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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Deuteronomy 2:3 "You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; turn to the north</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/2-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/05_Deu_02_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Deuteronomy 2:3 - Wanderings in the Wilderness" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; turn to the north" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/deuteronomy/2-3.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/deuteronomy/2-3.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/">Deuteronomy</a> > <a href="/deuteronomy/2.htm">Chapter 2</a> > Verse 3</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad3.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-2.htm" title="Deuteronomy 2:2">◄</a> Deuteronomy 2:3 <a href="/deuteronomy/2-4.htm" title="Deuteronomy 2:4">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220You have made your way around this hill country long enough; now turn north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />‘You have been traveling around this mountain country long enough. Turn northward<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; turn to the north<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/deuteronomy/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘You have skirted this mountain long enough; turn northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/deuteronomy/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘You have circled this mountain long enough. <i>Now</i> turn north,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/deuteronomy/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘You have circled this mountain long enough. <i>Now</i> turn north,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />‘You have circled this mountain long enough. <i>Now</i> turn north,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/deuteronomy/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘You have circled this mountain long enough; turn northward,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘You’ve been traveling around this hill country long enough; turn north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />You&#8217ve been traveling around this hill country long enough; turn north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/deuteronomy/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/deuteronomy/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Israel has wandered in these hills long enough. Turn and go north. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/deuteronomy/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/deuteronomy/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"You've traveled around this region long enough. Now go north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/deuteronomy/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />that we had spent enough time wandering about in those hills and that we should go north. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/deuteronomy/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />You've walked around this mountain long enough. Turn northward <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; turn to the north<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/deuteronomy/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"You have circled around this mountain long enough; now turn north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/deuteronomy/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/deuteronomy/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/deuteronomy/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“You have encircled this mountain long enough. Turn northward. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/deuteronomy/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For you go around this mountain long enough; turn for yourselves northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/deuteronomy/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Enough to you -- is the going round of this mount; turn for yourselves northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/deuteronomy/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />It was enough to you to encompass this mount; turn for yourselves to the north,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />You have compassed this mountain long enough: go toward the north: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/deuteronomy/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />‘You have encompassed this mountain for long enough. Go forth, toward the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/deuteronomy/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />You have wandered round these highlands long enough; turn and go north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/deuteronomy/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />“You have been skirting this hill country long enough. Head north,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/deuteronomy/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />You have circled this mountain long enough; turn northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/deuteronomy/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />It has been long for you, behold, for you traveling around this mountain; turn yourselves to the north.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/deuteronomy/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/deuteronomy/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Ye have compassed this mount long enough; turn therefore toward the north.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IRhBtZaVxJ0?start=443" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/deuteronomy/2.htm">Wanderings in the Wilderness</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">2</span>At this time the LORD said to me, <span class="reftext">3</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5437.htm" title="5437: sōḇ (V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively.">“You have been wandering around</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: haz·zeh (Art:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/2022.htm" title="2022: hā·hār (Art:: N-ms) -- Mountain, hill, hill country. A shortened form of harar; a mountain or range of hills.">hill country</a> <a href="/hebrew/7227.htm" title="7227: raḇ- (Adv) -- Much, many, great. By contracted from rabab; abundant.">long enough;</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/6437.htm" title="6437: pə·nū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To turn. A primitive root; to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. Appear, look, etc.">turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/6828.htm" title="6828: