John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 8. And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Self , etc.] Along their coasts, by the borders of their country: through the way of the plain ; the wilderness of Zin, where Kadesh was: from Elath and Eziongeber ; the two ports on the shore of the Red sea in the land of Edom; it was from the latter they came to Kadesh; (see Numbers 33:35,36). Elath was ten miles from Petra, the metropolis of Edom, to the east of it, as Jerom says f24 ; it is by Josephus called Aelana, and by the Septuagint here Ailon; from whence the Elanitic bay has its name; he speaks of it as not far from Eziongeber, which he says was then called Berenice: we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab ; the wilderness which is before Moab, towards the sun rising or the east, ( Numbers 21:11).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-23 - We have the origin of the Moabites, Edomites, and Ammonites. Moses als gives an instance older than any of these; the Caphtorims drove the Avims out of their country. These revolutions show what uncertai things wordly possessions are. It was so of old, and ever will be so Families decline, and from them estates are transferred to familie that increase; so little continuance is there in these things. This i recorded to encourage the children of Israel. If the providence of God has done this for Moabites and Ammonites, much more would his promis do it for Israel, his peculiar people. Cautions are given not to meddl with Moabites and Ammonites. Even wicked men must not be wronged. God gives and preserves outward blessings to wicked men; these are not the best things, he has better in store for his own children.
Original Hebrew ונעבר5674 מאת854 אחינו251 בני1121 עשׂו6215 הישׁבים3427 בשׂעיר8165 מדרך1870 הערבה6160 מאילת359 ומעצין גבר6100 ונפן6437 ונעבר5674 דרך1870 מדבר4057 מואב׃4124
