And the Lord said unto me
 After or about the time when the messengers were sent to Sihon, perhaps when they had returned and had brought his answer: 
 behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee;
 by hardening his heart, which was a sure token of his ruin, and a leading step to the delivery of him into the hands of Israel: 
 begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land;
 move towards it and enter into it, not fearing any opposition made by him.