Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:10 - 2:11

Verses 10-12 are an explanatory note that is not part of the narrative itself. For this reason Revised Standard Version has placed them between parentheses, while Good News Translation makes them a separate paragraph, also between parentheses. Contemporary English Version makes them a separate section with the heading “Tribes that Lived near Canaan.” This is also possible.

The Emim … a people great and many: it is better to follow Good News Translation, identifying these people as “A mighty race of giants” or “A powerful tribe [or, clan] of giants.” The various legendary giants, the original inhabitants of the land, went by several names. A translation must have a consistent system of transliterating proper names, taking care to avoid names that are suggestive or already have a distinct meaning in the language. Emim may also be expressed as “people of Emim.” The origin of the name Emim is unknown; perhaps it is related to the Hebrew noun “terror,” but this cannot be proved. The name Rephaim is used to mean “giants”; but its origin is uncertain. It must be transliterated like any other personal name. The Anakim or “people descended from Anak” have already been mentioned (1.28). Giants may be expressed as “very tall people.” Mighty means “powerful” or “strong.”

Contemporary English Version has a helpful model for these two verses:

• Before the LORD gave the Moabites their land, a large and powerful tribe lived there. They were the Emim, and they were as tall as the Anakim. The Moabites called them Emim, though others sometimes used the name Rephaim for both the Anakim and the Emim.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:12

Horites: New Revised Standard Version has “Horim,” which is closer to the Hebrew form. The name probably means “cave dwellers,” but this cannot be proved; it does not mean “people of Hor” or “descendants of Hor.” The name should be transliterated: “the people called Horites….”

Seir is Edom. The sons of Esau are Esau’s descendants, that is, the Edomites (see verses 4-5).

Dispossessed them: that is, “drove them out of their country.”

Destroyed them from before them, and settled in their stead: this means that the Edomites completely defeated and killed the Horites and took possession of their territory, making it their own country.

As Israel did to the land of their possession: the Edomites did what the Israelites were to do later in their conquest of Canaan. Even though the Israelites, like the Edomites, conquered the country by force, the point is always made that it was Yahweh who gave them the land for them to possess.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:13

This verse returns to the main narrative, and it is good for a translation to make it clear that once more Yahweh is speaking to Moses. If translators have made verses 10-12 into a separate section as Contemporary English Version does, it is even more important to begin verse 13 with something like “Moses said to the Israelites,” or even “Moses continued to speak to the….”

In obedience to the LORD’s command, the Israelites cross the brook Zered. The initial command rise up means “Get going,” “Go forward.” Here New Revised Standard Version has “the Wadi Zered,” and Contemporary English Version has “Zered Gorge.” Its location is not certain; some identify it with the Wadi el-Hesa, which flows into the southeastern end of the Dead Sea. See 1.24 for ways to translate valley or “wadi.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:14

This verse and the next one provide information about the length of time it took the Israelites to get to the land of Canaan.

The thirty-eight years is two years short of the standard “forty years” (1.2) from the time the Israelites left Egypt until they entered Canaan. It may be that the author is subtracting the two years it took for them to reach Sinai, as well as the time spent in Kadesh Barnea (Num 1.1; 9.1; 10.11-12). Revised Standard Version is too complicated. The Good News Translation rendering is a more natural one: “This was thirty-eight years after we left Kadesh Barnea.”

The entire generation, that is, the men of war: this is better expressed by New Revised Standard Version, “the entire generation of warriors,” and Revised English Bible, “… of fighting men.”

As the LORD had sworn to them: for “swear” see 1.8.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:15

The hand of the LORD was against them: this is a vivid way of saying that Yahweh kept punishing them and killing them, until all who belonged to the adult generation that left Egypt had died.

To destroy them from the camp, until they had perished: here the camp stands for the people themselves, the community, and God is portrayed as rooting them out and killing them.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:

• Yahweh kept punishing them until they were all dead.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:16 - 2:17

The Revised Standard Version literal translation of verse 16 is strange English. There is no need in English to say had perished and were dead, and the following from among the people is simply a way of identifying them as people of Israel. Good News Translation provides all the information in modern English: “After they had all died.” Revised English Bible is more wordy but still natural: “When the last of the fighting men among the people had died.”

The LORD said to me: Yahweh is still talking to Moses alone, yet in the following verse the command is for all the people. Good News Translation has therefore translated “said to us.” Translators should follow either model, depending upon what is normal in their own language.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:18

Pass over the boundary of Moab at Ar: the word translated boundary can also mean the region itself, and not only its frontier. Good News Translation is clearer with “Today you are to pass through,” which can be followed as a good model for this verse. Ar is a city some 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of the southern end of the Dead Sea (see map, page xi).

Alternative translation models for this verse are:

• Today you must travel through the territory of Moab near the city of Ar.

• Today you must go past the city of Ar and cross Moab’s northern border.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:19

The Hebrew word translated frontier here is different from the one translated “boundary” in verse 18, and can be taken to mean “boundary” or “frontier.” The phrase the sons of Ammon means “the Ammonites,” or “people of Ammon” who, like the Moabites, were descended from Lot (Gen 19.30-38).

For do not harass them or contend with them, see verse 9. The assignment of this region to the Ammonites is stated in the same way as the assignment made to the Moabites in verse 9.

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Deuteronomy. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .