Deuteronomy 2:22
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This verse isn't just about God clearing the way for Esau; it highlights God's sovereign hand in national movements, showing that even seemingly human conquests are ultimately orchestrated by Him. It reveals a deeper truth: the land Esau inherited was not merely through their own strength but because God destroyed the previous inhabitants, the Horites, before them.
as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of Moses' address to the Israelites, recounting God's dealings with surrounding nations as they journey toward the Promised Land. He's reminding them that God directed them to bypass the lands of Esau (Edom) and Moab, explaining that these nations, like others, had been established in their territories by God's providence, even at the expense of earlier inhabitants. This context emphasizes that God sovereignly grants land and that Israel must trust His direction, not simply take what they desire.
Ever wonder who's really in charge when kingdoms rise and fall? This verse offers a profound perspective.
Deuteronomy 2:22 highlights God's ultimate authority over the destiny of nations. It points to the historical fact that the Edomites (descendants of Esau) took the land of Seir from the Horites because God dispossessed the Horites before them. This isn't just a historical footnote; it's a theological statement.
What does it mean for a people to 'dwell in their place even to this day'? This verse touches on enduring legacies.
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Deuteronomy 2:22 uses the phrase 'even to this day' to underscore the lasting impact of God's providential dealings with nations. It connects a past event—the Edomites taking Seir—to the present reality of their continued inhabitation.
c. 1400 BC
Esau's descendants settle Seir
The descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother, migrated into the mountainous region of Seir. They gradually displaced the native Horites, a people who had previously inhabited the area.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Horites dispossessed in Seir
The Horites, the original inhabitants of Seir, were driven out and dispossessed by the incoming Edomites (descendants of Esau). This conquest established the Edomites in their new homeland.
c. 1300 BC
Lot's descendants settle Moab and Ammon
The descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, settled the lands east of the Jordan River, becoming the Moabites and Ammonites. They, too, had previously displaced earlier inhabitants of their territories.
c. 1300 BC
Caphtorites displace Avim
The Avims, who lived in the region of Gaza, were driven out and replaced by the Caphtorites, who originated from the island of Caphtor (likely Crete). This shows a pattern of displacement in the region.
c. 1400 BC - 1300 BC
Nations establish lands
Various nations, including the Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites, and Caphtorites, established themselves in their respective territories by dispossessing earlier inhabitants, often with God's allowance.
This passage speaks of God's prophetic decree to Isaac concerning his sons Jacob and Esau, highlighting the distinct but divinely ordained destinies and territories for each lineage, which is directly relevant to Esau's descendants settling in Seir as mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Joshua 24:11-13This passage recounts God's powerful acts in bringing Israel into the Promised Land, including driving out nations before them, paralleling the narrative of Esau displacing the Horites and setting a precedent for God's intervention in territorial possession.
Psalm 136:17-20This psalm praises God for striking down kings and giving lands as a heritage, specifically mentioning the possession of the land of Sihon and Og, which echoes the theme of God granting territory through conquest and displacement, as seen with Esau and the Horites.
Amos 1:11-12This prophetic passage condemns Edom for its relentless hostility towards its brother Israel, indicating a long-standing animosity rooted in their shared history and territorial claims, which connects to the Edomites (descendants of Esau) and their established presence in Seir.
gillDeuteronomy 2:22: "As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:"
As he did to the children of Esau which dwelt in Seir,.... He did the like things for them as he did for the Ammonites: when he destroyed the Horims from before them: which is repeated from Deuteronomy 2:12, other instances of the like kind being here recited: and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their s…
calvinDeuteronomy 2:9-23: "And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession."
And the Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
Et dixit mihi Jehova, Ne oppugnes Moab,…
This verse isn't just about God clearing the way for Esau; it highlights God's sovereign hand in national movements, showing that even seemingly human conquests are ultimately orchestrated by Him. It reveals a deeper truth: the land Esau inherited was not merely through their own strength but because God destroyed the previous inhabitants, the Horites, before them.
This passage is part of Moses' address to the Israelites, recounting God's dealings with surrounding nations as they journey toward the Promised Land. He's reminding them that God directed them to bypass the lands of Esau (Edom) and Moab, explaining that these nations, like others, had been established in their territories by God's providence, even at the expense of earlier inhabitants. This context emphasizes that God sovereignly grants land and that Israel must trust His direction, not simply take what they desire.
This passage is part of Moses' address to the Israelites, recounting God's dealings with surrounding nations as they journey toward the Promised Land. He's reminding them that God directed them to bypass the lands of Esau (Edom) and Moab, explaining that these nations, like others, had been established in their territories by God's providence, even at the expense of earlier inhabitants. This context emphasizes that God sovereignly grants land and that Israel must trust His direction, not simply take what they desire.
"as he did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites before them and they dispossessed them and settled in their place even to this day." — This verse isn't just about God clearing the way for Esau; it highlights God's sovereign hand in national movements, showing that even seemingly human conquests are ultimately orchestrated by Him. It…
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Last reviewed October 2026
