Deuteronomy 2:22
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)
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The verse subtly highlights that Esau's descendants didn't just find Seir empty; they dispossessed the Horites, mirroring how Israel would later take the Promised Land. This shows God's consistent hand in how nations rise and fall, giving land to those He favors.
The chapter recounts God’s instructions to the Israelites, forbidding them to attack the Moabites or Ammonites, emphasizing that these lands were given to them by God. Moses then elaborates on how these peoples themselves obtained their lands by dispossessing earlier inhabitants, like the giants, illustrating that God grants territories and that nations rise and fall based on His will. This passage provides examples of God’s actions in history, showing how He gave land to Esau’s descendants in Seir, just as He would give Canaan to Israel.
Nations rise and fall, but who is truly in charge? This verse points to a divine orchestrator behind the scenes of history.
The text highlights a pattern: God acts to remove one people and establish another. We see this with the descendants of Esau (Edomites) who took possession of the land of Seir after God destroyed the Horites. This wasn't a random takeover; it was a deliberate act of God's providence, allowing Esau's lineage to settle where the Horites once lived. This principle is repeated throughout Scripture: God is sovereign over all nations, their movements, and their territories. He can dispossess one people and give their land to another, fulfilling His purposes. This should inspire awe and trust in God's ultimate control, even when earthly powers seem chaotic.
Why would the Bible mention the Edomites' conquest? It serves as a crucial parallel and encouragement for Israel.
This historical note about Esau and the Horites isn't just a random detail; it's presented as a parallel to Israel's own journey. Just as God enabled Esau's descendants to dispossess the Horites and settle in Seir, He was now enabling Israel to move forward into their own promised land. The assurance given to Esau's lineage was a sign of God's broader pattern of establishing people in lands He decrees. For Israel, who had faced significant trials, this served as a powerful reminder: If God had secured a place for Esau, His chosen people could absolutely trust Him to secure their inheritance. It's a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to those He has set apart.
This verse highlights God's sovereign hand in history, showing how He grants lands to nations. It emphasizes that the Edomites, like other nations mentioned, received their territory through divine permission, paralleling Israel's own divinely appointed inheritance.
~1700 BC
Horites settle Seir
The Horites, an ancient people, established themselves in the mountainous region of Seir.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Esau's descendants conquer Seir
The descendants of Esau displaced the Horites, taking possession of the land of Seir and settling there.
c. 1400 BC
Lot's descendants conquer Ammon and Moab territories
The descendants of Lot, through Ammon and Moab, also conquered territories previously held by giants (Emim and Zamzummim).
c. 1300 BC
Caphtorites displace Avims
The Caphtorites, migrating from their homeland, conquered the Avims and settled in their lands near Gaza.
c. 1300 BC
This passage speaks of the prophetic blessing given to Esau, highlighting his future dominion over the lands he would possess, which directly parallels the historical account of Esau's descendants (the Edomites) taking possession of Seir after the Horites.
Joshua 24:11-13This text recounts God's deliverance of Israel from their enemies, specifically mentioning the Amorites who had powerful kings and vast lands, illustrating the same principle of God granting victory and possession of territory to His people as seen with Esau and the Horites.
Psalm 135:10-12This psalm praises God for His mighty acts, including defeating powerful nations and giving their lands as an inheritance, mirroring the narrative in Deuteronomy where God's hand was evident in the displacement of the Horites by the descendants of Esau.
Jeremiah 49:7-11This prophetic oracle addresses Edom, echoing the idea of Esau's inheritance and the potential for their land to be taken, reinforcing the concept of divine sovereignty over national possessions and boundaries.
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,…
The verse subtly highlights that Esau's descendants didn't just find Seir empty; they dispossessed the Horites, mirroring how Israel would later take the Promised Land. This shows God's consistent hand in how nations rise and fall, giving land to those He favors.
The chapter recounts God’s instructions to the Israelites, forbidding them to attack the Moabites or Ammonites, emphasizing that these lands were given to them by God. Moses then elaborates on how these peoples themselves obtained their lands by dispossessing earlier inhabitants, like the giants, illustrating that God grants territories and that nations rise and fall based on His will. This passage provides examples of God’s actions in history, showing how He gave land to Esau’s descendants in Seir, just as He would give Canaan to Israel.
The chapter recounts God’s instructions to the Israelites, forbidding them to attack the Moabites or Ammonites, emphasizing that these lands were given to them by God. Moses then elaborates on how these peoples themselves obtained their lands by dispossessing earlier inhabitants, like the giants, illustrating that God grants territories and that nations rise and fall based on His will. This passage provides examples of God’s actions in history, showing how He gave land to Esau’s descendants in Seir, just as He would give Canaan to Israel.
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Israelites wander in the wilderness
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites spent approximately 38 years wandering in the wilderness, circumventing the territories of Edom and Moab.
c. 1300 BC
Israelites prepare to enter Canaan
After the generation that sinned at Kadesh-Barnea perished, the Israelites were poised to enter the Promised Land, crossing the Jordan River.
"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." — The verse subtly highlights that Esau's descendants didn't just find Seir empty; they dispossessed the Horites, mirroring how Israel would later take the Promised Land. This shows God's consisten…
