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.
Meddle not with them - i:e., "which dwell in Seir" (Deuteronomy 2:4; Deuteronomy 32:8: cf. Genesis 36:8), now Esh-sherah, a rugged highland country, called by Josephus Gebalene-for there was another branch of Esau's posterity, namely, the Amalekites, who were to be fought against and destroyed (Genesis 36:16; Exodus 17:14; Deuteronomy 25:17). But the people of Edom were not to be injured either in their persons or property, the rule here prescribed being founded on the originally fraternal relation of the two peoples, as well as the well-known grant of mount Seir to Esau (Genesis 27:39; Genesis 32:3). And although the approach of so vast a nomadic horde as the Israelites naturally created apprehension, they were to take no advantage of the prevailing terror to compel the Edomites to accept whatever terms they imposed. They were merely to pass "through" or along their border, and to buy meat and water of them for money (Deuteronomy 2:6).
The people, kinder than their king, did sell them bread, meat, fruits, and water in their passage along their border (Deuteronomy 2:29), in the same manner as the Syrian caravan of Mecca is now supplied by the people of the same mountains, who meet the pilgrims as at a fair or market on the Hadj route (Robinson); or purchases might be made from the depots at the sea-ports by which they passed (see the note at Deuteronomy 2:8). Although the Israelites still enjoyed a daily supply of the manna, there was no prohibition against their eating other food when opportunity afforded, but only they were not to cherish an inordinate desire for it.
Water is a scarce commodity, and is often paid for by travelers in those parts. It was the more incumbent on the Israelites to do so, as, by the blessing of God, they possessed plenty of means to purchase, and the long-continued experience of the extraordinary goodness of God to them should inspire such confidence in Him as would suppress the smallest thought of resorting to fraud or violence in supplying their wants.