This verse, Deuteronomy 2:18, is part of a larger narrative where God is instructing the Israelites, led by Moses, on their journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. Let's break down the meaning:
"You are to pass over Ar..." "Pass over" in this context means to cross or move beyond a specific location. "Ar" refers to a city or region in Moab. It's often considered a key city in Moab.
"...the border of Moab, today." This tells the Israelites that their crossing of Ar signifies their departure from the land of Moab. "Moab" was a nation descended from Lot (Abraham's nephew) and was located east of the Dead Sea. "Today" might not mean the literal 24-hour period but more generally the immediate time frame when Moses was delivering these instructions.
Therefore, the verse means God is commanding the Israelites to continue their journey and specifically to move beyond the city or region of Ar, which marks the boundary of the Moabite territory. This signifies they are leaving Moab behind and proceeding on their route towards their ultimate destination.
Context within Deuteronomy 2:
The whole chapter of Deuteronomy 2 is a summary of the Israelites' wanderings and God's instructions regarding the nations they would encounter. God forbade the Israelites from attacking Moab, Ammon, and Edom, because these nations were descendants of Lot and Esau and God had given them those lands as inheritances. Passing over Ar was part of obeying God's commands to avoid conflict with Moab. This instruction underscores the theme of obedience to God's specific commands during their journey.
This verse, Deuteronomy 2:18, is part of a larger narrative where God is instructing the Israelites, led by Moses, on their journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. Let's break down the meaning:
"You are to pass over Ar..." "Pass over" in this context means to cross or move beyond a specific location. "Ar" refers to a city or region in Moab. It's often considered a key city in Moab.
"...the border of Moab, today." This tells the Israelites that their crossing of Ar signifies their departure from the land of Moab. "Moab" was a nation descended from Lot (Abraham's nephew) and was located east of the Dead Sea. "Today" might not mean the literal 24-hour period but more generally the immediate time frame when Moses was delivering these instructions.
Therefore, the verse means God is commanding the Israelites to continue their journey and specifically to move beyond the city or region of Ar, which marks the boundary of the Moabite territory. This signifies they are leaving Moab behind and proceeding on their route towards their ultimate destination.
Context within Deuteronomy 2:
The whole chapter of Deuteronomy 2 is a summary of the Israelites' wanderings and God's instructions regarding the nations they would encounter. God forbade the Israelites from attacking Moab, Ammon, and Edom, because these nations were descendants of Lot and Esau and God had given them those lands as inheritances. Passing over Ar was part of obeying God's commands to avoid conflict with Moab. This instruction underscores the theme of obedience to God's specific commands during their journey.
