Saadia's Tafsir on Devarim 2 (Parashat Devarim)

Devarim 2:1

וַנֵּפֶן וַנִּסַּע הַמִּדְבָּרָה דֶּרֶךְ יַם-סוּף כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה אֵלָי וַנָּסָב אֶת-הַר-שֵׂעִיר יָמִים רַבִּים

. .

Then we turned and journeyed through the wilderness by the way of the Sea of Qulzum, as God commanded me; and we circled Mount Seir for a long while.

Devarim 2:2

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר

And God said to me, saying:

Devarim 2:3

רַב-לָכֶם סֹב אֶת-הָהָר הַזֶּה פְּנוּ לָכֶם צָפֹנָה

.

'Enough of your circling of this mountain — turn away from it northward.

Devarim 2:4

וְאֶת-הָעָם צַו לֵאמֹר אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים בִּגְבוּל אֲחֵיכֶם בְּנֵי-עֵשָׂו הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֵׂעִיר וְיִירְאוּ מִכֶּם וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹד

. . . . .

And command your people and say to them: You are passing through the territory of your brothers the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir; they will fear you, so be very much on your guard.

Devarim 2:5

אַל-תִּתְגָּרוּ בָם--כִּי לֹא-אֶתֵּן לָכֶם מֵאַרְצָם עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף-רָגֶל כִּי-יְרֻשָּׁה לְעֵשָׂו נָתַתִּי אֶת-הַר שֵׂעִיר

. . . .

Do not provoke them, for I will not give you of their land, not so much as a footstep — for Mount Seir I have already given to Esau as an inheritance.

Devarim 2:6

אֹכֶל תִּשְׁבְּרוּ מֵאִתָּם בַּכֶּסֶף וַאֲכַלְתֶּם וְגַם-מַיִם תִּכְרוּ מֵאִתָּם בַּכֶּסֶף--וּשְׁתִיתֶם

. .

Rather, buy food from them for a price and eat it; and likewise water, buy for a price and drink it.

Devarim 2:7

כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בֵּרַכְךָ בְּכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ--יָדַע לֶכְתְּךָ אֶת-הַמִּדְבָּר הַגָּדֹל הַזֶּה זֶה אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ עִמָּךְ--לֹא חָסַרְתָּ דָּבָר

. . . .

For God your Lord has already blessed you in all your works, and dealt well with you during your journey through this great and terrible wilderness — these forty years God your Lord has been with you, you have lacked nothing.'

Devarim 2:8

וַנַּעֲבֹר מֵאֵת אַחֵינוּ בְנֵי-עֵשָׂו הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֵׂעִיר מִדֶּרֶךְ הָעֲרָבָה מֵאֵילַת וּמֵעֶצְיֹן גָּבֶר וַנֵּפֶן וַנַּעֲבֹר דֶּרֶךְ מִדְבַּר מוֹאָב

. . . . .

So we passed by our brothers the sons of Esau, who dwell in Seir, by the way of the open desert, and Elath and Ezion-Geber; and we turned and journeyed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

Devarim 2:9

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי אַל-תָּצַר אֶת-מוֹאָב וְאַל-תִּתְגָּר בָּם מִלְחָמָה כִּי לֹא-אֶתֵּן לְךָ מֵאַרְצוֹ יְרֻשָּׁה--כִּי לִבְנֵי-לוֹט נָתַתִּי אֶת-עָר יְרֻשָּׁה

. . . .

And God said to me: 'Do not lay siege to the Moabites, and do not provoke them to war, for I will not give you any possession of their land — since to the sons of Lot I have already given Ar as an inheritance.'

Devarim 2:10

הָאֵמִים לְפָנִים יָשְׁבוּ בָהּ--עַם גָּדוֹל וְרַב וָרָם כָּעֲנָקִים

.

Now the Hayubians had formerly dwelt in it — a great, numerous, and tall people, like the mighty ones.

Devarim 2:11

רְפָאִים יֵחָשְׁבוּ אַף-הֵם כָּעֲנָקִים וְהַמֹּאָבִים יִקְרְאוּ לָהֶם אֵמִים

. .

They too are reckoned as bold warriors like the mighty ones; and the Moabites call them the Hayubians.

Devarim 2:12

וּבְשֵׂעִיר יָשְׁבוּ הַחֹרִים לְפָנִים וּבְנֵי עֵשָׂו יִירָשׁוּם וַיַּשְׁמִידוּם מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיֵּשְׁבוּ תַּחְתָּם כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה יִשְׂרָאֵל לְאֶרֶץ יְרֻשָּׁתוֹ אֲשֶׁר-נָתַן יְהוָה לָהֶם

. . . . . .

And in Seir the Horites dwelt before the sons of Esau, until they came and devoured them and drove them out from before them, and settled in their place — just as Israel did to part of its territory which God gave it.

Devarim 2:13

עַתָּה קֻמוּ וְעִבְרוּ לָכֶם--אֶת-נַחַל זָרֶד וַנַּעֲבֹר אֶת-נַחַל זָרֶד

. . .

'And now — arise and cross the wadi Zared.' So we crossed it.

Devarim 2:14

וְהַיָּמִים אֲשֶׁר-הָלַכְנוּ מִקָּדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ עַד אֲשֶׁר-עָבַרְנוּ אֶת-נַחַל זֶרֶד שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁמֹנֶה שָׁנָה--עַד-תֹּם כָּל-הַדּוֹר אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה מִקֶּרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה לָהֶם

. . . . .

And the sum of the days from when we journeyed from Kadesh-Barnea until we crossed the wadi Zared was thirty-eight years — until all the fighting men had perished from the camp, as God had sworn concerning them.

Devarim 2:15

וְגַם יַד-יְהוָה הָיְתָה בָּם לְהֻמָּם מִקֶּרֶב הַמַּחֲנֶה עַד תֻּמָּם

. .

And a plague from God came upon them, to rout them from the camp, until they perished.

Devarim 2:16

וַיְהִי כַאֲשֶׁר-תַּמּוּ כָּל-אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה לָמוּת--מִקֶּרֶב הָעָם

And when they had all perished from among the nation —

Devarim 2:17

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר

God said to me, saying:

Devarim 2:18

אַתָּה עֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת-גְּבוּל מוֹאָב אֶת-עָר

.

'You are crossing today the border of Moab, which is Ar.

Devarim 2:19

וְקָרַבְתָּ מוּל בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן--אַל-תְּצֻרֵם וְאַל-תִּתְגָּר בָּם כִּי לֹא-אֶתֵּן מֵאֶרֶץ בְּנֵי-עַמּוֹן לְךָ יְרֻשָּׁה--כִּי לִבְנֵי-לוֹט נְתַתִּיהָ יְרֻשָּׁה

. .

And as you approach the sons of Ammon — do not lay siege to them and do not provoke them, for I will not give you any possession of their land, since I have assigned it to the sons of Lot as a possession.'

Devarim 2:20

אֶרֶץ-רְפָאִים תֵּחָשֵׁב אַף-הִוא רְפָאִים יָשְׁבוּ-בָהּ לְפָנִים וְהָעַמֹּנִים יִקְרְאוּ לָהֶם זַמְזֻמִּים

. .

It too is reckoned as the land of the mighty ones, for the mighty ones dwelt in it before them; and the Ammonites call them the men of great spirit.

Devarim 2:21

עַם גָּדוֹל וְרַב וָרָם כָּעֲנָקִים וַיַּשְׁמִידֵם יְהוָה מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיִּירָשֻׁם וַיֵּשְׁבוּ תַחְתָּם

. . .

A great and tall people, like the mighty ones — God drove them out from before them, and they devoured them and settled in their place.

Devarim 2:22

כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לִבְנֵי עֵשָׂו הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֵׂעִיר--אֲשֶׁר הִשְׁמִיד אֶת-הַחֹרִי מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיִּירָשֻׁם וַיֵּשְׁבוּ תַחְתָּם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

. . . .

Just as He did for the sons of Esau who dwell in Seir — since the Horites were driven out from before them, and they devoured them and settled in their place until this day.

Devarim 2:23

וְהָעַוִּים הַיֹּשְׁבִים בַּחֲצֵרִים עַד-עַזָּה--כַּפְתֹּרִים הַיֹּצְאִים מִכַּפְתֹּר הִשְׁמִידֻם וַיֵּשְׁבוּ תַחְתָּם

. . .

And the Avvites who dwelt in Raphah as far as Gaza — the Dumyatians, who came out of Dumyat, devoured them and settled in their place.

Devarim 2:24

קוּמוּ סְּעוּ וְעִבְרוּ אֶת-נַחַל אַרְנֹן--רְאֵה נָתַתִּי בְיָדְךָ אֶת-סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ-חֶשְׁבּוֹן הָאֱמֹרִי וְאֶת-אַרְצוֹ הָחֵל רָשׁ וְהִתְגָּר בּוֹ מִלְחָמָה

. . . .

'Arise and journey, and cross the wadi Arnon. See — I have delivered into your hand Sihon king of Heshbon the Amorite and his land; begin to devour it, and provoke him to battle.'

Devarim 2:25

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אָחֵל תֵּת פַּחְדְּךָ וְיִרְאָתְךָ עַל-פְּנֵי הָעַמִּים תַּחַת כָּל-הַשָּׁמָיִם--אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְעוּן שִׁמְעֲךָ וְרָגְזוּ וְחָלוּ מִפָּנֶיךָ

. . . . .

'And from this day I shall begin to cast your dread and your fear into the hearts of the nations that are under all the sky — and when they hear news of you, they shall be convulsed and shall tremble before you.'

Devarim 2:26

וָאֶשְׁלַח מַלְאָכִים מִמִּדְבַּר קְדֵמוֹת אֶל-סִיחוֹן מֶלֶךְ חֶשְׁבּוֹן דִּבְרֵי שָׁלוֹם לֵאמֹר

. .

So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying to him:

Devarim 2:27

אֶעְבְּרָה בְאַרְצֶךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֵלֵךְ לֹא אָסוּר יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול

. .

'I wish to pass through your land; along the main road we shall travel, turning neither right nor left.

Devarim 2:28

אֹכֶל בַּכֶּסֶף תַּשְׁבִּרֵנִי וְאָכַלְתִּי וּמַיִם בַּכֶּסֶף תִּתֶּן-לִי וְשָׁתִיתִי רַק אֶעְבְּרָה בְרַגְלָי

. .

Food you shall provision me for a price so that I may eat it, and water you shall provision me for a price so that I may drink it — only let me pass on foot.

Devarim 2:29

כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ-לִי בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּשֵׂעִיר וְהַמּוֹאָבִים הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּעָר--עַד אֲשֶׁר-אֶעֱבֹר אֶת-הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נֹתֵן לָנוּ

. . . . . .

Just as some of the sons of Esau who dwell in Seir did for me, and the Moabites who dwell in Ar — until I cross the Jordan to the land which God our Lord is giving us.'

Devarim 2:30

וְלֹא אָבָה סִיחֹן מֶלֶךְ חֶשְׁבּוֹן הַעֲבִרֵנוּ בּוֹ כִּי-הִקְשָׁה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת-רוּחוֹ וְאִמֵּץ אֶת-לְבָבוֹ לְמַעַן תִּתּוֹ בְיָדְךָ כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה

. . . .

But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing to let us pass through his land, because God your Lord had made his spirit unyielding and had hardened his heart, so that He might deliver him into your hand, as you see this day.

Devarim 2:31

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֵלַי רְאֵה הַחִלֹּתִי תֵּת לְפָנֶיךָ אֶת-סִיחֹן וְאֶת-אַרְצוֹ הָחֵל רָשׁ לָרֶשֶׁת אֶת-אַרְצוֹ

. . . .

And God said to me: 'See — I have begun to deliver into your hand Sihon and his land; begin to devour it, and take his land.'

Devarim 2:32

וַיֵּצֵא סִיחֹן לִקְרָאתֵנוּ הוּא וְכָל-עַמּוֹ לַמִּלְחָמָה--יָהְצָה

. .

And Sihon came out to meet us, he and all his people, for battle at Yahaz.

Devarim 2:33

וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְפָנֵינוּ וַנַּךְ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת-בָּנָו וְאֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ

. .

And God our Lord delivered him into our hand, and we struck him, and his sons, and the rest of his people.

Devarim 2:34

וַנִּלְכֹּד אֶת-כָּל-עָרָיו בָּעֵת הַהִוא וַנַּחֲרֵם אֶת-כָּל-עִיר מְתִם וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטָּף לֹא הִשְׁאַרְנוּ שָׂרִיד

. . .

And we captured all his towns at that time, and we destroyed from every town the men, the women, and the children — we left not a single survivor.

Devarim 2:35

רַק הַבְּהֵמָה בָּזַזְנוּ לָנוּ וּשְׁלַל הֶעָרִים אֲשֶׁר לָכָדְנוּ

.

Only all the livestock we took as spoil, and the plunder of the towns which we had captured.

Devarim 2:36

מֵעֲרֹעֵר אֲשֶׁר עַל-שְׂפַת-נַחַל אַרְנֹן וְהָעִיר אֲשֶׁר בַּנַּחַל וְעַד-הַגִּלְעָד לֹא הָיְתָה קִרְיָה אֲשֶׁר שָׂגְבָה מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת-הַכֹּל נָתַן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְפָנֵינוּ

. . . . .

From Aroer which is upon the bank of the wadi Arnon, and the town which is in the valley, and as far as Jerash — not a town remained that was withheld from us; rather, all of it God our Lord delivered into our hands.

Devarim 2:37

רַק אֶל-אֶרֶץ בְּנֵי-עַמּוֹן לֹא קָרָבְתָּ כָּל-יַד נַחַל יַבֹּק וְעָרֵי הָהָר וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ

. .

Except the land of the sons of Ammon — you did not approach it — namely the whole bank of the wadi Jabbok, and the towns of the hill country, and all else that God our Lord had forbidden us.