Vietnam Bible (1934)

1Ðoạn, chúng ta trở lại đi vào đồng vắng về hướng Biển đỏ, y như Ðức Giê-hô-va đã phán dặn ta, và chúng ta đi vòng lâu ngày quanh núi Sê -i-rơ. 2Ðức Giê-hô-va có phán cùng ta mà rằng: 3Các ngươi đi vòng núi nầy cũng đã lâu rồi, hãy trở lên hướng bắc. 4Hãy truyền lịnh nầy cho dân sự: Các ngươi sẽ trải qua địa phận của anh em mình, tức là con cháu Ê-sau, ở tại Sê -i-rơ, và chúng nó sẽ sợ các ngươi. Nhưng hãy giữ lấy mình, 5chớ có tranh cùng chúng nó, vì ta sẽ không cho các ngươi xứ của chúng nó đâu, dầu đến nỗi một thẻo đất bằng bàn chân cũng không cho. Ta đã ban cho Ê-sau núi Sê -i-rơ làm sản nghiệp. 6Các ngươi sẽ dùng tiền bạc mà mua lương thức của chúng nó mà ăn, nước mà uống. 7Vì Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời ngươi đã ban phước cho mọi công việc làm của tay ngươi; Ngài đã biết cuộc đi đường ngươi ngang qua đồng vắng lớn lao nầy. Trong bốn mười năm nầy, Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời ngươi vẫn ở cùng ngươi; ngươi không thiếu chi hết. 8Vậy, chúng ta có đi ngang qua cách xa anh em ta, là con cháu Ê-sau, ở tại Sê -i-rơ, và bắt đi về hướng đồng vắng Mô-áp, đặng tránh con đường đồng bằng, cùng Ê-lát và Ê-xi-ôn-Ghê-be. 9Ðức Giê-hô-va bèn phán cùng ta rằng: Chớ đương địch và chớ chiến trận với dân Mô-áp; vì ta không cho ngươi chi trong xứ dân ấy làm sản nghiệp đâu, bởi ta đã ban A-rơ cho con cháu Lót làm sản nghiệp. 10(Lúc trước, dân Ê-mim ở tại đó. Ấy là một dân lớn, đông, hình giềng giàng như dân A-na-kim vậy. 11Người ta cũng cho dân nầy là dân giềng giàng như dân A-na-kim; nhưng dân Mô-áp gọi họ là Ê-mim. 12Dân Hô-rít lúc trước cũng ở tại Sê -i-rơ; song con cháu Ê-sau diệt dân ấy, đoạt lấy xứ họ và ở thế cho, y như Y-sơ-ra-ên làm trong xứ mà Ðức Giê-hô-va đã ban cho người làm sản nghiệp). 13Bây giờ, hãy đứng dậy, đi ngang qua khe Xê-rết. Vậy, chúng ta có đi ngang khe Xê-rết. 14Vả, thì giờ về các cuộc đi đường của chúng ta, từ khi lìa khỏi Ca-đe-Ba-nê-a, tới lúc đi ngang qua khe Xê-rết, cộng là ba mươi tám năm, cho đến chừng các người chiến sĩ về đời ấy đã diệt mất khỏi trại quân, y như Ðức Giê-hô-va đã thề cùng các người đó. 15Vả lại, tay Ðức Giê-hô-va cũng tra vào họ đặng diệt họ khỏi trại quân, cho đến chừng nào họ đều tiêu diệt hết. 16Xảy khi các người chiến sĩ đã bị tiêu diệt và chết mất khỏi dân sự, 17thì Ðức Giê-hô-va phán cùng ta mà rằng: 18Ngày nay ngươi sẽ đi ngang qua A-rơ, bờ cõi của dân Mô-áp, 19và đến gần con cháu Am-môn. Chớ đương địch và chớ chiến trận cùng chúng nó; vì ta không cho ngươi chi hết của xứ con cháu Am-môn làm sản nghiệp, bởi ta đã ban xứ đó cho con cháu của Lót làm sản nghiệp. 20(Nguyên xứ nầy gọi là xứ Rê-pha-im. Xưa kia dân Rê-pha-im ở đó, dân Am-môn gọi là Xam-xu-mim; 21ấy là một dân lớn, đông, hình giềng giàng như dân A-na-kim. Nhưng Ðức Giê-hô-va diệt dân Rê-pha-im trước mặt dân Am-môn; dân Am-môn đoạt lấy xứ của họ và ở thế cho. 22Ấy Ngài đã làm cho con cháu Ê-sau, ở tại Sê -i-rơ, là như vậy, khi Ngài hủy diệt dân Hô-rít trước mặt con cháu Ê-sau; họ chiếm lấy xứ dân ấy và ở thế vào chỗ cho đến ngày nay. 23Còn dân A-vim, ở trong những làng cho đến Ga-xa, dân Cáp-tô-rim ở từ Cáp-tô ra hủy diệt họ, và ở thế vào cho). 24Hãy đứng dậy đi ngang qua khe Aït-nôn. Kìa, ta đã phó Si-hôn, vua Hết-bôn, là người A-mô-rít, cùng xứ người vào tay ngươi; hãy khởi chiếm lấy và giao chiến cùng người. 