3 "You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.
3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.
3 'You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward
3 "You've been going around in circles in these hills long enough; go north.
3 'You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward.
3 'You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:3
Commentary on Deuteronomy 2:1-7
(Read Deuteronomy 2:1-7)
Only a short account of the long stay of Israel in the wilderness is given. God not only chastised them for their murmuring and unbelief, but prepared them for Canaan; by humbling them for sin, teaching them to mortify their lusts, to follow God, and to comfort themselves in him. Though Israel may be long kept waiting for deliverance and enlargement, it will come at last. Before God brought Israel to destroy their enemies in Canaan, he taught them to forgive their enemies in Edom. They must not, under pretence of God's covenant and conduct, think to seize all they could lay hands on. Dominion is not founded in grace. God's Israel shall be well placed, but must not expect to be placed alone in the midst of the earth. Religion must never be made a cloak for injustice. Scorn to be beholden to Edomites, when thou hast an all-sufficient God to depend upon. Use what thou hast, use it cheerfully. Thou hast experienced the care of the Divine providence, never use any crooked methods for thy supply. All this is equally to be applied to the experience of the believer.