After decades of wandering through the desert, a major turning point finally arrives for the Israelites. A new divine message signals the end of a long era and sets into motion the final preparations for entering the Promised Land. This communication from God occurs after a significant amount of time has passed [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Specifically, it takes place during the fortieth year of their journey as the people reach Kadesh [חזקוני]. With the four decades of wandering drawing to a close, the command is given to change direction and head north toward their ultimate destination [מלבי״ם].
The instructions relayed to the people carry a deep historical and educational purpose regarding their interactions with neighboring nations, such as the descendants of Esau, Ammon, and Moab. Moses makes it clear that the Israelites' avoidance of war against these groups is not born out of weakness or fear. On the contrary, these neighboring nations are actually afraid of the Israelites. The choice to avoid conflict is entirely the result of a direct command from God [אברבנאל].
God's directive to leave these nations in peace stems from four main reasons [אברבנאל]. First, due to their family connections to Abraham, God specifically granted the descendants of Esau and Lot their own lands as an inheritance. Second, unlike the Canaanite nations whose extreme wickedness sealed their fate, these neighboring groups maintained basic human order and natural morality. Because they upheld these fundamental standards, their sins have not reached a point of destruction, and they remain worthy of living in their lands. Third, God uses this restriction to educate the Israelites and help them control their impulses. By holding them back from battle, He prevents them from developing an arrogant reliance on their own military strength. This restraint ingrains the lesson that inheriting the Promised Land depends entirely on divine providence and the merit of their ancestors, rather than their own physical power. Finally, the true and rightful inheritance of the Israelites is always meant to be across the Jordan River. God does not want them conquering and taking over territories that are simply not meant for them.
To further emphasize that avoiding battle is an act of pure obedience to God rather than a retreat out of fear, Moses deliberately leaves out a specific historical detail in his recounting. He omits the fact that the king of Edom previously threatened to attack the Israelites with a sword, ensuring the people understand that their peaceful passage is driven by His will alone [אברבנאל].