13 And the Lord said, "Now get up and cross the Zered Valley." So we crossed the valley. 14 Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 The Lord's hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp. 16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 "Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar.
13 Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook
13 'Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.' So we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the camp, until they had perished. 16 "So as soon as all the men of war had perished and were dead from among the people, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 'Today you are to cross the border of Moab at Ar.
13 God said, "It's time now to cross the Brook Zered." So we crossed the Brook Zered. 14 It took us thirty-eight years to get from Kadesh Barnea to the Brook Zered. That's how long it took for the entire generation of soldiers from the camp to die off, as God had sworn they would. 15 God was relentless against them until the last one was gone from the camp. 16 When the last of these soldiers had died, 17 God said to me, 18 "This is the day you cut across the territory of Moab, at Ar.
13 " 'Now rise and cross over the Valley of the Zered.' So we crossed over the Valley of the Zered. 14 And the time we took to come from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed over the Valley of the Zered was thirty-eight years, until all the generation of the men of war was consumed from the midst of the camp, just as the Lord had sworn to them. 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp until they were consumed. 16 "So it was, when all the men of war had finally perished from among the people, 17 that the Lord spoke to me, saying: 18 'This day you are to cross over at Ar, the boundary of Moab.
13 Moses continued, "Then the Lord said to us, 'Get moving. Cross the Zered Brook.' So we crossed the brook. 14 "Thirty-eight years passed from the time we first left Kadesh-barnea until we finally crossed the Zered Brook! By then, all the men old enough to fight in battle had died in the wilderness, as the Lord had vowed would happen. 15 The Lord struck them down until they had all been eliminated from the community. 16 "When all the men of fighting age had died, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 'Today you will cross the border of Moab at Ar
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:13-18
Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:8-23
(Read Deuteronomy 2:8-23)
We have the origin of the Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites. Moses also gives an instance older than any of these; the Caphtorims drove the Avims out of their country. These revolutions show what uncertain things wordly possessions are. It was so of old, and ever will be so. Families decline, and from them estates are transferred to families that increase; so little continuance is there in these things. This is recorded to encourage the children of Israel. If the providence of God has done this for Moabites and Ammonites, much more would his promise do it for Israel, his peculiar people. Cautions are given not to meddle with Moabites and Ammonites. Even wicked men must not be wronged. God gives and preserves outward blessings to wicked men; these are not the best things, he has better in store for his own children.