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Deuteronomy 2:5 - Divine land boundaries for Esav

Deuteronomy 2:5 - דברים 2:5

Hebrew Text

אַל־תִּתְגָּרוּ בָם כִּי לֹא־אֶתֵּן לָכֶם מֵאַרְצָם עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף־רָגֶל כִּי־יְרֻשָּׁה לְעֵשָׂו נָתַתִּי אֶת־הַר שֵׂעִיר׃

English Translation

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 Se῾ir to ῾Esav for a possession.

Transliteration

Al-titgaru vam ki lo-eten lakhem me-artzam ad midrakh kaf-ragel ki-yerusha le-Esav natati et har Se'ir.

Hebrew Leining Text

אַל־תִּתְגָּר֣וּ בָ֔ם כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֤ן לָכֶם֙ מֵֽאַרְצָ֔ם עַ֖ד מִדְרַ֣ךְ כַּף־רָ֑גֶל כִּֽי־יְרֻשָּׁ֣ה לְעֵשָׂ֔ו נָתַ֖תִּי אֶת־הַ֥ר שֵׂעִֽיר׃
אַל־תִּתְגָּר֣וּ בָ֔ם כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֤ן לָכֶם֙ מֵֽאַרְצָ֔ם עַ֖ד מִדְרַ֣ךְ כַּף־רָ֑גֶל כִּֽי־יְרֻשָּׁ֣ה לְעֵשָׂ֔ו נָתַ֖תִּי אֶת־הַ֥ר שֵׂעִֽיר׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

The verse (Devarim 2:5) is part of Moshe's recounting of Bnei Yisrael's journey through the wilderness, specifically addressing their interactions with the descendants of Esav (Edom) in the region of Se'ir. Hashem commands Bnei Yisrael not to provoke or wage war against the Edomites, as He has granted them Mount Se'ir as an inheritance.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Devarim 2:5) emphasizes the phrase "כִּי לֹא־אֶתֵּן לָכֶם מֵאַרְצָם" ("for I will not give you of their land") and explains that this prohibition applies even if Bnei Yisrael were to conquer the land without Hashem's command. The land of Se'ir was divinely designated for Esav's descendants, and Bnei Yisrael were not to take even a small portion of it ("עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף־רָגֶל"—"no, not so much as a foot's breadth").

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Hilchot Melachim 5:1) cites this verse as a halachic precedent for the prohibition against conquering lands that were divinely allocated to other nations. He explains that Hashem assigned specific territories to various nations, and Bnei Yisrael were only permitted to conquer the land of Canaan, as promised to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov.

Midrashic Insights

  • The Midrash Tanchuma (Devarim 2) highlights the moral lesson: even though Esav was wicked, his descendants retained rights to their land due to Hashem's promise. This teaches the importance of respecting divine allocations and the boundaries set by Hashem.
  • The Sifrei (Devarim 2:5) notes that this command underscores the principle of "צדקה ומשפט" (righteousness and justice)—Bnei Yisrael were not to seize land unjustly, even from idolatrous nations, when it was not part of their inheritance.

Halachic Implications

The Chazon Ish (Emunah U'Bitachon 1:5) derives from this verse that territorial conquests must align with Hashem's will. Just as Bnei Yisrael were forbidden from taking Edom's land, so too in later generations, unauthorized expansion beyond divinely ordained borders is prohibited.

Moral and Ethical Lessons

The verse teaches:

  • Respect for Divine Allocations: Even nations with questionable moral standing (like Edom) have rights to their land if granted by Hashem.
  • Limits of Conquest: Bnei Yisrael's mission was specific—to inherit Eretz Canaan, not other lands.
  • Trust in Hashem's Plan: The prohibition reinforces that Hashem's promises are immutable, and human ambition must align with divine will.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Deuteronomy 2:5 mean when it says 'do not meddle with them'?
A: The verse instructs the Jewish people not to provoke or wage war against the descendants of Esav (Esau), because Hashem granted them the land of Mount Seir as their inheritance. This teaches us that certain lands were divinely designated for other nations, and we must respect those boundaries.
Q: Why did Hashem give Mount Seir to Esav's descendants?
A: According to Rashi and other commentaries, Hashem allocated Mount Seir to Esav as an inheritance because he was the son of Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebecca), and thus deserved a portion in the land. However, the Land of Israel was reserved exclusively for Yaakov (Jacob) and his descendants.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Deuteronomy 2:5 today?
A: This verse teaches us the importance of respecting divinely ordained boundaries and the possessions of others. Just as Hashem commanded Israel not to take land that belonged to Esav's descendants, we must also recognize and honor the rights and property of others in our daily lives.
Q: Does this verse mean Jews cannot live outside of Israel?
A: No, the verse specifically refers to not taking the land of Mount Seir, which was given to Esav. Jewish tradition acknowledges that Jews may live outside of Israel (in the Diaspora), but the Land of Israel remains our eternal inheritance and spiritual homeland.
Q: How does this verse relate to Jewish ethics in war?
A: The Torah sets clear ethical boundaries in warfare—we may not conquer lands that were divinely allotted to other nations. This principle, derived from Deuteronomy 2:5, is part of the broader Jewish laws of war, which emphasize justice and restraint even in conflict.