25Ngày nay, ta khởi rải trên các dân tộc trong thiên hạ sự sợ hãi và kinh khủng về danh ngươi, đến nỗi khi nghe nói về ngươi, các dân tộc đó sẽ run rẩy và bị sự kinh khủng áp hãm trước mặt ngươi. 26Bấy giờ, từ đồng vắng Kê-đê-mốt, ta sai sứ giả đến Si-hôn, vua Hết-bôn, lấy lời hòa hảo đặng nói cùng người rằng: 27Xin cho phép tôi đi ngang qua xứ vua; tôi đi theo đường cái luôn luôn, không xây qua bên hữu hay bên tả. 28Vua sẽ nhận lấy bạc bán lương thực cho, để tôi có mà ăn; sẽ nhận lấy bạc bán nước, để tôi có mà uống. Chỉ hãy để cho tôi đi ngang qua luôn, 29cũng như con cháu Ê-sau ở tại Sê -i-rơ, và dân Mô-áp ở tại A-rơ đã cho phép vậy, cho đến chừng nào tôi đi qua Giô-đanh, đặng vào xứ mà Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời tôi ban cho tôi.  30Nhưng Si-hôn, vua Hết-bôn, không khứng chúng ta đi ngang qua địa phận người; vì Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời ngươi đã khiến cho tánh người ngoan ngạch, lòng người cứng cỏi, để phó người vào tay ngươi, y như điều đã xảy đến ngày nay. 31Ðức Giê-hô-va phán cùng ta rằng: kìa, từ bây giờ, ta phó Si-hôn và xứ người cho ngươi. Hãy khởi chiếm lấy xứ người đặng làm cơ nghiệp. 32Vậy, Si-hôn và cả dân sự người ra đón chúng ta, đặng giao chiến tại Gia-hát. 33Nhưng Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời chúng ta phó người cho chúng ta, và chúng ta đánh bại người, các con trai cùng cả dân sự của người. 34Trong lúc đó, ta chiếm hết các thành người, khấn vái diệt hết các thành, cả người nam, người nữ, và các con trẻ, không chừa lại một ai. 35Chúng ta chỉ có cướp lấy cho phần mình súc vật và hóa tài của các thành mình đã thắng được. 36Từ A-rô -e, ở trên mé khe Aït-nôn, và cái thành ở trong trũng, cho đến Ga-la-át, chẳng có một thành nào lấy làm kiên cố quá cho chúng ta; Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời chúng ta đã phó các thành đó cho chúng ta hết. 37Chỉn ngươi không có lại gần xứ của con cháu Am-môn, ở dọc khắp mé khe Gia-bốc, hoặc các thành trên núi hay là chỗ nào Giê-hô-va Ðức Chúa Trời chúng ta cấm không cho chúng ta chiếm lấy.


Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   Here is, I. A short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness: We compassed Mount Seir many days, Deut 2:1. Nearly thirty-eight years they wandered in the deserts of Seir; probably in some of their rests they staid several years, and never stirred; God by this not only chastised them for their murmuring and unbelief, but, 1. Prepared them for Canaan, by humbling them for sin, teaching them to mortify their lusts, to follow God, and to comfort themselves in him. It is a work of time to make souls meet for heaven, and it must be done by a long train of exercises. 2. He prepared the Canaanites for destruction. All this time the measure of their iniquity was filling up; and, though it might have been improved by them as a space to repent in, it was abused by them to the hardening of their hearts. Now that the host of Israel was once repulsed, and after that was so long entangled and seemingly lost in the wilderness, they were secure, and thought the danger was over from that quarter, which would make the next attempt of Israel upon them the more dreadful.
II. Orders given them to turn towards Canaan. Though God contend long, he will not contend for ever. Though Israel may be long kept waiting for deliverance or enlargement, it will come at last: The vision is for an appointed time, and at the end it shall speak, and not lie.
