Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:20 - 2:22

Verses 20-23 are another explanatory note that disrupts the narrative. It is well to place these verses within parentheses, as Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and others do. The speech of Yahweh resumes at verse 24.

Verse 20 speaks of an ancient race of giants known by some as Rephaim and by others as Zamzummim. The suffix -im is the Hebrew pluralizer. For Rephaim see verse 11. The origin of Zamzummim is uncertain; some think it was an insulting term used by the Ammonites, but this cannot be proved. This name will have to be transliterated, like any other personal name.

In verse 21 a people great and many, and tall as the Anakim is exactly like the wording in verse 10. The rest of the verse is virtually like verse 12, except that here Yahweh is named as the one who destroys them. Dispossessed them means “to drive out” or “dislodge” the inhabitants. Good News Translation has “took over their land.”

Verse 22 describes the same kind of event with the same kind of language. At the end of the verse, and settled in their stead even to this day is better expressed by Good News Translation “and settled there, where they still live.”

To this day: some translations may wish to imitate Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, which here and elsewhere includes a footnote:
to this day: that is, until the time this account was written.

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 2:23

This verse speaks of another primitive race, the Avvim; they are not identified as giants, but this is suggested by the name being linked with the others in the context of the explanatory note.

Gaza was one of the five Philistine city-states, on the Mediterranean coast.

As for the Caphtorim and Caphtor, it is generally agreed that these are the Philistines, who came originally from Crete (see Amos 9.7). This migration took place about 1200 B.C. Translators are urged to say “Philistines” or “people from Philistia,” rather than using the form Caphtorim.

Another possible model for this verse is:

• The same thing happened to the Avvim, who lived in the land along the Mediterranean coast as far south as Gaza. People who came from the island of Crete destroyed the Avvim and took over all their land.

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 2:24

Moses continues speaking to the Israelites (recalling the words of Yahweh), and this should be stated clearly in translation; for example, “Moses said to the Israelites: After we had traveled through Moab, the LORD told us, ….”

Contemporary English Version makes verses 24-25 a new section, but translators are advised to begin a new section at verse 26 (see Good News Translation).

Rise up, take your journey, and go over: as in other similar instances, this can be expressed more naturally, as in New Revised Standard Version: “Proceed on your journey and cross….” Contemporary English Version is even clearer, with “Pack up your belongings, take down your tents, and cross over….”

The valley of the Arnon: the Arnon river flowed from east to west into the east side of the Dead Sea (see the map, page xii). So this phrase can be translated, as Good News Translation does, “[cross] the Arnon River.”

I have given into your hand: it is Yahweh who makes it possible for the Israelites to defeat their enemies. Yahweh, so to speak, hands the enemies over to the Israelites, who thus overpower them. Have given into your hand may also be expressed as “give into your power” or “let you have power over.”

Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon: see 1.4, 7.

Begin to take possession, and contend with him: the order is given for the Israelites to begin their conquest of the land on the east side of the Jordan River. The language is similar to that 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 .

Translation commentary on Deuteronomy 2:25

I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples that are under the whole heaven: this can be expressed in a more natural way: “I shall fill the peoples under all heaven with fear and terror of you” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), or “I will make all the nations to be terribly afraid of you.” For comments on “fill with fear” or “melt the heart,” see 1.28, 29. The phrase “under the whole heaven” is a way of including all peoples everywhere and can be more simply stated as “all the nations in the world” (Bible en français courant, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy), or even “all people everywhere in the world.”

Who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you: this further emphasizes the fear that will possess the various peoples whose lands the Israelites will invade and conquer. It is not clear whether the report of you, that is, “the news about you,” will be of the Israelites’ successive victories as they advance, or refers to their miraculous escape from Egypt. In any case a translation should say no more than the Hebrew text. Shall hear the report of you may also be expressed as “when anyone mentions [or, talks about] you.” The two verbs shall tremble and be in anguish may be combined as Good News Translation has done: “will tremble with fear at the mention of your name”; or if there are vivid terms that are similar in meaning in a receptor language, we may translate in a way similar to Contemporary English Version: “They will tremble with fear when anyone mentions you, and they will be terrified when you appear.”

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 2:27

Let me pass through: Moses, as leader, speaks for all the Israelites. In most languages it will be better to use the plural, “Let us [exclusive] pass through” (also in verses 48-49).

I will turn aside neither …: Moses promises that the Israelites will go straight through Sihon’s country, staying on the main road and not stopping to plunder or pillage. It will be an entirely peaceful passage through his country. In some languages the last part of the verse may be expressed as “We will keep to the road, and we will go straight through.”

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 2:28

This verse is almost exactly like 2.6; here the two verbs are sell and give, both meaning the same, since the Israelites offer to pay for what they receive.

Only let me pass through on foot: this emphasizes the peaceful nature of the Israelites’ passage through the land. The phrase on foot is not in contrast with other ways of passing through (on horses, or in chariots); rather, it means they will pass through peacefully, without bothering the people. So Bible en français courant has “Allow us simply to pass through your country,” and Good News Translation “All we want to do is pass through your country.”

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 2:29

As the sons of …: The first part of the verse recalls how the Edomites and the Moabites gave free passage to the Israelites. For the Edomites see verse 4, and for the Moabites see verses 18-19.

Care should be taken to link the last part of the verse (until I go over the Jordan into the land …) with verse 28. New Revised Standard Version uses dashes to make the proper connection: “Only allow me to pass through on foot—just as the descendants … who live in Ar—until I cross the Jordan.” In most cases it will be better to restructure the verse in a way similar to Good News Translation: “until we reach the Jordan River and cross over it into the land that the LORD our God is giving us. The descendants of Esau, who live in Edom, and the people of Moab, who live in Ar, allowed us to pass through their lands.” The singular I go over means not only Moses himself but all the people.

The LORD our God: our is exclusive, since Yahweh is not the God of Sihon and his people.

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 2:30

The LORD your God: here Moses is addressing the Israelites; if the second person plural “your God” gives the meaning that Yahweh is not the God of Moses, the inclusive first plural should be used: “our God,” or “Yahweh whom we worship.”

Hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate: by the use of two similar expressions, the fact is emphasized that it was Yahweh who caused Sihon to refuse peaceful passage to the Israelites. The language is similar to that of Exo 4.21, which speaks of the king of Egypt. Yahweh made Sihon obstinate, stubborn, defiant. A hard heart indicated a stubborn attitude. In many languages there will be similar figurative expressions for “stubbornness” using the “heart” or “liver”; for example, “Yahweh caused his heart [or, liver] to become hard.”

That he might give him into your hand: see verse 24. Moses is speaking not only of Sihon but of Sihon and his people.

As at this day: see verse 22.

There are better ways of stating the last part of this verse: “in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done” (New Revised Standard Version); “in order that he and his land might become subject to you, as it is to this day” (Revised English Bible).

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 .