💎 [Deuteronomy 2] God Had Already Given Inheritance to Other Nations, and There Were Giants in Their Lands Too

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📍 Summary of Deuteronomy 2

Deuteronomy 2 is part of Moses' review of Israel's journey through the wilderness.

This chapter reveals that:

• God commanded Israel not to fight against certain nations.
• The first generation that left Egypt had completely died in the wilderness according to God's judgment.
• God granted Israel victory over those whom He commanded them to fight.

However, as I reflected more deeply on this chapter, I realized that Deuteronomy 2 contains treasures far greater than they first appear. Here are some of those discoveries.

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① The land promised to Israel was Canaan

Israel failed to receive the Promised Land at the appointed time because of unbelief and disobedience toward God.

As a result, they wandered in the wilderness for forty years.

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② The land of Seir belonged to the descendants of Esau (vv.1–8)

God clearly states that He had already given Mount Seir as an inheritance to Esau's descendants.

"I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession."

Therefore, Israel was not to fight against them.

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③ Do not harass Moab or Ammon (vv.9–23)

God had also given land to the descendants of Lot.

• Moab → descendants of Moab, Lot's son.
• Ammon → descendants of Ben-Ammi, Lot's son.

📍 Treasure 1

This chapter reveals that God did not prepare an inheritance only for Israel.

He had also assigned territories to the descendants of Esau and to the descendants of Lot.

This reminds us that God is the sovereign ruler over all nations.

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📍 Treasure 2 (The Greatest Treasure 💎)

When the spies returned from Canaan, Israel became terrified after seeing the Anakim (giants).

Their fear led them to doubt God's promise.

But Deuteronomy 2 reveals something remarkable.

🔎 Deuteronomy 2:21

"They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them before the Ammonites..."

In other words,

God had already enabled other nations to defeat giant peoples before Israel ever entered Canaan.

🔎 Deuteronomy 2:22

Likewise,

God drove out the Horites before the descendants of Esau and gave them possession of the land.

💎 This passage shows how unnecessary Israel's fear of the Anakim really was.

The real issue was never the giants—it was unbelief.

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📍 Treasure 3

Israel simply needed to obey God and fight the battles He assigned.

"This very day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations..." (Deut. 2:25)

Even before the battle against King Sihon,

God declared:

"See, I have delivered Sihon and his land into your hand." (Deut. 2:31)

Victory was promised before the battle even began.

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📍 Treasure 4

The end of the first generation (vv.14–15)

"Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley."

During those years,

the entire generation counted in the first census died in the wilderness,

exactly as God had declared.

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📍 Treasure 5

The timeline revealed in Deuteronomy 2

Deuteronomy 2:14 tells us that 38 years passed between Kadesh Barnea and the Zered Valley.

Meanwhile, Moses delivered Deuteronomy in the 40th year after the Exodus, on the first day of the eleventh month.

This allows us to estimate when the Kadesh Barnea incident occurred.

Considering:

• Israel's departure from Mount Sinai,
• Taberah,
• Kibroth Hattaavah,
• Hazeroth,
• Miriam's judgment,
• and the forty days of spying,

the events at Kadesh Barnea likely took place about one and a half to one year and ten months after the Exodus.

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Conclusion

📌 The important timeline revealed in Deuteronomy 2

• About 1½ to 1 year and 10 months after the Exodus, Israel reached Kadesh Barnea.
• Because of unbelief, God's judgment followed.
• Israel wandered in the wilderness for 38 years.
• Moses delivered the book of Deuteronomy nearly 40 years after the Exodus.

When Moses writes,

"Thirty-eight years passed from Kadesh Barnea to the Zered Valley,"

he is not merely recording a period of time.

🙂 Although the actual distance was only about 100–150 kilometers (60–90 miles),

it took Israel 38 years to complete the journey.

This vividly reflects Moses' deep sorrow over how much time was lost because of unbelief.

Finally, as Israel prepared to enter Canaan, Moses also emphasizes that they did not invade the lands that the Lord had forbidden them to enter, but faithfully obeyed God's commands regarding those nations.

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