III. A charge given them not to annoy the Edomites.
1. They must not offer any hostility to them as enemies: Meddle not with them, Deut 2:4, Deut 2:5. (1.) They must not improve the advantage they had against them, by the fright they would be put into upon Israel's approach: They shall be afraid of you, knowing your strength and numbers, and the power of God engaged for you; but think not that, because their fears make them an easy prey, you may therefore prey upon them; no, take heed to yourselves. There is need of great caution and a strict government of our own spirits, to keep ourselves from injuring those against whom we have an advantage. Or this caution is given to the princes; they must not only not meddle with the Edomites themselves, but not permit any of the soldiers to meddle with them. (2.) They must not avenge upon the Edomites the affront they gave them in refusing them passage through their country, Num 20:21. Thus, before God brought Israel to destroy their enemies in Canaan, he taught them to forgive their enemies in Edom. (3.) They must not expect to have any part of their land given them for a possession: Mount Seir was already settled upon the Edomites, and they must not, under pretence of God's covenant and conduct, think to seize for themselves all they could lay hands on. Dominion is not founded in grace. God's Israel shall be well placed, but must not expect to be placed alone in the midst of the earth, Isa 5:8.
2. They must trade with them as neighbours, buy meat and water of them, and pay for what they bought, Deut 2:6. Religion must never be made a cloak for injustice. The reason given (Deut 2:7), is, God hath blessed thee, and hitherto thou hast lacked nothing; and therefore, (1.) Thou needest not beg; scorn to be beholden to Edomites, when thou hast a God all-sufficient to depend upon. Thou hast wherewithal to pay for what thou callest for (thanks to the divine blessing!); use therefore what thou hast, use it cheerfully, and do not sponge upon the Edomites. (2.) Therefore thou must not steal. Thou hast experienced the care of the divine providence concerning thee, in confidence of which for the future, and in a firm belief of its sufficiency, never use any indirect methods for thy supply. Live by the faith and not by thy sword.

 8   It is observable here that Moses, speaking of the Edomites (Deut 2:8), calls them, our brethren, the children of Esau. Though they had been unkind to Israel, in refusing them a peaceable passage through their country, yet he calls them brethren. For, though our relations fail in their duty to us, we must retain a sense of the relation, and not be wanting in our duty to them, as there is occasion. Now in these verses we have,
I. The account which Moses gives of the origin of the nations of which he had here occasion to speak, the Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites. We know very well, from other parts of his history, whose posterity they were; but here he tells us how they came to those countries in which Israel found them; they were not the aborigines, or first planters. But, 1. The Moabites dwelt in a country which had belonged to a numerous race of giants, called Emim (that is, terrible ones ), as tall as the Anakim, and perhaps more fierce, Deut 2:10, Deut 2:11. 2. The Edomites in like manner dispossessed the Horim from Mount Seir, and took their country (Deut 2:12. and again Deut 2:22), of which we read, Gen 36:20. 3. The Ammonites likewise got possession of a country that had formerly been inhabited by giants, called Zamzummim, crafty men, or wicked men (Deut 2:20, Deut 2:21), probably the same that are called Zuzim, Gen 14:5. He illustrates these remarks by an instance older than any of these; the Caphtorim (who were akin to the Philistines, Gen 10:14) drove the Avim out of their country, and took possession of it, Deut 2:23. The learned bishop Patrick supposes these Avites, being expelled hence, to have settled in Assyria, and to be the same people we read of under that name, 2Kgs 17:31. Now these revolutions are recorded, (1.) To show how soon the world was peopled after the flood, so well peopled that, when a family grew numerous, they could not find a place to settle in, at least in that part of the world, but they must drive out those that were already settled. (2.) To show that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Giants were expelled by those of ordinary stature; for probably these giants, like those before the flood (Gen 6:4), were notorious for impiety and oppression, which brought the judgments of God upon them, against which their great strength would be on defence. (3.) To show what uncertain things worldly possessions are, and how often they change their owners; it was so of old, and ever will be so. Families decline, and from them estates are transferred to families that increase; so little constancy or continuance is there in these things. (4.) To encourage the children of Israel, who were now going to take possession of Canaan, against the difficulties they would meet with, and to show the unbelief of those that were afraid of the sons of Anak, to whom the giants, here said to be conquered, are compared, Deut 2:11, Deut 2:21. If the providence of God had done this for the Moabites and Ammonites, much more would his promise do it for Israel his peculiar people.
