Deuteronomy 2:20

Deu 2:20 (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;

Ver. 20. Zamzummims.] Big and boisterous, bearing down all before them; presumptuous wicked ones they were, and yet they called themselves Rephaims, that is, physicians or preservers: such, indeed, rulers ought to be. {Isa 3:7} The Greeks, therefore, call a king Aναξ, ab ακος, medela, because he is to be ligator vulnerum, chirurgus, et Reip. medicus - the commonwealth’s surgeon and physician. {a} But such were not these Zamzummims, more than in name: το μεν ονομα βιος, &c., as he said of his bow, Thy name is life, but thy use is present death.

{a} Cornel. a Lapid., in Isa 3:7.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

These verses, like Deu 2:10-12, are in all likelihood an addition made by a later reviser.

Deu 2:20

Zamzummims - A giant race usually identified with the Zuzims of Gen 14:5.

Deu 2:23

The Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah - Read (Gaza, of which Azzah is the Hebrew form. “Hazerim” is not strictly a proper name, but means “villages,” or “enclosures,” probably such as are still common in the East. The Avims are no doubt identical with the Avites of Jos 13:3, and were doubtless a scattered remnant of a people conquered by the Caphtorim (Gen 10:14 note) and living in their “enclosures” in the neighborhood of Gerar. The word, which means “ruins,” seems itself expressive of their fallen state.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

2:20-21 The Zamzummites are probably the same as the Zuzites (Gen 14:5). The Lord had removed them from the land in the past so that the Ammonites could occupy their lands. The God of Israel is also the God of all the earth; he is mindful of all nations and has a place and purpose for each.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Who called themselves Rephaims: that is, preservers, or physicians to heal and reform vices: but were indeed Zamzummims, that is, wicked and abominable.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 20. That also was accounted a land of giants] That was accounted the land or territory of the Rephaim.

Zamzummims] Supposed to be the same as the Zuzim, Ge 14:5. Of these ancient people we know very little; they were probably inconsiderable tribes or clans, "pursuing and pursued, each other's prey," till at length a stronger totally destroyed or subdued them, and their name became either extinct or absorbed in that of their conquerors. From the 10th to the 12th, and from the 20th to the 23d verse inclusive, we have certain historical remarks introduced which do not seem to have been made by Moses, but rather by Joshua or Ezra. By the introduction of these verses the thread of the narrative suffers considerable interruption. Dr. Kennicott considers both these passages to be interpolations. That they could not have made a part of the speech of Moses originally, needs little proof.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(20) In old time.—See Genesis 14

Zamzummims = Zuzims (Gen_14:5).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20–23. Another Archaeological Note. On the Repha’im, see Deu_1:28. Zamzummim, a name held by some to be formed on the analogy of the Gk ‘Barbaroi,’ as of a people whose speech sounded uncouth; Ar. zamzamah is a distant, confused sound. Others suggest identification with the Zuzîm of Gen_14:5, of which Musil (Moab, i. 275, 318, etc.) is reminded by the present Zîzâ, Ptolemy’s Ziza on the N.E. frontier of Mo’ab. But the Ar. zizim is applied to rustling sounds in the desert by night, supposed to be the noise of the Jinn (see Driver’s note, with communication from W. R. Smith, and Schwally, D. Leben nach d. Tode, 64 f., 137 ff.). The name would thus be another of those mythological terms for pre-historic races given above on Deu_1:28. On the Ḥorites, see Deu_2:12. On the ‘Avvîm or ‘Awwîm cp. Jos_13:3 f.; whether the name be ethnic or indicative of a stage of culture is uncertain. They dwelt in villages, Heb. ḥaṣerîm (mostly in P and Levit. writers), used both in parallel to circles of tents, Gen_25:16, and to collections of houses without surrounding walls, Lev_25:31, and the dependencies of cities, Jos_15:46 etc. Kaphtôr is most probably Crete, see HGHL 135, 170 f.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

That also was accounted a land of giants,.... Ammon was so reckoned as well as Moab, Deu 2:10.

giants dwelt therein in old time; the Rephaim dwelt there, as they did also in Ashteroth Karnaim, Gen 14:5.

and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims; they are thought to be the same with the Zuzims in Gen 14:5 who had their name, as Hillerus (c) thinks, from Mezuzah, a door post, from their tall stature, being as high as one; and for a like reason Saph the giant might have his name, Sa2 21:18. The word Zamzummims, according to him (d), signifies contrivers of evil and terrible things; they were inventors of wickedness, crafty and subtle in forming wicked and mischievous designs, which struck terror into people, and made them formidable to them.

