab Moab: Ancient kingdom east of the Dead Sea in Jordan

Glossary

Ar Archaeology and the Bible Deuteronomy, Book of Numbers, Book of

Topics

Ar: A City of Moab Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Ijeabarim Before Moab: Orders Given Respecting Moab Moabites are Given To, As a Possession Moabites: Called: Children of Lot Moabites: Expelled the Ancient Emims Moabites: Israelites: Forbidden to Spoil Moabites: Land of, not Given to the Israelites As a Possession Moabites: The People of Israel Commanded not to Distress the Moabites