Deuteronomy 2:1 - Meaning and Application

Here is a short account of Israel’s long stay in the wilderness: they went around Mount Seir for many days, nearly thirty-eight years (Deuteronomy 2:1). During that time, they wandered in the deserts of Seir, and in some places they likely stayed for years without moving. God used this long delay not only to punish their complaining and unbelief, but also to prepare them for Canaan, the promised land.

He prepared them by humbling them for their sin and teaching them to put their sinful desires to death, follow him, and find comfort in him. It takes time to make people ready for heaven, and God often uses a long course of trials to do it. At the same time, he was also preparing the Canaanites for judgment. While Israel waited, the Canaanites kept filling up the measure of their guilt, and they used the delay to harden their hearts instead of repenting.

Now God ordered Israel to turn toward Canaan. Though God may contend with people for a long time, he will not contend forever. Even if his people wait long for rescue or growth, it will come in due time. The vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it will speak and not lie.

God also gave them a charge not to harm the Edomites, the descendants of Esau. They were not to act as enemies toward them, or meddle with them (Deuteronomy 2:4, 5). They must not take advantage of the fear the Edomites would feel when Israel approached. The Edomites would be afraid, knowing Israel’s strength and God’s power with them, but fear alone did not give Israel the right to attack.

This warning also meant the leaders must keep their soldiers from doing wrong. Israel was not to avenge themselves for Edom’s earlier refusal to let them pass through their land (Numbers 20:21). Before God used Israel to destroy enemies in Canaan, he taught them to forgive enemies in Edom. They also were not to expect any of Edom’s land as their own. Mount Seir already belonged to the Edomites, and God’s covenant and guidance did not give Israel the right to seize whatever they could reach. Grace does not create a right to land or power.

Instead, Israel was to deal honestly with the Edomites as neighbors, buying food and water from them and paying for what they received (Deuteronomy 2:6). Religion must never be used as a cover for injustice. God’s reason was clear, he had blessed Israel, and they had lacked nothing so far (Deuteronomy 2:7). So they did not need to beg from the Edomites, and they should not be dependent on them when they had the all-sufficient God to trust.

Since God had provided for them, they had enough to pay for what they needed. They were to use what they had with gratitude and not sponge off others. And because they had seen God’s care for them, they must not turn to dishonest means for provision in the future. They were to live by faith, not by the sword.