Deuteronomy 2:25

This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.

The verse stands in the account of Israel's journey and of God's commands concerning the neighboring peoples through whose borders they passed. In that setting Israel was told not to fight Moab or Ammon nor to take their land for a possession.

It was given as a direct mandate from God as Possessor of all lands for Israel to advance, to cross over the river Arnon, and to make war against Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon. God had given Sihon and his land into Israel's hand, and He commanded Israel to begin to possess it and to contend with him in battle. Beginning that very day, God Himself would put the dread and fear of Israel upon the nations under the whole heaven. Those nations would hear the report of Israel's advance and would tremble and be in anguish because of Israel.

This promise came when the Amorite hosts were eager for battle and confident of blotting out Israel. Israel by contrast was poorly prepared against well-armed and well-disciplined forces with superior skill in warfare, so that to all human appearance Israel would be speedily destroyed. Yet the token of God's presence in the cloudy pillar was still with Israel. Israel was still to do all that human power could do in preparing for war.

It belongs to the account of Israel's victory over the Amorites, in which the Lord's host defeated Israel's enemies and gave Israel their country. That same victory could have occurred thirty-eight years earlier if Israel had trusted God. It is one of God's promises to be repeated again and again and to be understood and obeyed together with His preserved commandments. It shows what God does for an obedient people, setting the blessings of obedience before Israel in contrast with warnings against transgression and disobedience, which are to be taught more fully.

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