II. The advances which Israel made towards Canaan. They passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab (Deut 2:8), and then went over the brook or vale of Zered (Deut 2:13), and there Moses takes notice of the fulfilling of the word which God had spoken concerning them, that none of those that were numbered at Mount Sinai should see the land that God had promised, Num 14:23. According to that sentence, now that they began to set their faces towards Canaan, and to have it in their eye, notice is taken of their being all destroyed and consumed, and not a man of them left, Deut 2:14. Common providence, we may observe, in about thirty-eight years, ordinarily raises a new generation, so that in that time few remain of the old one; but here it was entirely new, and none at all remained but Caleb and Joshua: for indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, v. 15. Those cannot but waste, until they were consumed, who have the hand of God against them. Observe, Israel is not called to engage with the Canaanites till all the men of war, the veteran regiments, that had been used to hardship, and had learned the art of war from the Egyptians, were consumed and dead from among the people (v. 16), that the conquest of Canaan, being effected by a host of new-raised men, trained up in a wilderness, the excellency of the power might the more plainly appear to be of God and not of men.
III. The caution given them not to meddle with the Moabites or Ammonites, whom they must not disseize, nor so much as disturb in their possessions: Distress them not, nor contend with them, v. 9. Though the Moabites aimed to ruin Israel (Num 22:6), yet Israel must not aim to ruin them. If others design us a mischief, this will not justify us in designing them a mischief. But why must not the Moabites and Ammonites be meddled with? 1. Because they were the children of Lot (v. 9, 19), righteous Lot, who kept his integrity in Sodom. Note, Children often fare the better in this world for the piety of their ancestors: the seed of the upright, though they degenerate, yet are blessed with temporal good things. 2. Because the land they were possessed of was what God had given them, and he did not design it for Israel. Even wicked men have a right to their worldly possessions, and must not be wronged. The tares are allowed their place in the field, and must not be rooted out until the harvest. God gives and preserves outward blessings to wicked men, to show that these are not the best things, but he has better in store for his own children.

 24   God having tried the self-denial of his people in forbidding them to meddle with the Moabites and Ammonites, and they having quietly passed by those rich countries, and, though superior in number, not made any attack upon them, here he recompenses them for their obedience by giving them possession of the country of Sihon king of the Amorites. If we forbear what God forbids, we shall receive what he promises, and shall be no losers at last by our obedience, though it may seem for the present to be to our loss. Wrong not others, and God shall right thee.
I. God gives them commission to seize upon the country of Sihon king of Heshbon, Deut 2:24, Deut 2:25. This was then God's way of disposing of kingdoms, but such particular grants are not now either to be expected or pretended. In this commission observe, 1. Though God assured them that the land should be their own, yet they must bestir themselves, and contend in battle with the enemy. What God gives we must endeavour to get. 2. God promises that when they fight he will fight for them. Do you begin to possess it, and I will begin to put the dread of you upon them. God would dispirit the enemy and so destroy them, would magnify Israel and so terrify all those against whom they were commissioned. See Exod 15:14.
II. Moses sends to Sihon a message of peace, and only begs a passage through his land, with a promise to give his country no disturbance, but the advantage of trading for ready money with so great a body, Deut 2:26-Deut 2:29. Moses herein did neither disobey God, who bade him contend with Sihon, nor dissemble with Sihon; but doubtless it was by divine direction that he did it, that Sihon might be left inexcusable, though God hardened his heart. This may illustrate the method of God's dealing with those to whom he gives his gospel, but does not give grace to believe it.
III. Sihon began the war (Deut 2:32), God having made his heart obstinate, and hidden from his eyes the thing that belonged to his peace (Deut 2:30), that he might deliver him into the hand of Israel. Those that meddle with the people of God meddle to their own hurt; and God sometimes ruins his enemies by their own resolves. See Mic 4:11-Mic 4:13; Revel 16:14.
IV. Israel was victorious. 1. They put all the Amorites to the sword, men, women, and children (Deut 2:33, Deut 2:34); this they did as the executioners of God's wrath; now the measure of the Amorites' iniquity was full (Gen 15:16), and the longer it was in the filling the sorer was the reckoning at last. This was one of the devoted nations. They died, not as Israel's enemies, but as sacrifices to divine justice, in the offering of which sacrifices Israel was employed, as a kingdom of priests. The case being therefore extraordinary, it ought not to be drawn into a precedent for military executions, which make no distinction and give no quarter: those will have judgment without mercy that show no mercy. 2. They took possession of all they had; their cities (Deut 2:34), their goods (Deut 2:35), and their land, Deut 2:36. The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just. What a new world did Israel now come into! Most of them were born, and had lived all their days, in a vast howling wilderness, where they knew not what either fields or cities were, had no houses to dwell in, and neither sowed nor reaped; and now of a sudden to become masters of a country so well built, so well husbanded, this made them amends for their long waiting, and yet it was but the earnest of a great deal more. Much more joyful will the change be which holy souls will experience when they remove out of the wilderness of this world to the better country, that is, the heavenly, to the city that has foundations.