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.

DEUTERONOMY 2:19KJV
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Deuteronomy 2:19 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 2:19 mean?

Deuteronomy 2:19 instructs the Israelites not to harass or provoke the people of Ammon as they pass near their land, because God has given that territory to the descendants of Lot, not to Israel. The verse makes clear that Israel is not to claim or take possession of Ammonite land.

In this verse, Moses is speaking to the Israelites as they journey toward the Promised Land. He tells them that, just as with Edom and Moab, they must respect the boundaries of Ammon, since God has assigned that land to another people group—specifically, the children of Lot. This command is part of a larger section where Moses recounts Israel’s travels and God’s instructions regarding neighboring nations.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 2:19

  • "Distress" (צָרַר, tsarar, H6696) means to press, harass, or trouble. Here, it emphasizes that the Israelites are not to act aggressively toward Ammon.
  • "Meddle" (תָּגָע, taga', H1624) carries the sense of interfering or contending. The instruction is not just to avoid fighting, but also not to involve themselves in Ammon’s affairs.
  • "Possession" (יְרֻשָּׁה, yerushah, H3425) refers to an inheritance or allotted land. The verse highlights that Ammon’s land is a specific inheritance given by God to the descendants of Lot, setting a clear boundary for Israel.

Why Deuteronomy 2:19 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God set boundaries for different peoples, and Israel was to respect those limits, even during their conquest.
  • It shows that God’s promises and gifts to other nations are to be honored, not just those given to Israel.
  • The verse connects to the broader theme in Deuteronomy 2, where Israel is repeatedly told to avoid conflict with certain neighboring nations because of God’s prior commitments to those peoples.