“Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth ; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.”
My Notes
What Does Deuteronomy 2:5 Mean?
"Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession." God tells Israel not to disturb Edom — Esau's descendants. Not one foot of their land belongs to Israel. God gave it to Esau, and that gift is as legitimate as the land he promised to Jacob. The prohibition is absolute: don't even "meddle" (hit-gar, to stir up or provoke). Don't start a conflict. That territory isn't yours.
This reveals something unexpected: God's promises to Jacob didn't cancel his provisions for Esau. Both brothers received land from God. The covenant with Israel doesn't mean everyone else was abandoned. God keeps multiple commitments simultaneously.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Where have you assumed that God's blessing on you means God has neglected or rejected someone else?
- 2.How does God's provision for Esau challenge tribal or exclusive thinking about who God cares for?
- 3.What 'territory' that belongs to someone else are you tempted to claim or contest?
- 4.How does respecting others' God-given portion protect you from unnecessary conflict?
Devotional
Don't touch Esau's land. Not even a foot. God gave it to him, and that gift is non-negotiable — even for Israel.
This should stop anyone who thinks God's election of Jacob means God rejected Esau entirely. He didn't. Esau got Mount Seir. It was a divine gift, as legitimate as Canaan. God said "I gave it" — past tense, completed action, settled matter. Esau's land is Esau's land. Israel, don't meddle.
The theology here is bigger than real estate. God keeps multiple covenants simultaneously. His special relationship with Israel doesn't mean everyone else is abandoned. Esau is provided for. Moab is provided for (v. 9). Ammon is provided for (v. 19). God's election of one doesn't require the desolation of others.
This challenges every tribal mentality — the idea that God's blessing on your group means God has cursed everyone else. It doesn't. He might have given them their own Mount Seir. Their own provision. Their own legitimate place in his plan. And your job is to respect their portion, not to claim it or contest it.
"Not so much as a foot breadth." The boundary is that specific. God knows exactly what belongs to whom. Your territory is defined, and so is theirs. Don't meddle with what God gave someone else. Take your Canaan and leave their Seir alone.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Contend not with them in battle, nor provoke them to it:
for I will not give you of their land, no not so much as a…
I have given mount Seir to Esau - Though the descendants of Esau were conquered by David 2Sa 8:14, yet they were not…
Here is, I. A short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness: We compassed Mount Seir many days, Deu 2:1.…
contend not with them In its causative form the Heb. verb means to stir up, e.g. strife, Pro 15:18, etc.; here the…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture