Deuteronomy 2:19
New International Version
When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.”

New Living Translation
and enter the land of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot. But do not bother them or start a war with them. I have given the land of Ammon to them as their property, and I will not give you any of their land.’”

English Standard Version
And when you approach the territory of the people of Ammon, do not harass them or contend with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot for a possession.’

Berean Standard Bible
But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”

King James Bible
And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

New King James Version
And when you come near the people of Ammon, do not harass them or meddle with them, for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not attack them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

NASB 1995
‘When you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

NASB 1977
‘And when you come opposite the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

Legacy Standard Bible
And you will come opposite the sons of Ammon. Do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

Amplified Bible
When you come opposite the territory of the sons of Ammon, do not harass them nor provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the sons of Ammon as a possession, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

Christian Standard Bible
When you get close to the Ammonites, don’t show any hostility to them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the Ammonites’ land as a possession; I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When you get close to the Ammonites, don’t show any hostility to them or fight with them, for I will not give you any of the Ammonites’ land as a possession; I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.’”

American Standard Version
and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, vex them not, nor contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

Contemporary English Version
into Ammon. But don't start a war with the Ammonites. I gave them their land, and I won't give any of it to Israel."

English Revised Version
and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, vex them not, nor contend with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession: because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When you come near the Ammonites, don't bother them or start a fight with them. I'm not giving you any of the land that I have already given to the descendants of Lot as their property."

Good News Translation
You will then be near the land of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot. Don't trouble them or start a war against them, because I am not going to give you any of the land that I have given them.'" (

International Standard Version
When you come to the Ammonites, don't harass or provoke them to war, for I won't give any part of Ammonite land to you, since I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their property.

Majority Standard Bible
But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”

NET Bible
But when you come close to the Ammonites, do not harass or provoke them because I am not giving you any of the Ammonites' land as your possession; I have already given it to Lot's descendants as their possession.

New Heart English Bible
and when you come near over against the people of Ammon, do not bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you of the land of the people of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it to the descendants of Lot for a possession."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.

World English Bible
When you come near the border of the children of Ammon, don’t bother them, nor contend with them; for I will not give you any of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession, because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and [when] you have come near the sons of Ammon, you do not distress them, nor stir yourself up against them, for I do not give [any] of the land of the sons of Ammon to you [for] a possession; for I have given it to the sons of Lot [for] a possession.

Young's Literal Translation
and thou hast come near over-against the sons of Ammon, thou dost not distress them, nor stir up thyself against them, for I do not give any of the land of the sons of Ammon to thee for a possession; for to the sons of Lot I have given it for a possession.

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou camest near over against the sons of Ammon, thou shalt not press them, and thou shalt not contend with them: for I will not give from the land of the sons of Ammon to thee a possession; for to the sons of Lot I gave it a possession.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when thou comest nigh the frontiers of the children of Ammon, take heed thou fight not against them, nor once move to battle: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon, because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when you have arrived in the vicinity of the sons of Ammon, be careful that you do not fight against them, nor should you be moved to battle. For I will not give to you from the land of the sons of Ammon, because I have given it to the sons of Lot as a possession.’

New American Bible
As you come opposite the Ammonites, do not show hostility or come in conflict with them, for I will not give you possession of any land of the Ammonites, since I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.

New Revised Standard Version
When you approach the frontier of the Ammonites, do not harass them or engage them in battle, for I will not give the land of the Ammonites to you as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when you come near the territory of the children of Ammon, do not oppress them nor provoke them; for I will not give you of the land of the children of Ammon any possession, because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall come opposite the children of Amon; you shall not oppress them neither provoke them, because I do not give you an inheritance from the land of the children of Amon, for I have given it a possession to the children of Lot.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, harass them not, nor contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and ye shall draw nigh to the children of Amman: do not quarrel with them, nor wage war with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Amman for an inheritance, because I have given it to the children of Lot for an inheritance.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wanderings in the Wilderness
18“Today you are going to cross the border of Moab at Ar. 19But when you get close to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them, for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites. I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession.” 20(That too was regarded as the land of the Rephaim, who used to live there, though the Ammonites called them Zamzummites.…

Cross References
Genesis 19:36-38
Thus both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. / The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today. / The younger daughter also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.

