Deuteronomy 2:6 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 2:6 mean?

Deuteronomy 2:6 instructs the Israelites to buy food and water from the people they are passing through, paying with money rather than taking anything by force. The verse emphasizes that the Israelites are to act fairly and respectfully toward the local inhabitants as they travel.

In this passage, Moses is recounting God’s instructions to the Israelites as they journey through the territory of the descendants of Esau (the Edomites) on their way to the Promised Land. Instead of conquering or plundering, the Israelites are told to conduct themselves honestly by purchasing what they need. This sets a tone of peaceful interaction and respect for boundaries during their travels.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 2:6

• The word for "buy" (שָׁבַר, shavar, H7666) often means to purchase or procure, especially in the context of food. This shows the Israelites are to engage in normal, peaceful trade.
• "Meat" (לֶחֶם, lechem, H400) here refers broadly to food, not just animal flesh. The instruction covers all sustenance, not only meat as modern English might suggest.
• "Money" (כֶּסֶף, keseph, H3701) means silver or currency. The use of this word shows that the Israelites are to pay fairly, not barter or take by force.
• The word for "water" (מַיִם, mayim, H4325) is the general term for water, highlighting the basic necessities the Israelites are to obtain honestly.

Why Deuteronomy 2:6 matters

• This verse clears up any idea that the Israelites were allowed to take what they needed by force from other nations during their journey; instead, they were to pay for necessities.
• The instruction highlights a theme of respect for other peoples’ property and peaceful coexistence, even as the Israelites are on a divinely guided mission.
• Deuteronomy 2:6 connects to the broader passage where God directs the Israelites on how to relate to neighboring nations, showing that not every group they encounter is to be treated as an enemy.