Matthew Henry on Deuteronomy 2:1-7
Here is, I. A short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness: We compassed Mount Seir many days, Deu 2:1. Nearly thirty-eight years they wandered in the deserts of Seir; probably in some of their rests they staid several years, and never stirred; God by this not only chastised them for their murmuring and unbelief, but, 1. Prepared them for Canaan, by humbling them for sin, teaching them to mortify their lusts, to follow God, and to comfort themselves in him. It is a work of time to make souls meet for heaven, and it must be done by a long train of exercises. 2. He prepared the Canaanites for destruction. All this time the measure of their iniquity was filling up; and, though it…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 2:5
Meddle not with them--that is, "which dwell in Seir" (Deu 2:4) --for there was another branch of Esau's posterity, namely, the Amalekites, who were to be fought against and destroyed (Gen 36:12; Exo 17:14; Deu 25:17). But the people of Edom were not to be injured, either in their persons or property. And although the approach of so vast a nomadic horde as the Israelites naturally created apprehension, they were to take no advantage of the prevailing terror to compel the Edomites to accept whatever terms they imposed. They were merely to pass "through" or along their border, and to buy meat and water of them for money (Deu 2:6). The people, kinder than their king, did sell them bread, meat, f…
Read the whole note in the consoleJohn Gill on Deuteronomy 2:6
That is, if they would, as Aben Ezra observes; for though they had manna daily, yet if they would they might buy other food when they had an opportunity, as they would now have of Edom; but then they were not to take it by force or stealth, but pay for it, which they were able to do. The same writer observes, that some read the words with an interrogation, "shall ye buy meat?" no, there is no need of it; for the Lord had blessed them with a sufficiency of it:
and ye shall also buy water of them for money; that ye may drink; which was usual in those hot countries; See Gill on Numbers 20:19 or dig water (y) that is, pay for digging of wells for water, or buy water out of wells dug in the land…
