When the Lord brought His people a second time to the borders of Canaan, additional evidence of His power was granted to those heathen nations. They saw that God was with Israel in the victory gained over King Arad and the Canaanites, and in the miracle wrought to save those who were perishing from the sting of the serpents. Although the Israelites had been refused a passage through the land of Edom, thus being compelled to take the 435 long and difficult route by the Red Sea, yet in all their journeyings and encampments, past the land of Edom, of Moab and Ammon, they had shown no hostility, and had done no injury to the people or their possessions. On reaching the border of the Amorites, Israel had asked permission only to travel directly through the country, promising to observe the same rules that had governed their intercourse with other nations. When the Amorite king refused this courteous solicitation, and defiantly gathered his hosts for battle, their cup of iniquity was full, and God would now exercise His power for their overthrow.

Da Herren for anden gang førte sit folk imod Kanaans grænser, fik disse hedenske folkeslag atter et bevis på hans magt. De så, at Gud var med israelitterne, da de sejrede over kong Arad og kanaanæerne, og da han ved et mirakel frelste dem, der var ved at dø af slangebid. Skønt det blev nægtet Israel at marchere gennem Edoms land, og de derfor blev tvunget til at benytte den lange og vanskelige vej langs Det røde Hav, havde de aldrig vist fjendtlighed eller voldt skade på liv eller ejendom, da de drog forbi Edom, Moab og Ammon. Da Israel nåede amoritternes grænse, bad de om tilladelse til at rejse direkte gennem landet og lovede at overholde de samme regler, som havde været bestemmende for deres handlemåde over for andre folkeslag. Da amoritterkongen afslog denne høflige anmodning og trodsigt samlede sin hær for at drage i krig, fyldtes amoritternes syndebæger, og Gud ville nu gribe ind for at tilintetgøre dem.