ṣā·p̄ō·nāh (N-fs:: 3fs) -- North. Or tsaphon; from tsaphan; properly, hidden, i.e. Dark; used only of the north as a quarter.">to the north</a> </span><span class="reftext">4</span>and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/14-25.htm">Numbers 14:25</a></span><br />Now since the Amalekites and Canaanites are living in the valleys, turn back tomorrow and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/5-6.htm">Joshua 5:6</a></span><br />For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-15.htm">Exodus 14:15</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/21-4.htm">Numbers 21:4</a></span><br />Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-6.htm">Deuteronomy 1:6-7</a></span><br />The LORD our God said to us at Horeb: “You have stayed at this mountain long enough. / Resume your journey and go to the hill country of the Amorites; go to all the neighboring peoples in the Arabah, in the hill country, in the foothills, in the Negev, and along the seacoast to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great River Euphrates.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-40.htm">Deuteronomy 1:40</a></span><br />But you are to turn back and head for the wilderness along the route to the Red Sea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/32-13.htm">Numbers 32:13</a></span><br />The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation who had done evil in His sight was gone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-21.htm">Isaiah 30:21</a></span><br />And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/32-8.htm">Psalm 32:8</a></span><br />I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-16.htm">Isaiah 42:16</a></span><br />I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-36.htm">Acts 7:36</a></span><br />He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/3-17.htm">Hebrews 3:17-19</a></span><br />And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? / So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-5.htm">1 Corinthians 10:5-6</a></span><br />Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/13-18.htm">Acts 13:18</a></span><br />He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/4-8.htm">Hebrews 4:8-9</a></span><br />For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. / There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">You have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.</p><p class="hdg">long enough</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/2-7.htm">Deuteronomy 2:7,14</a></b></br> 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 <i>hath been</i> with thee; thou hast lacked nothing… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/1-6.htm">Deuteronomy 1:6</a></b></br> The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/deuteronomy/2-1.htm">Circled</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-1.htm">Compassed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-44.htm">Country</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-6.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-20.htm">Have</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-1.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-40.htm">Journeying</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-1.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-44.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/numbers/35-5.htm">North</a> <a href="/numbers/3-35.htm">Northward</a> <a href="/numbers/36-9.htm">Round</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-24.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-1.htm">Way</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/1-40.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/joshua/6-15.htm">Circled</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-10.htm">Compassed</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-18.htm">Country</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-5.htm">Enough</a> <a href="/1_kings/21-10.htm">Have</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-5.htm">Hill</a> <a href="/joshua/3-14.htm">Journeying</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-5.htm">Mount</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/3-25.htm">Mountain</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/3-12.htm">North</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/3-27.htm">Northward</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/3-5.htm">Round</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-27.htm">Turn</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-8.htm">Way</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/2-4.htm">Yourselves</a><div class="vheading2">Deuteronomy 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-1.htm">The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edomites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-9.htm">nor with the Moabites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-16.htm">nor with the Ammonites</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-24.htm">but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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Historically, this period of wandering was a result of their disobedience and lack of faith when they initially refused to enter the Promised Land (<a href="/numbers/14-26.htm">Numbers 14:26-35</a>). The "hill country" refers to the rugged terrain of Edom, which is south of the Dead Sea. This wandering symbolizes a period of testing and preparation, reflecting God's discipline and patience. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of trusting in God's promises.<p><b>turn to the north</b><br>The command to "turn to the north" signifies a new direction and a fresh start for the Israelites. Geographically, this meant moving towards the land of Canaan, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants (<a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Genesis 12:7</a>). This shift in direction marks the end of their punishment and the beginning of their journey towards fulfilling God's covenant. It also foreshadows the eventual conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership. Spiritually, this turning represents repentance and a renewed focus on God's plan. It is a call to leave behind past failures and to move forward in faith and obedience.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, who is recounting the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/i/israelites.htm">Israelites</a></b><br>The people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are journeying to the Promised Land.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/mount_seir.htm">Mount Seir</a></b><br>The mountain region associated with the descendants of Esau, where the Israelites had been wandering.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The divine guide and commander of the Israelites, directing their journey.