Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.
Then we turned around and traveled into the wilderness toward the Red Sea, just as the LORD had told me to do. We wandered around the hill country of Mount Seir for many days.
The writer is describing how the Israelites obeyed God's direction to turn back into the wilderness and spent a long time traveling around Mount Seir.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is recounting the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, as part of his farewell speeches to the new generation. This verse specifically refers to God's command for the Israelites to turn back and travel along the Red Sea, circling Mount Seir for an extended period, which was a time of wandering due to their earlier unbelief and rebellion at the borders of Canaan. This detour allowed the unbelieving generation to die out before the nation could finally approach the Promised Land.
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