Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 2:14
And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, [was] thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD swore unto them.
14. thirty and eight years ] See above, introd. to Deu 2:1-8 a.
until all the generation of the men of war were consumed ] See Deu 1:35; Deu 1:39.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
8-18. we passed . . . through theway of the plainthe Arabah or great valley, from Elath(“trees”) (the Ailah of the Greeks and Romans). The site ofit is marked by extensive mounds of rubbish.
Ezion-gebernow Akaba,both were within the territory of Edom; and after making a circuit ofits southeastern boundary, the Israelites reached the border of Moabon the southeast of the Salt Sea. They had been forbidden by divinecommand to molest the Moabites in any way; and this special honor wasconferred on that people not on their own account, for they were verywicked, but in virtue of their descent from Lot. (See on De23:3). Their territory comprised the fine country on the south,and partly on the north of the Arnon. They had won it by their armsfrom the original inhabitants, the Emims, a race, terrible, as theirname imports, for physical power and stature (Ge14:5), in like manner as the Edomites had obtained theirsettlement by the overthrow of the original occupiers of Seir, theHorims (Ge 14:6), who weretroglodytes, or dwellers in caves. Moses alluded to thesecircumstances to encourage his countrymen to believe that God wouldmuch more enable them to expel the wicked and accursed Canaanites. Atthat time, however, the Moabites, having lost the greater part oftheir possessions through the usurpations of Sihon, were reduced tothe small but fertile region between the Zered and the Arnon.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea,…. The space of time; or, “the days” b; the number of them:
until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; that is, from the time that the spies were sent and searched the land, and brought a report of it; for they were sent from Kadeshbarnea, Nu 32:8 unto the passage of the Israelites over Zered, were thirty eight years; so long they had been travelling in the wilderness, after they were come to the borders of the land:
until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host; all that were twenty years old and upwards, and fit to go out to war upon occasion, when the people were first numbered after they came out of Egypt; all that generation was now consumed within the above space of time, excepting two, Caleb and Joshua;
as the Lord sware unto them; Nu 14:21.
b “et dies”, Montanus; “dies autem”, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(14) Until we were come over the brook Zered.The root zrad in Chaldee means to prune. The name Zered signifies the luxuriant foliage and the young shoots, especially of the willow, which are cut off with the knife: so the Targum takes it (Num. 21:12). Probably the valley was so named from the willows of the brook which grew there. But it was the valley of pruning to the vine which God had brought out of Egypt in another sense. The last of the fruitless branches was here taken away, and the vine purged, that it might bring forth more fruit.
Thirty and eight years; until all . . . men of war were wasted out from among the host.The census did not take place until some months later. A plague intervened, which cut off twenty-four thousand. The observation that at the brook Zered all the men of the older generation were wasted out of the host indicates an intimate knowledge of the incidents of the exodus. But it is quite natural to suppose that, as the survivors of that generation became fewer, those who remained would become marked men. Every man of the twelve tribes (excluding Levi? ) who passed the census at Sinai was doomed. The fortieth year of the exodus had more than half expired when they came to the brook Zered. All who remained alive in that year knew that they had a short time to live. Probably more notice was taken of the last few deaths than of all the rest of the six hundred thousand put together.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
14. Zered According to Num 21:12, the Israelites had encamped in the valley of Zered, (or, as there spelled, Zared).
Thirty and eight years These were years of wandering since they first left Kadesh, on the south of the Promised Land. All the men of war who left Egypt, except Caleb and Joshua, have passed away. The sentence pronounced upon them on account of their rebellion has been executed.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Deu 2:14 And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, [was] thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.
Ver. 14. As the Lord sware. ] His menaces also, as well as his promises, are confirmed by oath. Let no man, therefore, think that they are spoken in terrorem only; but read Zep 3:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thirty and eight years. Compare the antitype of Israel in the flesh, Joh 5:6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Kadeshbarnea: Deu 1:2, Deu 1:19, Deu 1:46, Num 13:26
until all the generation: Deu 1:34, Deu 1:35, Num 14:28-35, Num 26:64, Num 26:65, Num 32:11, Psa 90:3, Psa 90:9, Psa 95:11, Eze 20:15, Heb 3:8-19, Jud 1:5
Reciprocal: Num 14:33 – forty years Num 20:1 – Then Num 21:12 – the valley of Zared Num 32:13 – wander Deu 2:3 – long enough Jos 5:6 – walked Psa 59:13 – Consume Psa 78:33 – days Psa 90:7 – For we Psa 90:15 – the years Psa 95:10 – Forty Heb 3:11 – I sware
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:14 And the {g} space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, [was] thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.
(g) He shows by this, that as God is true in his promise, so his threatenings are not in vain.