Deuteronomy 2:10
(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse immediately contrasts the Emim with the Anakim, suggesting they were similar in their terrifying, giant stature. But look closer: the Emim are described as "a people great and many, and tall," implying their size was just one aspect of their formidable presence, not the sole reason for their fearsome reputation. Their name itself hints at the terror they struck, reminding us that fear can be as powerful a weapon as physical might.
After God commands Israel to bypass the land of Moab without conflict, Moses provides historical background about the land. He explains that the Moabites, descendants of Lot, now occupy territory previously held by the Emim, a formidable people known for their immense size and strength, comparable to the Anakim. This ancient displacement of a mighty people by a smaller one serves as a precedent and encouragement for Israel as they prepare to conquer Canaan.
Ever feel like you're facing giants in your life? This verse describes a people so formidable they were compared to legends. But their story is about more than just size.
The Emim were a people described as "great and many, and tall as the Anakim." The name "Emim" itself carries a sense of awe and perhaps fear, hinting at their imposing stature and power.
A Legacy of Giants
This wasn't just a random description; it was a deliberate comparison to the Anakim, a group known throughout the land for their immense size and strength. These weren't just average people; they were a distinct and intimidating presence.
More Than Physical Might
While their physical stature is highlighted, it's important to see this as representing a broader sense of their dominance and the challenge they posed. Their might was enough to shape the history and geography of the region, influencing who lived where and the stories told about them.
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These formidable Emim eventually disappeared from their land. What does their story, and the story of those who replaced them, teach us about God's plan?
Deuteronomy 2:10-12 reveals that the Emim, despite their formidable reputation, were eventually displaced. The Moabites, and later the children of Esau in Seir, took possession of lands previously held by these giants.
Divine Sovereignty Over Nations
This historical account isn't just about tribal movements; it underscores God's ultimate control over the nations and their territories. He is the one who establishes and removes peoples, setting boundaries and determining successions.
An Encouragement for Israel
For the Israelites on the brink of entering Canaan, this was a powerful message. If God had orchestrated the displacement of such mighty people as the Emim and the Anakim for the benefit of the Moabites and Edomites, He would certainly fight for Israel against the nations of Canaan. Their past conquests served as a testament to God's power and faithfulness.
Understand the original words
Emim · Hebrew Noun
A group of ancient, pre-Israelite inhabitants often described as having formidable size or stature, emphasizing their dominance or fearsome nature in the land before God's people arrived.
Anakim · Hebrew Noun
A legendary, ancient people known for their extraordinary physical size and height, often representing significant obstacles or enemies in the conquest narrative.
This verse reminds us that the land Israel was about to conquer was not empty but had a history of powerful peoples, like the Emim, who were themselves displaced by others. It underscores God's sovereign hand in establishing nations and granting lands, a theme woven throughout Israel's history.
c. 2000 BC
Chedorlaomer's Campaign
King Chedorlaomer of Elam and his allies waged war against the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, and other cities, conquering them and their allies, including the Emim in the region of Moab.
c. 1800 BC
Moabites Settle Moab
The Moabites, descendants of Lot, gradually settled in the land east of the Jordan River, displacing the Emim who had previously inhabited the area.
c. 1400 BC
Abraham's Time
The Emim and Anakim are mentioned as powerful, tall peoples living in Canaan and surrounding regions, known for their intimidating stature and strength.
c. 1300 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
After generations in slavery, the Israelites, led by Moses, began their journey from Egypt towards the Promised Land.
c. 1300 BC
Conquest of Sihon and Og
Israel defeats Amorite kings Sihon (who had taken Moabite territory) and Og (king of Bashan), establishing a foothold east of the Jordan.
c. 1300 BC— this verse
Israel Enters Moabite Territory
The Israelites travel through the region previously inhabited by the Emim, which was now controlled by the Moabites, and are instructed by God not to attack them.
This passage describes the Emim (called the Zuzim here) as one of the ancient peoples conquered by Chedorlaomer, showing they were a known and significant group even before the time of Moses.
Numbers 13:33The spies in this chapter describe the Anakim as giants, just as the Emim are compared to them in Deuteronomy 2:10, reinforcing the idea of these ancient peoples being exceptionally tall and imposing.
Genesis 15:20This verse lists the Rephaim along with other nations in the land of Canaan, and the commentaries suggest the Emim were related to or considered part of this broader group of formidable ancient peoples.
Joshua 14:15This verse mentions Hebron, the city of Anak, showing that the Anakim, to whom the Emim are compared, were a prominent people in the land that Israel would eventually conquer.
gillDeuteronomy 2:10: "The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;"
The Emims dwelt there in time past,.... We read of them as early as the times of Chedorlaomer, Genesis 14:5 when their dwelling was in Kirjathaim, a city which Sihon king of the Amorites took from the Moabites, and which being taken from him, was with others given to the tribe of Reuben, Numbers 32:37 . These are by some thought to be the same with the Yemim which Anah found and met wi…
clarkeDeuteronomy 2:10: "The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;"
The Emims dwelt therein - Calmet supposes that these people were destroyed in the war made against them by Chedorlaomer and his allies, Genesis 14:5 . Lot possessed their country after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. They are generally esteemed as giants; probably they were a hardy, fierce, and terrible people, who lived, like the wandering Arabs, on the plunder of others. This…
The verse immediately contrasts the Emim with the Anakim, suggesting they were similar in their terrifying, giant stature. But look closer: the Emim are described as "a people great and many, and tall," implying their size was just one aspect of their formidable presence, not the sole reason for their fearsome reputation. Their name itself hints at the terror they struck, reminding us that fear can be as powerful a weapon as physical might.
After God commands Israel to bypass the land of Moab without conflict, Moses provides historical background about the land. He explains that the Moabites, descendants of Lot, now occupy territory previously held by the Emim, a formidable people known for their immense size and strength, comparable to the Anakim. This ancient displacement of a mighty people by a smaller one serves as a precedent and encouragement for Israel as they prepare to conquer Canaan.
After God commands Israel to bypass the land of Moab without conflict, Moses provides historical background about the land. He explains that the Moabites, descendants of Lot, now occupy territory previously held by the Emim, a formidable people known for their immense size and strength, comparable to the Anakim. This ancient displacement of a mighty people by a smaller one serves as a precedent and encouragement for Israel as they prepare to conquer Canaan.
"(The Emim formerly lived there, a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim." — The verse immediately contrasts the Emim with the Anakim, suggesting they were similar in their terrifying, giant stature. But look closer: the Emim are described as "a people great and many, and t…
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