18. “Moses, now go past the town of Ar and cross Moab's northern border
19. into Ammon. But don't start a war with the Ammonites. I gave them their land, and I won't give any of it to Israel.”
20. Before the Ammonites conquered the land that the Lord had given them, some of the Rephaim used to live there, although the Ammonites called them Zamzummim.
21. The Zamzummim were a large and powerful tribe and were as tall as the Anakim. But the Lord helped the Ammonites, and they killed many of the Zamzummim and forced the rest to leave. Then the Ammonites settled there.
22. The Lord helped them as he had helped the Edomites, who killed many of the Horites in Seir and forced the rest to leave before settling there themselves.
23. A group called the Avvim used to live in villages as far south as Gaza, but the Philistines killed them and settled on their land.
24. After we went through Ammon, the Lord told us:Israel, pack up your possessions, take down your tents, and cross the gorge of the River Arnon. The territory of the Amorite King Sihon of Heshbon lies on the other side of the river, but I now give you his land. So attack and take it!
25. Today I will start making all other nations afraid of you. They will tremble with fear when anyone mentions you, and they will be terrified when you appear.
26. After we had crossed the Arnon and had set up camp in the Kedemoth Desert, I sent messengers to King Sihon of Heshbon, telling him that his nation and ours could be at peace. I said: