Deuteronomy 2:31

31 The LORD said to me, "I have begun to hand Sihon and his country over to you. So begin the battle to take his land as your own."

Deuteronomy 2:31 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 2:31

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.

Deuteronomy 2:31 In-Context

29 The people of Esau, who live in Seir, allowed us to do that. The people of Moab, who live in Ar, also allowed us to do it. So let us walk through until we go across the Jordan River. Then we'll be able to go into the land the LORD our God is giving us."

30 But Sihon, the king of Heshbon, refused to let us walk through. The LORD your God had made his heart and spirit stubborn. The LORD wanted to hand him over to you. And that's exactly what he has done.

31 The LORD said to me, "I have begun to hand Sihon and his country over to you. So begin the battle to take his land as your own."

32 Sihon and his whole army came out to fight against us at Jahaz.

33 But the LORD our God handed him over to us. We struck him down together with his sons and his whole army.