King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau [for] a possession.
Complete Jewish Bible:
and don't get into disputes with them; for I am not going to give you any of their land, no, not even enough for one foot to stand on; inasmuch as I have given Mount Se'ir to 'Esav as his possession.
Berean Standard Bible:
Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.
American Standard Version:
contend not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Meddle{H1624} not with them; for I will not give{H5414} you of their land{H776}, no, not so much as a foot{H7272} breadth{H4096}{H3709}; because I have given{H5414} mount{H2022} Seir{H8165} unto Esau{H6215} for a possession{H3425}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Joshua 24:4
- And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
Genesis 36:8
- Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau [is] Edom.
Acts 7:5
- And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not [so much as] to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when [as yet] he had no child.
Deuteronomy 32:8
- When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Daniel 4:32
- And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Daniel 4:25
- That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
2 Chronicles 20:10
- And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
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Commentary for Deuteronomy 2:5
Deuteronomy 2:5 is part of the Old Testament in the Bible, specifically within the book of Deuteronomy, which is a series of speeches given by Moses to the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The verse is situated in the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.
**Themes:**
1. **Respect for Divine Promises:** The verse emphasizes that God has already allocated the land of Mount Seir to the descendants of Esau, the Edomites. This underscores the theme of God's fidelity to His promises, as He has previously assigned this territory to Esau's descendants.
2. **Divine Distribution of Land:** The idea that God controls the distribution of land and that each people or nation has its divinely appointed territory.
3. **Obedience to God's Commands:** The Israelites are commanded not to provoke or take land from the Edomites, illustrating the importance of obedience to God's directives, even when it may be difficult or seem unreasonable.
**Historical Context:**
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern setting where land was a central aspect of a people's identity and survival. The Israelites, having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, are on the cusp of entering Canaan, the land promised to their ancestors. However, their route takes them near the territory of Edom, which God has already given to the descendants of Esau (Edom being another name for Esau).
This command to avoid conflict with the Edomites reflects the broader ancient Near Eastern practice of respecting territorial boundaries and agreements. It also reflects the unique relationship between the Israelites and the Edomites, who were relatives through Esau, Jacob's (Israel's) brother.
In summary, Deuteronomy 2:5 highlights themes of respect for divine promises, the sovereignty of God over territorial allotments, and the necessity of obedience to God's commands, all set against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern customs and the Israelites' imminent entry into the Promised Land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1624
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּרָה
Transliteration: gârâh
Pronunciation: gaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to grate, i.e. (figuratively) to anger; contend, meddle, stir up, strive. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H7272
There are 232 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֶגֶל
Transliteration: regel
Pronunciation: reh'-gel
Description: from רָגַל; a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda; [idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time. - Strong's Number: H4096
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִדְרָךְ
Transliteration: midrâk
Pronunciation: mid-rawk'
Description: from דָּרַךְ; a treading, i.e. a place for stepping on; (foot-) breadth. - Strong's Number: H3709
There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּף
Transliteration: kaph
Pronunciation: kaf
Description: from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon. - Strong's Number: H2022
There are 485 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הַר
Transliteration: har
Pronunciation: har
Description: a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. - Strong's Number: H8165
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׂעִיר
Transliteration: Sêʻîyr
Pronunciation: say-eer'
Description: formed like שָׂעִיר; rough; Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine; Seir. - Strong's Number: H6215
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵשָׂו
Transliteration: ʻÊsâv
Pronunciation: ay-sawv'
Description: apparently a form of the passive participle of עָשָׂה in the original sense of handling; rough (i.e. sensibly felt); Esav, a son of Isaac, including his posterity; Esau. - Strong's Number: H3425
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרֻשָּׁה
Transliteration: yᵉrushshâh
Pronunciation: yer-oosh-shaw'
Description: from יָרַשׁ; something occupied; a conquest; also a patrimony; heritage, inheritance, possession.