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/w/wilderness_wanderings.htm">Wilderness Wanderings</a></b><br>The period of 40 years when the Israelites wandered in the desert due to their disobedience and lack of faith.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_timing.htm">Obedience to God's Timing</a></b><br>God's command to "turn north" signifies a change in direction and timing. Believers must be attentive to God's timing and direction in their lives, ready to move when He commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/a/avoiding_spiritual_stagnation.htm">Avoiding Spiritual Stagnation</a></b><br>The phrase "You have circled this mountain long enough" can symbolize spiritual stagnation. Christians are encouraged to evaluate areas in their lives where they may be "circling" without progress and seek God's guidance for growth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_promises.htm">Trust in God's Promises</a></b><br>Despite the Israelites' prolonged journey, God's promise of the Promised Land remained. Believers are reminded to trust in God's promises, even when the journey seems long and challenging.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/learning_from_past_mistakes.htm">Learning from Past Mistakes</a></b><br>The Israelites' wandering was a consequence of their disobedience. Christians should learn from past mistakes and seek to align their actions with God's will to avoid unnecessary detours in their spiritual journey.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness_in_guidance.htm">God's Faithfulness in Guidance</a></b><br>God's instruction to turn north demonstrates His continued guidance and faithfulness. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God is always leading them, even when the path is unclear.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_deuteronomy_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Deuteronomy 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_it_possible_for_a_man_to_rob_god.htm">What is Mount Seir's significance in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where_is_mount_tabor_in_the_bible.htm">Where did Moses view the Promised Land before dying?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_for_deut._1_34-39's_judgment.htm">Deuteronomy 1:34-39 implies a direct divine punishment for an entire generation; is there any contextual or historical corroboration for such a widespread judgment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_2_samuel_3_2-5_allow_polygamy.htm">2 Samuel 3:2-5: Why does this passage allow David's polygamy despite Deuteronomy 17:17 warning against multiplying wives?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/deuteronomy/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) <span class= "bld">Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.</span>--Apparently this command must have been issued when they were in Kadesh the second time, at the commencement of the fortieth year (<a href="/numbers/20-1.htm" title="Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people stayed in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.">Numbers 20:1</a>). It was from this encampment that Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom asking permission to pass through his territory. It would be interesting to know <span class= "ital">when </span>it was decided that Israel should enter the land of promise by passing over Jordan, instead of going through the <span class= "ital">Negeb. </span>Did Mount Seir, or the territory of Edom, lie wholly on the east, or partly on the west of Israel when they were encamped in Kadesh? If Edom had acquired any territorial rights to the westward during the thirty-eight years' wandering, it might have been necessary for Israel to ask his permission to go by the way of the spies, and in that case the decision to pass Jordan may have been taken in consequence of Edom's refusal. But if, as Conder (<span class= "ital">Bible Handbook, </span>p. 250) appears to think, the permission asked was to go eastward between the mountains by the W. el Ghaweir to the north of Mount Hor, or the W. Ghurundel to the south of it (see Stanley's Map in <span class= "ital">Sinai and Palestine </span>for these), then the decision to pass the Jordan must have been taken <span class= "ital">before </span>this period. The reason for the step would then be similar to what we find in <a href="/exodus/13-17.htm" title="And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:">Exodus 13:17</a>, that the people might not have to fight their way into the country through the land of the Amorites. The miraculous <span class= "ital">eisodus </span>across Jordan would thus become still more analogous to the miraculous <span class= "ital">exodus </span>from Egypt.<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“You have been wandering around</span><br /><span class="heb">סֹ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(sōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5437.htm">Strong's 5437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn about, go around, surround</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">הַזֶּ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(haz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hill country</span><br /><span class="heb">הָהָ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·hār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2022.htm">Strong's 2022: </a> </span><span class="str2">Mountain, hill, hill country</span><br /><br /><span class="word">long enough;</span><br /><span class="heb">רַב־</span> <span class="translit">(raḇ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7227.htm">Strong's 7227: </a> </span><span class="str2">Much, many, great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">turn</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּנ֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(pə·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6437.htm">Strong's 6437: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn, to face, appear, look</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the north</span><br /><span class="heb">צָפֹֽנָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(ṣā·p̄ō·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6828.htm">Strong's 6828: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">Deuteronomy 2:3 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/deuteronomy/2-3.htm">OT Law: Deuteronomy 2:3 You have encircled this mountain long enough: (Deut. De Du)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Deuteronomy 2:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 2:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/deuteronomy/2-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Deuteronomy 2:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Deuteronomy 2:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>