Deuteronomy 2:31

31 `And Jehovah saith unto me, See, I have begun to give before thee Sihon and his land; begin to possess -- to possess his land.

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 as the sons of Esau who are dwelling in Seir, and the Moabites who are dwelling in Ar, have done to me -- till that I pass over the Jordan, unto the land which Jehovah our God is giving to us.

30 `And Sihon king of Heshbon hath not been willing to let us pass over by him, for Jehovah thy God hath hardened his spirit, and strengthened his heart, so as to give him into thy hand as at this day.

31 `And Jehovah saith unto me, See, I have begun to give before thee Sihon and his land; begin to possess -- to possess his land.

32 `And Sihon cometh out to meet us, he and all his people, to battle to Jahaz;

33 and Jehovah our God giveth him before us, and we smite him, and his sons, and all his people;