2:1 in the direction of the Red Sea The Hebrew phrase used here, yam suph (“sea of reeds”), is used of both the Red Sea and the body of water the Israelites crossed (see Exod 13:18). Here the reference to the Red Sea is likely indicating the Gulf of Elath (see Deut 2:8), the northern prong of the Red Sea.

Mount Seir A mountain in Edom (Gen 32:3; 36:8; Ezek 35:15).

2:4 the descendants of Esau, who are living in Seir The land of Esau’s descendants.

2:5 Mount Seir as a possession for Esau Seir is a mountain in Edom, and the Edomites are descendants of Esau (Gen 32:3; 36:8; Ezek 35:15), which also makes them descendants of Abraham, Esau’s grandfather.

2:8 past the road of the Arabah See Deut 1:1. The Israelites are moving north, toward Moab.

from Elath and Ezion Geber Both locations were situated at the tip of the northern prong of the Red Sea. The precise locations of each have not been determined.

along the route of the desert of Moab Moab was due east of the Dead Sea. According to Gen 19:30–38, the Moabites descend from Lot—Abraham’s nephew.

2:9 Ar A town in Moab.

2:10 Emim Refers to one of several giant clans (see Num 13:33; Deut 3:11–13). This term was apparently the Moabite name for the Anakim (also called the Anakites; v. 11). These giant clans were people of unusual height who, at the Israelites’ first opportunity to enter Canaan, caused them to fear that they could not take the land (Num 13–14). See Deut 1:28 and note.

Giant Clans in the Old Testament

2:11 as Rephaim The Hebrew term used here, rephaim, sometimes refers to the spirits of the dead (Isa 26:14), but here the term is associated with the giant clans (see Deut 3:11; compare Josh 12:4; 13:12). In Gen 14:5, both the Rephaim (or Rephaites) and the Emim (or Emites) are mentioned as inhabiting the area east of the Dead Sea during the time of Abraham.

Giant Clans in the Old Testament

2:12 Horites See note on Gen 14:6.

the descendants of Esau dispossessed them In parallel with this passage, Gen 36:20–30 relates a genealogy of Seir the Horite, in-between two lists related to the Edomites.

the land of their possession See Deut 2:5. Verses 21–22 indicates God was behind these events.

2:13 cross over the wadi of Zered The southern border of Moab.

2:14 the perishing of all of that generation; that is, the men of war from the midst of the camp See Num 21:12.

2:19 to the descendants of Lot as a possession According to Gen 19:30–38, the people of Ammon and Moab descended from Abraham’s nephew Lot. See Deut 2:5, 9, 14.

2:20 Zamzummim Also known as the Zuzim. Another name for the giant clans associated with the region (vv. 19–20). See note on vv. 10–12. See Gen 14:5.

2:23 Avvites A giant clan associated with the region. This giant clan—who originally inhabited what would later be known as Philistine territory (Josh 13:3)—was expelled prior to the events narrated in Deuteronomy. See note on Deut 2:10–12.

Gaza A city in Philistine territory. Amos 9:7 also credits God with bringing the Philistines into the coastal regions to root out the original occupants.

Caphtorim, who came out from Caphtor Refers to the Philistines (Gen 10:14; Jer 47:4; Amos 9:7). Caphtor was an island or coastal region of the Aegean—commonly identified as Crete. The Philistines are generally believed to be one of the ancient “sea peoples” described in Egyptian texts as invaders from the Aegean.

2:24 cross over the wadi of Arnon The Arnon was Moab’s northern border. See Num 21:13.

the Amorite Unlike the Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites, the Amorites were not related to the Israelites. The God of Abraham had not given them the land, so Israel was free to conquer them. The Amorites were one of the Canaanite people groups who lived in territory that Yahweh had promised to Abraham’s descendants (Gen 15:18–21). Yahweh promised to drive them out before Israel (see Josh 3:10).

2:25 the dread of you and the fear of you This is a fear caused not by Israel’s military prowess, but by Yahweh Himself. See Deut 11:25; 28:10; compare Exod 15:14–16; Josh 2:9–11.

2:26 terms of peace Though God offers Sihon peace, the surrounding narrative (Deut 2:24, 2:30) indicates that there will be no peace.

2:30 was not willing to let us cross See Num 21:21–30.

Yahweh your God hardened his spirit Exodus 4:21 contains a parallel account involving the Pharaoh of the exodus. Yahweh sometimes hardens the disposition of a rebellious (or evil) person as a means of judgment.

2:34 we destroyed The Amorites in Sihon’s territory were placed under the Hebrew principle of cherem—this word designated people or things as sacred property. In some instances, like this one, the designation of cherem meant complete destruction (see note on Josh 6:16; note on Josh 6:17). The same approach was taken in Og’s domain (see Deut 3:6). The motivation was judgment of wicked nations, likely due to idolatrous practices (see Gen 15:16; Deut 9:4–5). These nations were viewed as completely corrupt and under the jurisdiction of foreign gods (compare note on 4:19).

2:36 a city that was inaccessible to us Refers to the fortification of the walls. There was nothing the Israelites could not successfully scale in siege warfare.