(c) Onomastic. Sacr. p. 158, 288, 289. (d) Onomastic. Sacr. p. 161, 310, 428.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Zomzommim, means "wicked wretches," famous for their stature, &c. (Menochius) --- They are probably the same nation as the Zuzim, Genesis xiv. 5.

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Which signifies men most wicked and abominable, or most presumptuous, or most crafty.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

20. Zamzummim — The name is supposed to be derived from a root meaning to hum: the noisy people; probably the same as the Zuzim of Gen_14:5.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 20-23. Another parenthetical insertion, containing some ethnographical notices, intended, probably, to confirm the assertion that to the children of Ammon God had given their land for a possession. There is no sufficient reason for supposing that this paragraph is an interpolation, or gloss, inserted by some later writer. It lay as much in the way of Moses to introduce such ethnographical notices as in that of any writer of a later age.

Before the Ammonites, the laud was occupied by a gigantic race, called by them, Zamzummim (probably noisy ones, from to hum, mutter; or, as the verb also signifies, to muse or meditate, perhaps moody ones ; whether the same as the Zuzim of Gen_14:5 LXX, qnh e ijscura, as if from zWz, to overflow, to abound is uncertain). The colossal stone monuments, resembling what in Europe are known by the Celtic names of dolmen, menhir, and cromlech , still to be found in the land of Moab, are supposed to be the work of these aboriginal inhabitants of the country, the gigantic Emim and Zamzummim. This giant tribe the Lord had destroyed before the Ammonites, just as he had destroyed the Horim before the children of Esau in Seir.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

These verses begin to give background information about the people groups who lived in the land. If your language has a way of showing that what follows is background information, you should use it here. (See: Background Information)

That also is considered

This can be stated in active form. AT: "People also consider that" (See: Active or Passive)

Rephaim

This is the name of a people group. See how you translated this in Deuteronomy 2:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

Zamzummim

This is another name for the Rephaim people group. (See: How to Translate Names)

Anakim

This is the name of a people group. See how you translated this in Deuteronomy 1:28. (See: How to Translate Names)

destroyed them before the Ammonites

"allowed the Ammonites to defeat them" or "allowed the Ammonites to kill them all"

they succeeded them and lived in their place

"the Ammonites took over everything the Rephaim had owned and have lived where the Rephaim had lived"

Horites

This is the name of a people group. See how you translated this in Deuteronomy 2:12. (See: How to Translate Names)

succeeded them and have lived in their place

"took over everything the Horites had owned and have lived where the Horites had lived"

translationWords

Ammon

Yahweh

Esau

descend

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

ארץ רפאים תחשב IT (AMMON) ALSO WAS ACCOUNTED A LAND OF REPHAIM. — It also is accounted a land of Rephaim because the Rephaim formerly dwelt in it, but yet it is not that land which I gave to Abraham.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

TEICHASHEIV’ (ACCOUNTED). The land of Ammon, too, is considered part of the land of Rephaim; in other words, it is included within it. Similarly, from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the border of Ekron northward ‘teichasheiv’ (is accounted) to the Canaanites. So also, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin; for Beeroth also ‘teichasheiv’ (is accounted) to Benjamin. It is possible that such is also the meaning of the expression written above [with reference to Moab], these also are ‘yeichashvu’ Rephaim, Scripture stating that the Emim who formerly dwelled there, Verse 10. are also “accounted” as an expression of importance and esteem. Here Ramban explains it as “accounted” [to the Rephaim]. Rephaim since they were part of them, and they were as the Anakim, and therefore they [the Moabites] called them ‘Emim’ [because their “dread,” like that of the Anakim (giants) lay upon the people]. This is the correct interpretation.Thus the land of Rephaim was very large, and from it, Moab and Ammon took their lands. The balance remained for the Rephaim themselves, for Og, who dwelled in Ashtaroth, was of them, as is stated, and they smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim., Verse 5. And in the Book of Joshua it is written, and cut down a space for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim. Therefore, Scripture says of the border of Moab and Ammon that it is “accounted to the Rephaim,” [still calling them “Rephaim,” the name by which they were originally known]. The Moabites and the Ammonites were the ones that changed [the name of the Rephaim] to other names: [the Moabites calling them] Emim and [the Ammonites calling them] Zamzummim.

Ramban (Nachmanides) on the Tanakh — English translation: “Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.