Aliya Summary: The Jews approach the land of the Emorites, which lies
on the east bank of the Jordan River. They send a message to Sichon,
king of the Emorites, asking permission to pass through his land en
route to Canaan. Sichon refuses and instead masses his armies and attack
the Jews. The Jews are victorious and occupy the Emorite lands. Og,
king of Bashan, then attacks the Jews. The Jews are triumphant again;
they kill Og and occupy his land too. Now the Jewish nation has reached
the bank of the Jordan River, just across from the city of Jericho in
the land of Israel.
Sichon was the bully of the region,
having wrestled the strategic city of Cheshbon from Moav. When the
Jews neared, though, Sichon inexplicably (unless you realize it's all
G-d's work) took every warrior out of the city to go fight the Jews.
Apparently he didn't learn the lesson from the previous army that
attempted to fight the Jews for no reason. The Jews just wanted to pass
through, but instead were forced to fight and win the land. Once they
settle in the newly acquired land, Moshe sends spies to Ya'azer, and the
spies themselves end up conquering the land (no need for armies or
confrontations when you're on a roll). Then they head north to Bashan,
and once again the leader comes at the Jews in battle, and once again
loses (this time 120-year-old Moshe gets involved the fighting, as the
Gemara describes how he lifted an entire mountain and dropped it on the
enemy).
I'm not sure what there is to learn from all
this fighting, other than sometimes people attack the Jews for no good
reason other than maybe feeling threatened, and we have to have faith
that we have G-d on our side, looking out for us.
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