Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Deuteronomy 2:23
And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, [even] unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
Caphtorims, a people akin to the Philistines, Gen 10:14, and confederate with them in this enterprise, and so dwelling together, and by degrees were probably united together by marriages or other ways, and became one people, the Caphtorims being at last swallowed up in the Philistines. See Jer 47:4; Amo 9:7.
Caphtor is by the learned thought to be Cappadocia; whither these people might make an expedition out of Egypt, either because of the report of the great riches of part of that country, which drew others thither from places equally remote, or after the manner of those ancient times, or for some other reason now unknown.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Avim, which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah,…. The same with the Avites, who appear to have inhabited some part of the land of the Philistines, in which Azzah or Gaza was, which was one of the five lordships of the Philistines, Jos 13:3. The word Hazerim signifies courts, and a learned man e interprets it of tents or huts placed in a square or circular form, so as to have an area in the middle; and in such the Avim may be supposed to dwell, while in Palestine, as far as Gaza:
the Caphtorim, which came from out of Caphtor, destroyed them; according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, and the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, these were Cappadocians, that came out of Cappadocia; but it seems manifest that they were originally of Egypt, see Ge 10:14 and Bochart f thinks they went from thence into that part of Cappadocia that was near Colchis; but things not answering their expectations, they returned, and drove out the Avim from their country:
and dwelt in their stead; [See comments on Jer 47:4] [See comments on Am 9:7]. Though it seems as if they were not utterly destroyed, but some escaped into Assyria, and settled there, where was a place called Ava from them; and from whence they were sent by the king of Assyria to repeople the cities of Samaria, after the captivity of the ten tribes; see 2Ki 17:24. Now these several instances are observed to encourage the children of Israel to hope and believe that they should be able to dispossess the Canaanites, and inherit their land; such dispossessions having been very frequent, when it was the will of God they should take place.
e Clayton’s Chronology of the Hebrew Bible, p. 65. f Phaleg. l. 4. c. 32. col. 291, 292.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(23) The Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims . . . destroyed.In Hazerim should apparently be rendered in villages. It does not occur elsewhere as a proper name; it is plural in form, and is found in this sense in some other places. Azzah, i.e., Gaza. The Caphtorim: comp. Amo. 9:7 : The Philistines from Caphtor. (See Gen. 10:14.) Some make the country of Caphtor to be Cyprus or Crete. But at least this statement makes Philistia the scene of a conquest, and the Philistines of the time of Joshua would thus appear to be a mixed race.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. The Avim are identified with the Avites of Jos 13:3. Azzah is the Hebrew form of Gaza, one of the chief cities of the Philistines.
Caphtorim Caphtor (Gen 10:14) has been identified with the Egyptian name of the northern delta, from which the Phoenicians emigrated into Asia. These four verses may have been introduced by a later editor.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ver. 23. And the Avims, which dwelt in Hazerim, &c. The Avims are mentioned, Jos 13:3 as the ancient inhabitants of Palestine: Hazerim is no where else read of. Calmet supposes it to be the same place with Hazeroth, Num 33:17. But Azza, or Gaza, is well known, being one of the cities of the Philistines, on the northern coast. The Caphtorims were a branch of the Philistines, so called from their founder, who settled in Caphtor, a country in or about Egypt. See Gen 10:14 and Shaw’s Travels, p. 286. Le Clerc thinks that the Caphtorims came from the northern coast of Africa: Calmet believes them to have been originally from the island of Cyprus. The translation here is awkward; it would be better, and the Caphtorims, who came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed the Avims, &c. and dwelt in their stead. By producing these instances of God’s displacing one people, settling another, and fixing bounds which they should not pass without his leave, Moses designed to strengthen the faith of the Israelites in the divine promise of giving them the victory over all their enemies, and settling them in the land of Canaan. Besides, in this view of things, these nations, who themselves had dispossessed others, could not with justice reproach those who dispossessed them. See Calmet.
REFLECTIONS.Moses proceeds, 1. To recount their marches by the borders of Moab and Ammon, with some historical account of the former inhabitants, whom they had dispossessed. They were giants, great in statute, and terrible to look upon as the Anakims, yet fell before the sons of Lot and Esau; why, then, should the seed of Jacob fear that God would not more gloriously assist them in destroying the giants of Canaan? Note; In the world we have no sure and abiding portion. The more vain and changeable its possession, the more solicitous should we be to secure a kingdom which cannot be moved. 2. He mentions the remarkable fulfilment of God’s sentence, in cutting off entirely the former generation, except Caleb and Joshua, in the wilderness. God’s counsel will stand, and woe to the soul against whom he contendeth in anger. 3. They are strictly forbidden to distress the children of Lot. Note; (1.) Relations have a title to a particular regard. (2.) The blessing of godly parents descends to children’s children.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Deu 2:23 And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, [even] unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)
Ver. 23. And the Avims, which dwelt in Hazeroth. ] These are ancient things, as it is said in another case, 1Ch 4:22 such, as whereof there is no record but this extant in the world. Well might that Egyptian priest say to Solon, that wise man of Greece, You Greeks are very babies – – neither is there an ancient writer amongst you. a
a Diod. Sic.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Avims. Another name for these Nephilim. Jos 13:3. (App-25.)
Additional notes on next page. Azzah = Gaza. Gen 10:19. 1Sa 6:17. Compare 1Ki 4:24. Jer 25:20. Act 8:26.
Caphtorims. Another name, for those that came out of Caphtor. Gen 10:14. Amo 9:7. Jer 47:4. Some-times identified with Crete, or the Delta.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Avims: Jos 13:3, Avites
Azzah: 1Ki 4:24, Jer 25:20, Zep 2:4, Zec 9:5, Gaza
the Caphtorims which came: Gen 10:14, Jer 47:4, Amo 9:7, Act 17:26
Reciprocal: Num 12:16 – Hazeroth 1Ch 1:12 – Caphthorim
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Deu 2:23. And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim This is another instance of Gods disposal of countries unto what people he pleases. The Avims are mentioned Jos 13:3, as the ancient inhabitants of Palestine. The Caphtorims A people akin to, or a branch of, the Philistines, so called, probably, from their founder, who settled in Caphtor, a country in or about Egypt, see Gen 10:14. By producing these instances of Gods displacing one people, and settling another in their stead, Moses designed to strengthen the faith of the Israelites in the divine promise of giving them the victory over all their enemies, and settling them in the land of Canaan.