Deuteronomy 2:2

Key Reflection

Deuteronomy 2:2 recounts a significant moment in the Israelites' journey after their defeat of Sihon, king of Heshbon. The phrase "then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke to me" indicates that Moses was recounting divine instructions given during this period. The original audience would have understood that these directions were part of God's broader plan for leading the Israelites through a specific route in the wilderness, likely to test their faith and prepare them for eventual entry into Canaan. Encircling Mount Seir many days suggests a deliberate path that took time, emphasizing both the length and purposefulness of this journey.