16 Now when the last of these fighting men among the people had died, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 “Today you are to pass by the region of Moab at Ar.(A) 19 When you come to the Ammonites,(B) do not harass them or provoke them to war,(C) for I will not give you possession of any land belonging to the Ammonites. I have given it as a possession to the descendants of Lot.(D)

20 (That too was considered a land of the Rephaites,(E) who used to live there; but the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. 21 They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites.(F) The Lord destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place. 22 The Lord had done the same for the descendants of Esau, who lived in Seir,(G) when he destroyed the Horites from before them. They drove them out and have lived in their place to this day. 23 And as for the Avvites(H) who lived in villages as far as Gaza,(I) the Caphtorites(J) coming out from Caphtor[a](K) destroyed them and settled in their place.)

Defeat of Sihon King of Heshbon

24 “Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge.(L) See, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite,(M) king of Heshbon, and his country. Begin to take possession of it and engage(N) him in battle. 25 This very day I will begin to put the terror(O) and fear(P) of you on all the nations under heaven. They will hear reports of you and will tremble(Q) and be in anguish because of you.”

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 2:23 That is, Crete

16 “When all the men of fighting age had died, 17 the Lord said to me, 18 ‘Today you will cross the border of Moab at Ar 19 and enter the land of the Ammonites, the descendants of Lot. But do not bother them or start a war with them. I have given the land of Ammon to them as their property, and I will not give you any of their land.’”

20 (That area was once considered the land of the Rephaites, who had lived there, though the Ammonites call them Zamzummites. 21 They were also as strong and numerous and tall as the Anakites. But the Lord destroyed them so the Ammonites could occupy their land. 22 He had done the same for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir, for he destroyed the Horites so they could settle there in their place. The descendants of Esau live there to this day. 23 A similar thing happened when the Caphtorites from Crete[a] invaded and destroyed the Avvites, who had lived in villages in the area of Gaza.)

24 Moses continued, “Then the Lord said, ‘Now get moving! Cross the Arnon Gorge. Look, I will hand over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and I will give you his land. Attack him and begin to occupy the land. 25 Beginning today I will make people throughout the earth terrified because of you. When they hear reports about you, they will tremble with dread and fear.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 2:23 Hebrew from Caphtor.