Parashat HaShavua 5783: Devarim

(17) Who struck down great kings,
His steadfast love is eternal;(18) and slew mighty kings—
His steadfast love is eternal;(19) Sihon, king of the Amorites,
His steadfast love is eternal;(20) Og, king of Bashan—
His steadfast love is eternal;

A Midrashic approach: Sichon and Og were more difficult to overcome than Pharaoh and his armies at the time. Seeing that the people had celebrated their victory over Pharaoh by reciting a song of thanksgiving to the Lord, they should most certainly have done so also after their victories over Sichon and Og. Since they failed to do so, David made up for this omission in Psalm 136: “Who struck down great kings, His steadfast love is eternal; Sichon, king of the Emorites, Og king of Bashan, and gave their land as an heritage to His servant Israel for His love is eternal.”

29 (Numb. 20:17) “Please let us pass through your land.” As he had sent to inform the king of Edom that he would do no damage to him, so did he send to this one. (Deut. 2:28) “You shall sell me food for money, and water with money….”: It is customary for water to be given gratis, but I am giving payment for it. (Numb. 21:22) “We will go by the king's highway [until we have passed through your territory]”: But in another place it is written (in Deut. 2:29), “until I have crossed [the Jordan].” To what is the matter comparable? To one guarding a vine or fig tree. When someone comes and says, “Let me pass through here, so that I may gather grapes from the vineyard,” he says to him, “It is only because of you that I am sitting on guard, and you would come to gather [the grapes]?” So it was with Sihon. He received wages from all the kings of Canaan; and they would bring taxes up to him, for he would crown them. Moreover he and Og were considered the equivalent of them all, since it is stated (in Ps. 136:19-20), “Sihon, king of the Amorites…; and Og, king of Bashan, and all the royalty of Canaan.” Israel said to [Sihon], “Let us pass through your land to conquer the kings.” He said to them, “I am sitting here to guard them from you.” (Numb. 21:23) “So Sihon did not allow Israel to cross on his territory; instead Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel”: The Holy One, blessed be He, only did this to deliver him into their hand without trouble. As it is written (in Numb. 21:34 = Deut. 3:2), “to Sihon, king of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon (i.e., with calculation).” If Heshbon had been full of mosquitos, no mortal could have conquered it; and if Sihon had been in a valley, no mortal could have overpowered him. And it goes without saying [that it could not be conquered], since he was a warrior and dwelt in a fortified city. [Ergo,] (in Numb. 21:34 = Deut. 3:2), “who dwelt in Heshbon.” If he and his troops had dwelt [scattered about] in his towns, Israel would have worn themselves out to prevail against him and conquer each and every town. Instead the Holy One, blessed be He, gathered them together so as to deliver them into their hand without trouble. And so it said (in Deut. 2:31), “See I have begun to give Sihon [and his land] over to you.” They killed all his warriors who had come out against them. Then they returned for the women and infants without exertion. It is therefore written (in Numb. 21:23,25), “Sihon gathered all his people together […]. And Israel took all of these cites.”

(21) I also charged Joshua at that time, saying, “You have seen with your own eyes all that your God the LORD has done to these two kings; so shall the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you shall cross over.(22) Do not fear them, for it is your God the LORD who will battle for you.”

עיניך הרואות את כל אשר עשה יי אלו-היכם לשני המלכים האלה, כן יעשה יי לכל הממלכות, “your eyes who have witnessed all that the Lord your G’d has done to these two kings, thus will the Lord do to all the kingdoms.” Moses reinforced the people’s confidence regarding the battles ahead by recalling to them what they had themselves experienced in the war against Sichon and Og. This would give them the necessary faith in G’d that they would easily overcome the 31 kings who would be defeated before the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua. Also Joshua’s heart was strengthened by these reminders of Moses that it would be he who would enter the land that Moses himself had not been allowed to enter.

For soldiers not to fear or become frightened of the enemy during war, as [Deuteronomy 7:21] states: "Do not panic before them," and [Deuteronomy 3:22] states: "Do not fear them."

(17) Should you say to yourselves, “These nations are more numerous than we; how can we dispossess them?”(18) You need have no fear of them. You have but to bear in mind what your God the LORD did to Pharaoh and all the Egyptians:(19) the wondrous acts that you saw with your own eyes, the signs and the portents, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm by which your God the LORD liberated you. Thus will your God the LORD do to all the peoples you now fear.(20) Your God the LORD will also send a plague against them, until those who are left in hiding perish before you.(21) Do not stand in dread of them, for your God the LORD is in your midst, a great and awesome God.

That He prohibited us from being afraid of the enemies during the time of war, and that we not run away from them. Rather, it is an obligation upon us to be resilient and to stand firm and be strong against the other people. And anyone who retreats and runs away has already transgressed this negative commandment. And that is His, may He be exalted, saying, "You shalt not be terrified by them" (Deuteronomy 7:21). And this prohibition was repeated when He said, "Do not fear them" (Deuteronomy 3:22). And this command was repeated frequently - not to run away and not to retreat during the time of war - since it is possible to confirm the true faith with this matter.

(2) Before you join battle, the priest shall come forward and address the troops.(3) He shall say to them, “Hear, O Israel! You are about to join battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic, or in dread of them.(4) For it is your God the LORD who marches with you to do battle for you against your enemy, to bring you victory.”

(8) The officials shall go on addressing the troops and say, “Is there anyone afraid and disheartened? Let him go back to his home, lest the courage of his comrades flag like his.”

(9) All those who return from the army camp, return when they hear the proclamation of the priest. They must supply food and water to their brethren in the army and fix the roads for them.

MISHNA:“And the officers shall speak further to the people, and they shall say: What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return unto his house” (Deuteronomy 20:8). Rabbi Akiva says: “That is fearful and fainthearted”indicates that the man is unable to stand in the battle ranks and to see a drawn sword. Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: “That is fearful and fainthearted”; this is one who is afraid because of the sins that he has. Therefore, the Torah provided him with all these additional reasons so he can ascribe his leaving to one of them.Rabbi Yosei says:A widow betrothed to a High Priest; a divorcée or a yevama who performed ḥalitza [ḥalutza] betrothed to a common priest; a mamzeret or a Gibeonite woman betrothed to an Israelite; or a daughter of an Israelite betrothed to a mamzer or a Gibeonite; this man is he whom the verse calls “fearful and fainthearted.”

(15) To whom does the phrase 'Is there a man who is afraid or faint-hearted?' refer? The phrase should be interpreted simply, as applying to a person whose heart is not brave enough to stand in the throes of battle.
Once a soldier enters the throes of battle, he should rely on the Hope of Israel and their Savior in times of need. He should realize that he is fighting for the sake of the oneness of God's Name. Therefore, he should place his soul in his hand and not show fright or fear.
He should not worry about his wife or children. On the contrary, he should wipe their memory from his heart, removing all thoughts from his mind except the war.
Anyone who begins to feel anxious and worry in the midst of battle to the point where he frightens himself violates a negative commandment, as it is written: 'Do not be faint-hearted. Do not be afraid. Do not panic and do not break ranks before them.'
Furthermore, he is responsible for the blood of the entire Jewish nation. If he is not valiant, if he does not wage war with all his heart and soul, it is considered as if he shed the blood of the entire people, as ibid. 20:8 states: 'Let him go home, lest he demoralize the hearts of his brethren like his own.' Similarly, the prophetic tradition explicitly states: 'Cursed be he who does God's work deceitfully. Cursed be he who withholds his sword from blood.' Jeremiah 48:10
In contrast, anyone who fights with his entire heart, without fear, with the intention of sanctifying God's name alone, can be assured that he will find no harm, nor will bad overtake him. He will be granted a proper family in Israel and gather merit for himself and his children forever. He will also merit eternal life in the world to come as I Samuel 25:28-29 states: 'God will certainly make my lord a faithful house, for my lord fights the wars of God and evil will not be found with you... and my lord's soul will be bound in a bond of life with God.'