Deuteronomy 2:37
Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the LORD our God had forbidden us.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that Israel didn't just avoid the Ammonite people, but specifically their land, including the hilly regions and the areas around the Jabbok River, because God had commanded them not to. This shows obedience wasn't just about avoiding a fight, but about honoring God's specific instructions and boundaries.
After conquering Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had taken land from the Ammonites, Israel was explicitly instructed by God to avoid entering the Ammonite territory east of the Jabbok river. This verse serves as a reminder that God meticulously defined boundaries for their conquest, distinguishing between nations they were commanded to dispossess and those they were to leave alone. Therefore, the Israelites did not claim or occupy any portion of the Ammonite land, respecting God's specific prohibition.
Understand the original words
tsavah · Hebrew Verb
An action or word conveying a prohibition or command not to do something; representing the authority of God over His people's actions.
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This verse highlights the Israelites' strict obedience to God's commands, even when presented with opportunities for expansion. While they conquered the Amorite lands east of the Jordan, they deliberately bypassed the Ammonite territory, respecting divine boundaries despite the political complexities of prior Amorite conquests.
c. 1400 BC
Israel's Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt after centuries of slavery, beginning their 40-year journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.
c. 13th-14th century BC
Amorite Conquest of Ammonite Territory
The Amorites, led by King Sihon, conquer territory previously held by the Ammonites, including lands east of the Jordan River up to the Jabbok River.
c. 13th-14th century BC
Israelites Request Passage Through Sihon's Land
After the death of Moses, the Israelites send messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, requesting peaceful passage through his lands on their way to the Promised Land.
c. 13th-14th century BC— this verse
Israel Defeats Sihon and Takes Amorite Territory
King Sihon refuses passage and attacks the Israelites, who, with God's help, defeat him and conquer his land east of the Jordan, from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River.
c. 13th-14th century BC
Israel Avoids Ammonite Lands
Following God's specific command, the Israelites do not take any land belonging to the Ammonites, respecting their territory and the Jabbok River as a boundary, even though much of it had been conquered by the Amorites.
c. 13th-14th century BC
Conquest of Og of Bashan
Following their victory over Sihon, the Israelites also defeat Og, king of Bashan, another Amorite ruler, expanding their territory north of the Jabbok River.
This passage describes Israel's conquest of the Amorite king Sihon, who had taken land from the Ammonites, setting the stage for Deuteronomy 2 where the Ammonite territory itself is explicitly avoided.
Judges 11:13This verse highlights the Ammonites' claim to the land east of the Jordan that Israel had just conquered from Sihon, emphasizing why Israel was forbidden from entering Ammonite territory in Deuteronomy 2:37.
Joshua 13:25This verse mentions that half of the land of the Ammonites was given to the tribe of Gad, clarifying that this portion was land previously taken by the Amorites and thus not forbidden territory in Deuteronomy 2:37.
Deuteronomy 23:3This verse directly relates to the prohibition in Deuteronomy 2:37, stating that Ammonites and Moabites were forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord, underscoring a lasting separation.
gillDeuteronomy 2:37: "Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us."
Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not,.... Which was then in their possession; otherwise what Sihon had took away from them, that the children of Israel came into and enjoyed, as before observed, Deuteronomy 2:19 . nor unto any place of the river Jabbok; any town or cit…
calvinDeuteronomy 2:24-37: "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle."
Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.
Surgite, proficiscimini, et transite torrentem Arnon. Vide, ded…
The verse highlights that Israel didn't just avoid the Ammonite people, but specifically their land, including the hilly regions and the areas around the Jabbok River, because God had commanded them not to. This shows obedience wasn't just about avoiding a fight, but about honoring God's specific instructions and boundaries.
After conquering Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had taken land from the Ammonites, Israel was explicitly instructed by God to avoid entering the Ammonite territory east of the Jabbok river. This verse serves as a reminder that God meticulously defined boundaries for their conquest, distinguishing between nations they were commanded to dispossess and those they were to leave alone. Therefore, the Israelites did not claim or occupy any portion of the Ammonite land, respecting God's specific prohibition.
After conquering Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had taken land from the Ammonites, Israel was explicitly instructed by God to avoid entering the Ammonite territory east of the Jabbok river. This verse serves as a reminder that God meticulously defined boundaries for their conquest, distinguishing between nations they were commanded to dispossess and those they were to leave alone. Therefore, the Israelites did not claim or occupy any portion of the Ammonite land, respecting God's specific prohibition.
"Only to the land of the sons of Ammon you did not draw near, that is, to all the banks of the river Jabbok and the cities of the hill country, whatever the LORD our God had forbidden us." — The verse highlights that Israel didn't just avoid the Ammonite people, but specifically their land, including the hilly regions and the areas around the Jabbok River, because God had commanded t…
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