What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 2:20? That too was regarded as the land of the Rephaim Israel had just been told to leave the territory of Ammon untouched (Deuteronomy 2:19). Yet Moses pauses to remind the people that this same ground had once belonged to the formidable Rephaim. These were literal, physically imposing giants who had spread through Canaan and its fringes (Genesis 14:5; Joshua 12:4; 13:12). By noting that Ammon’s land “too” had been their realm, Scripture shows: • The sheer size of Rephaim territory—stretching from Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:11) down into Ammon—making God’s earlier victories all the more impressive. • A pattern: God assigns borders to nations (Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26). If He once gave Ammon possession of giant‐occupied land, Israel can trust Him to hand over Canaan at the right time (Deuteronomy 7:1–2). • A confidence boost: What seemed impossible had already happened nearby. If the Rephaim could fall to Ammon, the Anakim in Canaan would crumble before Israel (Numbers 13:33; Deuteronomy 9:2–3). who used to live there The phrase underlines finality. The giants were not merely pushed aside; they were eradicated as a people group (Deuteronomy 2:21). Consider the chain of events: • God “destroyed them before the Ammonites” (v. 21). The victory was God’s doing, even though Ammon swung the swords. • Ammonites “drove them out and settled in their place” (v. 21). A total transfer of residence, proving that the Lord can permanently displace the strongest foes. • The Rephaim are now a historical footnote. Their gigantic size could not preserve them from judgment—an echo of the Flood narrative where physical might also failed (Genesis 6:4). For Israel, the lesson is practical: any enemy, no matter how intimidating, can become a “used to live there” once God intervenes (Psalm 46:6–9). though the Ammonites called them Zamzummites Different peoples used different names, yet they pointed to the same race of giants. This small linguistic detail offers big theological takeaways: • God’s Word recognizes cultural diversity yet unifies the story. Moses reports the Ammonite nickname so hearers grasp local memory while trusting the Spirit‐given record. • The Ammonite label (“Zamzummites”) shows the giants were well known and feared; every tribe had its own vocabulary for terror. Still, those fears proved groundless once the Lord overthrew them. • By preserving both names, Scripture underscores historical accuracy. Real places, real nations, real linguistics—no myth, but a verifiable account (Luke 3:1; 2 Peter 1:16). summary Deuteronomy 2:20 reminds Israel—and us—that God has already demonstrated His power over the mightiest of opponents. He assigns territories, removes the swaggering Rephaim, and settles Ammon in their stead. The verse quietly shouts that no obstacle is too great when the Lord decides to move. Giants may gain legendary status and multiple nicknames, but they become ancient history once God acts. That unchanging truth fuels faith for every battle still ahead. |
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