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DEUTERONOMY
CHAPTER 2

1 Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days. 2 And the LORD spake unto me, saying, 3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.

Between Deuteronomy 1:46 and 2:1 we see that the "wanderings" of Israel during the 40 years did not mean they traveled a long distance. Seems as though they just meandered around Mt. Seir, which is a desert place.
Our travelings and sufferings in this life do not really take us very FAR unless we allow God us USE them in preparing us humble hearts and righteous ways.
Finally, after 39 years, God told Moses that the nation might "turn" northward (verse 3). In other words, now they may begin again to head toward the "promised land."

4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore: 5 Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. 6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 7 For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. 8 And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

As they leave, notice that it is God Who gives the direction for them to travel. Also God commands them to not distress ("meddle with") the Edomites. They are to travel around the border ("coast") of the Edomites. The Isrealites are to buy water and food and not take it (verse 6). And even though the Edomites are afraid of Israel, they are not to take even one foot of Edom's land; because God has given that land to them for a "possession."
Later, these Edomites will distress the Israelites. But God's purpose then will be disciplinary upon Israel for their idol worship. Therefore God preserves Edom at this their weakest time so that He can USE them in the future.
Do you ever wonder about why God allows so many unbelievers to get away with so much wickedness? Hmmmmm!
Another lesson we might get from this: we are not to oppress the weak. God instructed the Israelites to support the economy of the Edomites. (See also Matthew 5:7, 44)

9 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. 10 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; 11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims. 12 The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them. 13 Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them. 15 For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed. 16 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people, 17 That the LORD spake unto me, saying, 18 Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day: 19 And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession. 20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; 21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead: 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: 23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)

After the nation had compassed Edom, they came to Moabite country. And God gives the same directions: leave them alone. Connecting this passage of Scripture with that of Genesis 36, we see that Seir, a Horite, had inhabited the place called by his name, but the Edomites had dispossessed them (verse 12).
But the Moabites (descendents of Lot), had taken their land from the giants (Emim verses 10-11). The word that God gives in Deuteronomy 2:18 is complimentary to the historical action in Numbers 21:28. Israel went through Ar, conquering it and gaining food and spoils of war; but they weren't allowed to possess it. Also, the Ammonites, (more descendents of Lot), had taken their land from giants (Zamzummim, verse 20).
Probably, (though not necessarily), a lot of this took place while Israel was in the desert for 39 years. Remember the reason for Israel's years in the wilderness was because the "men of war" rebelled against God when He told them they could go in and possess the land of Canaan (verses 14-18).
Perhaps the message we can get from this Scripture is a message of comfort. It is much like Romans 8:28. If we are called of the Lord, He goes before us to prepare the way. He also goes with us to prepare US for the way.

24 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. 25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. 26 And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying, 27 Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. 28 Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet; 29 (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us. 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 31 And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.

When Israel crossed the Arnon River they came to Moabite country where Sihon was king. Now this was a fertile agricultural land. Sihon refused passage to Israel, and God allowed Israel to conquer AND possess this land (verse 31).
Friends, one day ALL the possessions of evil men will be given over to God's people (see Proverbs 28:10, 2Timothy 2:12, and Revelation 5:10).
A note of caution here: even though God gave them the land, they had to fight for it. And it is the SAME TODAY with Christians (Ephesians 6:12).

32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. 33 And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people. 34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain: 35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took. 36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us: 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.

Sihon was utterly defeated and the land taken for Israel's possession. Look at verse 36. The important message here is, as Matthew Henry once said, "If we forbear what God forbids, we shall receive what He promises.."

Now, remember the "spring board" for this word "preached?" It was the incident at Kadesh-Barnea, when they REFUSED to fight as God had given them direction. It seems as though the nation of Israel learned from the error. Now the people are quite willing to fight when God calls them to battle. And if they follow His Word they will be victorious.
Moses is using historical evidence to prove his point, and to stress the imperative of following God's Word.

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