Deuteronomy 2:7
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.
Original Language Analysis
כִּי֩
H3588
כִּי֩
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָ֤ה
For the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
For the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
3 of 22
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
בֵּֽרַכְךָ֗
hath blessed
H1288
בֵּֽרַכְךָ֗
hath blessed
Strong's:
H1288
Word #:
4 of 22
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
בְּכֹל֙
H3605
בְּכֹל֙
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה
thee in all the works
H4639
מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה
thee in all the works
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
6 of 22
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
יָדֶ֔ךָ
of thy hand
H3027
יָדֶ֔ךָ
of thy hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
7 of 22
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
יָדַ֣ע
he knoweth
H3045
יָדַ֣ע
he knoweth
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
8 of 22
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
לֶכְתְּךָ֔
thy walking
H3212
לֶכְתְּךָ֔
thy walking
Strong's:
H3212
Word #:
9 of 22
to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
10 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַמִּדְבָּ֥ר
wilderness
H4057
הַמִּדְבָּ֥ר
wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
11 of 22
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
הַגָּדֹ֖ל
through this great
H1419
הַגָּדֹ֖ל
through this great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
12 of 22
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
הַזֶּ֑ה
H2088
זֶ֣ה׀
H2088
יְהוָ֤ה
For the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
For the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
17 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
18 of 22
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
עִמָּ֔ךְ
H5973
עִמָּ֔ךְ
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
19 of 22
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
20 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Luke 22:35And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.Nehemiah 9:21Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.Deuteronomy 29:5And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.Psalms 31:7I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;Job 23:10But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.Psalms 90:17And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.Genesis 26:12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.Genesis 12:2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:Genesis 24:35And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.Genesis 39:5And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Historical Context
Edom occupied the region south and southeast of the Dead Sea, in modern southern Jordan. The Edomites descended from Esau (Genesis 36), making them blood relatives of Israel. Despite past hostilities (Numbers 20:14-21, when Edom refused Israel passage), God commanded respect for Edom's borders. Archaeological evidence confirms Edomite settlements in this period. This command shows God's sovereignty over international relations and boundaries.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's command to respect Edom's territory demonstrate the importance of honoring established boundaries?
- What does God's provision for Israel in the wilderness teach about trusting Him in seasons of scarcity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God commands Israel to purchase food and water from Edom rather than take it by force, because 'the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand.' This demonstrates several principles: God's provision for Israel in the wilderness (they had resources to buy supplies), respect for Edomite territory (descended from Esau, Jacob's brother), and trust in God's past faithfulness. The phrase 'he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness' reveals God's intimate awareness of and involvement in Israel's journey. The forty-year period proved God's sustaining power.