Deuteronomy 2:37 - Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near; all the banks of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.
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What does "Deuteronomy 2:37" mean?
Deuteronomy 2:37 is part of Moses's recounting of Israel's wilderness wanderings and God's instructions for their conquest of Canaan. It specifically clarifies the boundaries they were not allowed to cross. Let's break it down:
"Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near...": This is the core directive. The Israelites were commanded not to attack or dispossess the Ammonites. Ammon was a nation east of the Jordan River, descendants of Lot.
"...all the banks of the river Jabbok...": The Jabbok River formed a significant portion of the Ammonite border. Israel was instructed not to cross this boundary, respecting Ammonite territory.
"...and the cities of the hill country...": This further specifies that even within the hilly regions that might adjoin Ammon, Israel was to avoid engaging with Ammonite settlements.
"...and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.": This is a broad, encompassing statement. It reinforces that the instructions regarding Ammon were not arbitrary, but based on a divine command. It suggests there might have been other, less explicit, restrictions in addition to the Ammonite border.
In essence, the verse emphasizes God's specific instruction not to invade or attack the land of the Ammonites and clarifies the geographical boundaries that Israel needed to respect to avoid conflict.
Why this was important:
There are a few potential reasons why God instructed Israel to avoid the Ammonites:
Divine Sovereignty: God had the right to determine who would inherit certain lands. Sometimes, even if the current inhabitants were wicked, God might have a specific purpose for them or a predetermined timeframe for their judgment.
Strategic Considerations: Engaging in war with every surrounding nation simultaneously could have overextended Israel's resources and weakened their position.
Relationship to Lot: As descendants of Lot (Abraham's nephew), the Ammonites had a distant familial connection to Israel. God may have wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict with distant relatives.
In summary, Deuteronomy 2:37 highlights the selective nature of Israel's conquest, demonstrating that they were not given a blank check to conquer all lands, but rather were under specific instructions and limitations from God.
Deuteronomy 2:37 - Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near; all the banks of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill country, and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.
What does "Deuteronomy 2:37" mean?
Deuteronomy 2:37 is part of Moses's recounting of Israel's wilderness wanderings and God's instructions for their conquest of Canaan. It specifically clarifies the boundaries they were not allowed to cross. Let's break it down:
"Only to the land of the children of Ammon you didn’t come near...": This is the core directive. The Israelites were commanded not to attack or dispossess the Ammonites. Ammon was a nation east of the Jordan River, descendants of Lot.
"...all the banks of the river Jabbok...": The Jabbok River formed a significant portion of the Ammonite border. Israel was instructed not to cross this boundary, respecting Ammonite territory.
"...and the cities of the hill country...": This further specifies that even within the hilly regions that might adjoin Ammon, Israel was to avoid engaging with Ammonite settlements.
"...and wherever Yahweh our God forbade us.": This is a broad, encompassing statement. It reinforces that the instructions regarding Ammon were not arbitrary, but based on a divine command. It suggests there might have been other, less explicit, restrictions in addition to the Ammonite border.
In essence, the verse emphasizes God's specific instruction not to invade or attack the land of the Ammonites and clarifies the geographical boundaries that Israel needed to respect to avoid conflict.
Why this was important:
There are a few potential reasons why God instructed Israel to avoid the Ammonites:
Divine Sovereignty: God had the right to determine who would inherit certain lands. Sometimes, even if the current inhabitants were wicked, God might have a specific purpose for them or a predetermined timeframe for their judgment.
Strategic Considerations: Engaging in war with every surrounding nation simultaneously could have overextended Israel's resources and weakened their position.
Relationship to Lot: As descendants of Lot (Abraham's nephew), the Ammonites had a distant familial connection to Israel. God may have wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict with distant relatives.
In summary, Deuteronomy 2:37 highlights the selective nature of Israel's conquest, demonstrating that they were not given a blank check to conquer all lands, but rather were under specific instructions and limitations from God.