What does Deuteronomy 2:26 Mean?

Deuteronomy 2:26 reads, "And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying."

This verse describes the approach that the Israelites took in attempting to make peace with Sihon, the king of Heshbon, before engaging in battle.

Here, Moses recounts how the Israelites sent messengers to Sihon with words of peace, offering to pass through his land and pay for any provisions they needed along the way. However, Sihon refused their offer and instead chose to engage in battle with the Israelites.

The message of this verse is one of diplomacy and the importance of making efforts for peace before resorting to violence. The Israelites had no intention of attacking Sihon, but instead tried to find a peaceful solution to their need to pass through his land. Unfortunately, Sihon was unwilling to negotiate, leading to a battle.