Israel were specifically forbidden to take possession of the land on the east of the Dead Sea and Jordan which God had given to the children of Edom (the descendants of Esau), Moab and Ammon (descendants of Lot).
The race of giants were known by different names: Anakim in the Promised Land, Emims in Moab, Horims in Edom, and Zamzummims in Ammon.
The Amorites, under their king Sihon, had recently crossed the Jordan and driven the Moabites out of the plain of Moab. These Amorites refused Israel’s request to pass through to Canaan, “the land which the LORD their God giveth them” v.29,Waiting for response for Deuteronomy 2:29 and attacked Israel who defeated them and possessed their land. In due course it became the inheritance of the tribe of Reuben who specifically requested this land for themselves.
The route by which the people entered into the Promised Land was east of the Dead Sea and then westward across the River Jordan. This involved encompassing the land of Israel’s relatives: the Edomites (descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother) and the Moabites and Ammonites (descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew). Interestingly, in view of Israel’s fear of the giants, all these peoples had destroyed giants who had lived east of the Jordan to take their land. These giants were a distinct race of men who were exceedingly large, about nine feet tall. These giants were destroyed by the other nations but individuals remained for some centuries. Og king of Bashan Deuteronomy 3:1Waiting for response for Deuteronomy 3:1 was one of these, as was Goliath, the Philistine champion overcome by David 1 Samuel 17:23.Waiting for response for 1 Samuel 17:23 It is ironic that the faithless relations of Israel were able to dispossess these giants while Israel themselves were afraid to try!