8 'And we pass by from our brethren, sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, by the way of the plain, by Elath, and by Ezion-Gaber; and we turn, and pass over the way of the wilderness of Moab; 9 and Jehovah saith unto me, Do not distress Moab, nor stir thyself up against them 'in' battle, for I do not give to thee of their land 'for' a possession; for to the sons of Lot I have given Ar 'for' a possession.' 10 'The Emim formerly have dwelt in it, a people great, and numerous, and tall, as the Anakim; 11 Rephaim they are reckoned, they also, as the Anakim; and the Moabites call them Emim. 12 And in Seir have the Horim dwelt formerly; and the sons of Esau dispossess them, and destroy them from before them, and dwell in their stead, as Israel hath done to the land of his possession, which Jehovah hath given to them; 13 now, rise ye, and pass over for yourselves the brook Zered; and we pass over the brook Zered. 14 'And the days which we have walked from Kadesh-Barnea until that we have passed over the brook Zered, 'are' thirty and eight years, till the consumption of all the generation of the men of battle from the midst of the camp, as Jehovah hath sworn to them; 15 and also the hand of Jehovah hath been against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, till they are consumed. 16 'And it cometh to pass, when all the men of battle have finished dying from the midst of the people, 17 that Jehovah speaketh unto me, saying, 18 Thou art passing over to-day the border of Moab, even Ar, 19 and thou hast come near over-against the sons of Ammon, thou dost not distress them, nor stir up thyself against them, for I do not give 'any' of the land of the sons of Ammon to thee 'for' a possession; for to the sons of Lot I have given it 'for' a possession. 20 'A land of Rephaim it is reckoned, even it; Rephaim dwelt in it formerly, and the Ammonites call them Zamzummim; 21 a people great, and numerous, and tall, as the Anakim, and Jehovah destroyeth them before them, and they dispossess them, and dwell in their stead, 22 as He hath done for the sons of Esau, who are dwelling in Seir, when He destroyed the Horim from before them, and they dispossess them, and dwell in their stead, unto this day. 23 'As to the Avim who are dwelling in Hazerim unto Azzah, the Caphtorim—who are coming out from Caphtor—have destroyed them, and dwell in their stead.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:8-23
Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:8-23
(Read Deuteronomy 2:8-23)
We have the origin of the Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites. Moses also gives an instance older than any of these; the Caphtorims drove the Avims out of their country. These revolutions show what uncertain things wordly possessions are. It was so of old, and ever will be so. Families decline, and from them estates are transferred to families that increase; so little continuance is there in these things. This is recorded to encourage the children of Israel. If the providence of God has done this for Moabites and Ammonites, much more would his promise do it for Israel, his peculiar people. Cautions are given not to meddle with Moabites and Ammonites. Even wicked men must not be wronged. God gives and preserves outward blessings to wicked men; these are not the best things, he has better in store for his own children.