Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau [for] a possession.
Ver. 5. Because I have given mount Seir.] Thus the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance. Deu 32:8 And a man must needs have some right to his inheritance, to his portion. Psa 17:14 What Ananias had was his own whilst he had it, as Peter tells him; Act 5:4 yet Satan had filled his heart. It is therefore a rigour to say, the wicked are usurpers of what they have, and shall be called to account for it. When the king gives a traitor his life, he gives him meat and drink that may maintain his life. That Duke of Alva is worthily taxed for a tyrant, that starved his prisoners, even after quarter; saying, though he promised to give them their lives, he did not promise to find them meat. a Wicked men have both a civil title to that they have, and a title before God, who will call them to account indeed at the last day, not for possessing what they had, but for abusing that possession.
a Grimston's Hist. of Netherlands.