Devar/5768/Ekev
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עברית
עַם-גָּדוֹל וָרָם, בְּנֵי עֲנָקִים: אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, וְאַתָּה שָׁמַעְתָּ--מִי יִתְיַצֵּב, לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי עֲנָק (דברים ט:ב)
English
Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven, (Deut 9:1)
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say: 'Who can stand before the sons of Anak?' (Deut 9:2)
Moshe our teacher speaks to the Children of Israel, to encourage them towards their entrance into the Land, for the war of conquest. And also, to caution them with words of moral teaching. It seems strange he would raise the stature of their enemies in their eyes! But he is just returning them the words of the spies: Howbeit the people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified, and very great; and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. (Num 13:28)
Almost the same words -- but an entirely different perspective! When the spies spoke, they said, "Howbeit (efes -- also meaning 'zero') the people ... are fierce", that is to say the power of the Children of Israel is as nought against the residents of the Land. Moshe said in continuation: Know therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is He who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; He will destroy them, and He will bring them down before thee; so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as the LORD hath spoken unto thee. (Deut 9:3).
The spies said the truth -- but not all the truth. Moshe came and completed their words, when he told the Children of Israel that they did not have to conquer the people of the Land themselves, rather they should rely on the Rock of the Universe, Who would fight for them. And by their reliance on God, they would succeed in removing the evil inhabitants who preceded them. So too us, were we to rely on Him, may He be blessed, noone would be able to withstand us.
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