Israel’s Wanderings

​Israel’s Wanderings

Moses continued to recount the history, of their wandering, to the children of Israel…

“We turned around and headed back across the wilderness, toward the Red Sea, just as the Lord had instructed me, and we wandered around, in the region of Mount Seir, for a long time. 

“Then at last the Lord said to me, 

‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north. 

Give these orders, to the people: 

“You will pass through the country, belonging to your relatives, the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. 

The Edomites will feel threatened, so be careful. 

Do not bother them, for I have given them all the hill country, around Mount Seir, as their property, …and I will not give you even one square foot, of their land. 

If you need food to eat …or water to drink, pay them for it. 

For the Lord, your God, has blessed you, in everything that you have done. 

He has watched your every step, through this great wilderness. 

During these forty years, the Lord, your God, has been with you, and you have lacked nothing.” ’ 

“So, we bypassed the territory of our relatives, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. 

We avoided the road, which goes through the Arabah Valley, that comes up from Elath and Ezion-geber. 

“Then, as we turned north, along the desert route, through Moab, the Lord warned us, 

‘Do not bother the Moabites, the descendants of Lot, or start a war with them. I have given them Ar, as their property, and I will not give you any of their land.’ ” 

(A race, of giants, called the Emites, had once lived in the area of Ar. 

They were …as strong …and as numerous …and as tall, as the Anakites, another race of giants. 

Both the Emites and the Anakites are also known as the Repha-ites, though the Moabites call them Emites. 

In earlier times, the Horites had lived in Seir, but they were driven out and displaced, by the descendants of Esau, just as Israel drove out the people of Canaan, when the Lord gave Israel their land.) 

Moses continued, 

“Then the Lord said to us, 

‘Get moving. 

Cross the Zered Brook.’ 

So, we crossed the brook. 

“Thirty-eight years passed, from the time we first left Kadesh-barnea, until we finally crossed the Zered Brook! 

By then, all the men, who were old enough to fight, in battle (at the time of our disobedience), had died in the wilderness, as the Lord had vowed would happen. 

The Lord struck them down, until they had all been eliminated, from the community. 

“When all the men of fighting age had died, the Lord said to me, 

‘Today you will cross the border of Moab, at Ar …and enter the land of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot. 

But, do not bother them …or start a war with them. 

I have given the land, of Ammon, to them, as their property, …and I will not give you any of their land.’ ” 

(That area was once also considered the land of the Repha-ites, who had lived there, though the Ammonites call them Zamzum-mites. 

They were also as strong …and as numerous …and as tall, as the Anakites. But, the Lord destroyed them, so the Ammonites could occupy their land. He had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir, for He destroyed the Horites, so the descendants of Esau could settle there, in their place. 

The descendants of Esau live there to this day. 

A similar thing happened when the Caphtor-ites, from Crete invaded and destroyed the Avvites, who had lived in villages, in the area of Gaza.) 

Moses continued, 

“Then, the Lord said, 

‘Now get moving! 

Cross the Arnon Gorge. 

Look, I will hand over, to you, Sihon, the Amorite, the king of Heshbon, and I will give, to you, his land. 

Attack him …and begin to occupy the land. 

Beginning today …I will make people throughout the earth terrified, because of you. When they hear reports about you, they will tremble with dread and fear.’ ” 

Deuteronomy 2:1–25 (NLT)

Praise be to God!