Deuteronomy 2:5

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 2:5 presents a divine command to the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness, instructing them not to provoke or encroach upon the territory of the Edomites, descendants of Esau. This directive underscores God's absolute sovereignty in allocating land and establishing boundaries for all nations, emphasizing His meticulous justice and foresight in providing Mount Seir as a perpetual possession for Esau's offspring. The verse serves as a foundational lesson in respecting divinely ordained limits and avoiding unnecessary conflict.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 2:5 is situated within Moses' historical discourse, where he recounts Israel's forty-year wilderness journey to the new generation poised to enter the Promised Land. Chapters 1-3 serve as a retrospective, reminding the people of God's faithfulness, their past failures, and the specific instructions given for navigating the territories of neighboring nations. Before this verse, Moses details the command to turn northward from the Red Sea and pass through the territory of their kin, the Edomites. The immediate verses (Deuteronomy 2:1-4) describe the long journey around Mount Seir and the Lord's specific instruction to avoid engaging the Edomites in battle, setting the stage for the explicit prohibition against taking their land found in verse 5. This passage is crucial for understanding the principles governing Israel's interactions with other peoples, distinguishing between divinely ordained conquest and prohibited aggression.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Edomites were descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother, establishing a familial but often contentious relationship with Israel. Their territory, Mount Seir, was a rugged, mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea, strategically important for trade routes. In the ancient Near East, land was intrinsically linked to identity, sustenance, and divine favor. Kings and nations often sought to expand their borders through conquest. However, Deuteronomy 2:5 reveals a unique divine perspective: God, as the ultimate sovereign, had already allocated territories to various peoples, including the Edomites. This command to Israel to respect Edomite sovereignty was counter-cultural, demonstrating God's justice and order extending beyond His chosen people to all of humanity, even those who would later become adversaries. It also prevented Israel from being drawn into conflicts not aligned with their primary mission of conquering Canaan.

* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 2:5 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Land Allocation**, asserting God's ultimate authority over all creation and His precise distribution of territories to nations. Just as God promised Canaan to Israel, He had already given Mount Seir to Esau's descendants, as recorded in [Genesis 36:8](/genesis/36-8 "Genesis 36:8 - Esau Settles in Mount Seir"). Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Respect for Boundaries and Property Rights**. Despite being God's chosen people with a divine mandate to inherit Canaan, Israel was not permitted to seize land indiscriminately. This teaches a profound lesson about justice and restraint, even in the context of divine favor. Thirdly, the verse exemplifies **Avoiding Unnecessary Conflict**. God's clear delineation of off-limits territories guided Israel to conserve their resources and focus their efforts on the divinely appointed conquest of Canaan, preventing costly and uncommanded skirmishes. This principle resonates with the broader biblical emphasis on seeking peace and discerning when to engage in battle, as seen in [Proverbs 20:3](/proverbs/20-3 "Proverbs 20:3 - Honor in Avoiding Strife").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Meddle not (Hebrew, _gārah'_):** This verb (גרה) carries the sense of stirring up strife, contending, provoking, or quarreling. It's a strong admonition against initiating hostilities or engaging in conflict. The command is not merely to avoid physical combat but to refrain from any action that would incite a dispute or challenge the Edomites' established possession. It implies a proactive avoidance of contention.
* **Foot breadth (Hebrew, _midrakh kaf regel'_):** This vivid idiom (מִדְרַךְ כַּף רֶגֶל) literally means "the treading of the sole of the foot." It is a hyperbole emphasizing the absolute and total prohibition against taking any land from the Edomites, no matter how small. Not even enough ground to place one's foot upon was to be claimed. This underscores the strictness and comprehensiveness of God's command regarding their territory.
* **Possession (Hebrew, _morashah'_):** The noun (מוֹרָשָׁה) signifies an inheritance, a permanent holding, or something received as a legacy. Its use here emphasizes that Mount Seir was not merely a temporary dwelling for Esau but a divinely appointed, enduring inheritance for his descendants. This term highlights the theological basis for the command: God's prior and permanent allocation of this land to Esau's lineage.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Meddle not with them;":** This is a direct, imperative command from God to Israel. It serves as a strong prohibition against any form of hostile engagement, provocation, or encroachment upon the Edomites. It sets the tone for Israel's conduct towards a nation with whom they shared kinship but were not to conquer.
* **"for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth;":** This clause provides the divine rationale and the absolute nature of the prohibition. God explicitly states that He will not grant Israel any portion of Edomite territory. The phrase "not so much as a foot breadth" is a powerful hyperbole, underscoring the completeness of this restriction and leaving no room for misinterpretation or minor transgressions. It signifies that this land is entirely off-limits.
* **"because I have given mount Seir unto Esau [for] a possession.":** This final clause offers the theological and historical justification for God's command. The reason Israel is not to take Edomite land is because God Himself, in His sovereign wisdom and justice, had already designated Mount Seir as a permanent inheritance ("possession") for Esau and his descendants. This demonstrates God's universal governance, His faithfulness to His word, and His equitable distribution of territories among all peoples.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 2:5 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is **Divine Command**, delivered directly from God to Moses and then to the Israelites, emphasizing the absolute authority and non-negotiable nature of the instruction. The phrase "no, not so much as a foot breadth" functions as **Hyperbole**, an exaggeration used for emphasis. It vividly conveys the totality of the prohibition, ensuring that Israel understands the strictness of God's boundary. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Covenant Language** through the term "possession" (_morashah_), which often describes Israel's inheritance of Canaan. By applying this term to Esau's claim over Mount Seir, the text subtly highlights God's universal covenantal dealings, extending His providential care and land allocation beyond just Israel. The passage also contains an element of **Narrative Foreshadowing**, as the command to avoid conflict with Edom sets up the later, often strained, relationship between the two nations in Israel's history, where deviations from this initial command sometimes led to strife.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 2:5 profoundly articulates God's universal sovereignty, reminding Israel—and us—that He is not merely the God of Israel, but the God of all nations, who orchestrates their existence, boundaries, and destinies. His allocation of Mount Seir to Esau demonstrates His justice and providential care for all humanity, even those outside the direct line of the Abrahamic covenant. This verse challenges any notion of an exclusive divine favor that would permit Israel to disregard the rights or possessions of others. Instead, it teaches that God's moral law, including principles of justice, respect for property, and avoidance of unnecessary strife, applies universally. It underscores that true blessing comes from obedience to God's specific commands, not from grasping what He has not given.

* [Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's")
* [Acts 17:26](/acts/17-26 "Acts 17:26 - God Determines Boundaries of Nations")
* [Leviticus 25:23](/leviticus/25-23 "Leviticus 25:23 - The Land Belongs to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 2:5 offers timeless wisdom for believers today. It calls us to cultivate a deep trust in God's sovereign provision and timing, rather than striving for what is not rightfully ours or what He has not explicitly given. Just as God meticulously provided for Israel's needs and designated their inheritance, He promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (as seen in [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "Philippians 4:19 - God Will Supply All Your Needs")). This verse also challenges us to respect the boundaries and possessions of others, whether they be physical property, personal space, or professional roles. It promotes a spirit of contentment and justice, encouraging us to live peaceably with all people, discerning when to engage and when to refrain from conflict. It reminds us that not every battle is ours to fight, and sometimes, the most faithful path is to walk around what God has clearly marked as belonging to another. Our focus should be on pursuing God's specific call for our lives, trusting that He will provide all that is necessary for our journey.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to "meddle" or grasp for something God has not clearly given you?**
* **How does trusting God's sovereignty over all resources and territories (including your own) impact your sense of contentment and security?**
* **What boundaries, whether physical, emotional, or relational, do you need to respect in your interactions with others, even those with whom you may disagree?**
* **How can you discern between a conflict God calls you to engage in and one you are commanded to avoid?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command Israel not to take land from the Edomites, especially since they were entering the Promised Land through conquest?**

Answer: God's command in Deuteronomy 2:5 highlights His universal sovereignty and justice, extending beyond His covenant relationship with Israel. While God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants, He had also, in His divine wisdom, allocated other territories to different nations. Mount Seir was specifically given to Esau's descendants (the Edomites) as a permanent "possession." This demonstrates that God is the ultimate owner and dispenser of all land ([Psalm 24:1](/psalms/24-1 "Psalm 24:1 - The Earth is the Lord's")) and that His plans for Israel did not involve indiscriminate conquest of all surrounding peoples. The command served to prevent unnecessary conflict and to teach Israel about respecting divinely ordained boundaries, even for those outside their direct covenant line. It underscored that Israel's right to the land of Canaan was based on God's specific promise to them, not a general license for expansion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 2:5, with its emphasis on God's sovereign allocation of land and the respect for divinely established boundaries, finds profound fulfillment in Christ. While the Old Testament narrative focuses on physical land and earthly inheritance, the New Testament reveals a spiritual inheritance and a kingdom that transcends geographical borders. Christ is the ultimate heir of all things, the one to whom God has given "a possession" far greater than Mount Seir or even Canaan. As the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), He inherits not through conquest of earthly territories but through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, establishing a spiritual kingdom. Believers, united with Christ, receive an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Imperishable Inheritance")). The concept of "meddling not" and respecting boundaries transforms into the New Testament call for peace, reconciliation, and discerning spiritual battles over earthly ones ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - Our Struggle is Not Against Flesh and Blood")). In Christ, our true "possession" is not a parcel of land, but the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is "the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it" ([Ephesians 1:14](/ephesians/1-14 "Ephesians 1:14 - The Holy Spirit as a Guarantee")). Thus, the earthly command to respect boundaries points to the ultimate reality that our true citizenship and inheritance are in heaven, secured by Christ's finished work, freeing us from the need to grasp for earthly possessions and enabling us to live as stewards of God's universal kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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;