And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.
And the LORD said to me, 'Do not trouble the Moabites or fight against them in battle, because I will not give you any of their land to own. I have given the city of Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.'
God is telling Moses not to attack the Moabites because He has already given that land to Lot's descendants as their inheritance.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during Israel's wilderness journey as they approached the Promised Land. The Moabites were descendants of Lot (Abraham's nephew) through his daughter, making them distant relatives of the Israelites. Ar was a major city in Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, and God had designated this region as the Moabites' territorial inheritance.
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