“City of Date Palms.” The palm trees in Israel were date palms, not coconut palms.

“children of Ammon.” So the Moabites and Ammonites, both from Abraham’s nephew Lot, align together against Israel.

“possessed the City of Date Palms.” The city of Jericho, now called the City of Date Palms, was the first city taken by Israel in the Promised Land. Now they begin to lose their inheritance and Jericho is the first city lost to the pagan enemies.