Alberith Deuteronomy

2:19 & 24 - When you come to the Ammonites, do not harass them or provoke them to war, 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." . . . ²⁴"Set out now and cross the Arnon Gorge. . .

Moses' speech continues with the account of their journey through Ammon. Like the account of the journey through Moab (v13), this one is highly contracted, and similarly structured:

a) a command: "Do not harass them or provoke them" (v19a),

b) a double-deckered reason for the command: "for I will not give you any part of their land to possess it. I have given it to the descendants of Lot for a possession" (v19b), and

c) a concluding command to move on: "get up and cross the Arnon Valley" (v24a).

Though this account does not conclude with a report, the subsequent command to march against Sihon (v24b) assumes that Israel obeyed as instructed. This restrained accent on GenB's obedience as they made their way through Moab and Ammon frames and sets in contrast the disobedience and demise of GenA.

Now CLICK HERE to return to the parenthetical remarks about the Emites and the Rephaites in vv10-12 and 20-23.