Judges 11:18 - Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
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What does "Judges 11:18" mean?
Judges 11:18 describes the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, specifically focusing on their interaction with the nations of Edom and Moab. Let's break down the meaning:
"Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab...": This indicates the Israelites were intentionally avoiding direct conflict with Edom and Moab. They didn't take the most direct route, likely because they knew these nations were hostile and wouldn't allow them passage.
"...and came by the east side of the land of Moab...": They approached Moab from the east, which was the direction coming out of the wilderness.
"...and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.": The Arnon River was the established boundary of Moab. The Israelites set up camp on the east side of the Arnon, carefully staying outside of Moab's territory.
In essence, the verse highlights:
The Israelites' respect for national boundaries: They made a conscious effort to avoid trespassing on Moabite land.
Their peaceful intentions (at this point): They weren't looking for a fight with Moab and were careful not to provoke them.
Their strategic maneuvering: They were navigating a difficult geographical and political landscape on their way to their destination.
Historical and Geographical Context: The verse underscores the importance of the Arnon River as a defining geographical and political feature in the region.
It's important to note that while the Israelites initially sought to avoid conflict, tensions with other nations would eventually arise, leading to warfare. This verse sets the stage for understanding those later conflicts within the broader context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of Canaan.
Judges 11:18 - Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
What does "Judges 11:18" mean?
Judges 11:18 describes the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land, specifically focusing on their interaction with the nations of Edom and Moab. Let's break down the meaning:
"Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab...": This indicates the Israelites were intentionally avoiding direct conflict with Edom and Moab. They didn't take the most direct route, likely because they knew these nations were hostile and wouldn't allow them passage.
"...and came by the east side of the land of Moab...": They approached Moab from the east, which was the direction coming out of the wilderness.
"...and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn’t come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.": The Arnon River was the established boundary of Moab. The Israelites set up camp on the east side of the Arnon, carefully staying outside of Moab's territory.
In essence, the verse highlights:
The Israelites' respect for national boundaries: They made a conscious effort to avoid trespassing on Moabite land.
Their peaceful intentions (at this point): They weren't looking for a fight with Moab and were careful not to provoke them.
Their strategic maneuvering: They were navigating a difficult geographical and political landscape on their way to their destination.
Historical and Geographical Context: The verse underscores the importance of the Arnon River as a defining geographical and political feature in the region.
It's important to note that while the Israelites initially sought to avoid conflict, tensions with other nations would eventually arise, leading to warfare. This verse sets the stage for understanding those later conflicts within the broader context of the Israelite conquest and settlement of Canaan.