And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.
So we traveled past our relatives, the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir. We went through the route of the plain from Elath and from Ezion-gaber, then we turned and went through the wilderness of Moab.
The writer is describing how the Israelites carefully traveled around the lands of their relatives (Edom) and other nations as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.
📚 Historical Context
This verse records part of Moses' speech to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness. The Israelites were traveling around Edom (descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother) because God had commanded them not to fight with their relatives. Elath and Ezion-gaber were port cities at the northern tip of the Red Sea, showing the Israelites took a southern route around Edom before heading north toward Moab.
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