Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 2:37
But you did not go near the land of the Ammonites, or the land along the banks of the Jabbok River, or the cities of the hill country, or any place that the LORD our God had forbidden.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Israel on the plains of Moab, summarizing their eastern campaigns after detailing the conquest of cities from Aroer to Gilead in the preceding verse. He contrasts their total victory over Sihon’s domain with their deliberate restraint in other territories.
The words — לֹא קָרַבְתָּ (lo’ qaṛavta) translates literally as "you did not draw near," marking a commanded halt. The particle רַק (rak) means "only" or "but," isolating the forbidden zones from the conquered lands.
The thread — The geographic limits reappear in Numbers 21:24, which defines the Arnon-to-Jabbok border, and Deuteronomy 3:16, which allocates that same region to Reuben and Gad. Genesis 32:22 records Jacob’s earlier crossing of the Jabbok ford, establishing the area as a known boundary marker.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that territorial gain is strictly bounded by divine prohibition, not military capability. Obedience is demonstrated by ceasing advance when God explicitly forbids it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Genesis 32:22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
- Numbers 21:24 And Israel put him to the sword and took possession of his land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok—but only up to the border of the Ammonites, because it was fortified.
- Deuteronomy 3:16 and to the Reubenites and Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead to the Arnon Valley (the middle of the valley was the border) and up to the Jabbok River, the border of the Ammonites.
- Deuteronomy 2:19 But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
- Joshua 12:2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along the middle of the valley, up to the Jabbok River (the border of the Ammonites), that is, half of Gilead,
- Deuteronomy 2:5 Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.
- Deuteronomy 2:9 Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”
- Judges 11:15 to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites.