Reminder of Past Victories: The first three chapters of Deuteronomy not only warn the people from past failures but also encourage them from past victories. The words to Joshua near the end of the section (3:21f.) give the point of the whole: God can do again what they had seen God do before, even for other nations. Their God did not lack experience! The structure of the section can be presented as follows:

2:1–8 – Encounter with Edom
2:9–18 – Encounter with Moab
2:19–23 – Encounter with Ammon
2:24–37 – Encounter with Sihon
3:1–11 – Encounter with Og
3:12–20 – Settlement of the Transjordan tribes
3:21–22 – Encouragement of Joshua
3:23–29 – Exclusion of Moses

The narrative summarizes and systematizes the events of Numbers 20–21 around two concerns. First, it underscores the sovereignty of Yahweh in …