Numbers 21:13-15
From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends into the Amorite territory. Now the Arnon is the border between the Moabites and the Amorites. / Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “Waheb in Suphah and the wadis of the Arnon, / even the slopes of the wadis that extend to the site of Ar and lie along the border of Moab.”

Judges 11:18
Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

2 Chronicles 20:10
And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt. So Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them.

Isaiah 15:1-9
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night! / Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off. / In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping. ...

Jeremiah 48:1-47
Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled. / There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen, will be silenced; the sword will pursue you. / A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’ ...

Ezekiel 25:8-11
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,” / therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land. / I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. ...

Amos 2:1-3
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king. / So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn. / I will cut off the ruler of Moab and kill all the officials with him,” says the LORD.

Zephaniah 2:8-11
“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders. / Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.” / This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts. ...

Acts 17:26
From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

Romans 9:17-18
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” / Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Romans 11:29
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Galatians 3:17-18
What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. / For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Ephesians 2:12
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.


Treasury of Scripture

And when you come near over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give you of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it to the children of Lot for a possession.

Deuteronomy 2:5,9
Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession…

Genesis 19:36-38
Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father…

Judges 11:13-27
And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably…

Jump to Previous
Ammon Ammonites Approach Bother Cause Children Contend Distress Harass Heritage Lot Meddle Nigh Opposite Possession Provoke Trouble War
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Ammon Ammonites Approach Bother Cause Children Contend Distress Harass Heritage Lot Meddle Nigh Opposite Possession Provoke Trouble War
Deuteronomy 2
1. The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edomites
9. nor with the Moabites
16. nor with the Ammonites
24. but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them














When you come to the Ammonites
The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, through his younger daughter (Genesis 19:38). The Hebrew term for Ammonites is "Bene Ammon," meaning "sons of Ammon." Historically, the Ammonites occupied a region east of the Jordan River. This phrase sets the geographical and relational context, reminding the Israelites of their kinship ties and the divine boundaries established by God.

do not harass them
The Hebrew word for "harass" is "tsarar," which can mean to distress or trouble. This command underscores God's directive for Israel to respect the territorial rights of the Ammonites. It reflects a broader biblical principle of respecting boundaries and living peaceably with others, as echoed in Romans 12:18.

or provoke them to war
The term "provoke" in Hebrew is "garah," which implies stirring up or inciting. This instruction highlights God's desire for Israel to avoid unnecessary conflict. It serves as a reminder of the importance of seeking peace and trusting in God's provision rather than resorting to aggression.

for I will not give you any of the land of the Ammonites as a possession
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereign allocation of land. The Hebrew word for "possession" is "yerushah," indicating an inheritance or permanent holding. God's decision not to grant this land to Israel reinforces the idea that His plans and purposes are specific and intentional, and that His promises to others, like the descendants of Lot, are to be honored.

because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as their possession
The "descendants of Lot" refers to the Ammonites and Moabites, both of whom were given land by God. This statement reiterates God's faithfulness to His promises and His respect for familial ties. It also serves as a reminder of the broader narrative of God's covenantal relationships, where He honors His commitments across generations.

(19) And when thou comest nigh.--Compare Note on Deuteronomy 2:9.

Verse 19. - Over against the children of Ammon. As the Israelites were passing eastward of Moab; when they crossed the Arnon, the Ammonites, whose dwelling was in the wilderness east of the Jordan, would be almost in front of them. The Israelites came over against them after they conquered Sihon (cf. Numbers 21:24).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But when you get close
וְקָרַבְתָּ֗ (wə·qā·raḇ·tā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

to
מ֚וּל (mūl)
Preposition
Strong's 4136: Abrupt, a precipice, the front, opposite

the Ammonites,
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

harass them
תְּצֻרֵ֖ם (tə·ṣu·rêm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege

or provoke them,
תִּתְגָּ֣ר (tiṯ·gār)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1624: To stir up (strife), engage in strife

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

give you
אֶ֠תֵּן (’et·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

any of the land
מֵאֶ֨רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the Ammonites,
בְּנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

because
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I have given
נְתַתִּ֥יהָ (nə·ṯat·tî·hā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

it as a possession
יְרֻשָּֽׁה׃ (yə·ruš·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3425: Something occupied, a conquest, a patrimony

to the descendants
לִבְנֵי־ (liḇ·nê-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Lot.
ל֖וֹט (lō·wṭ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3876: Lot -- Abraham's nephew


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 2:19 And when you come near over against (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 2:18
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