Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 2

2God spoke to me, saying,   בוַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:
3‘You have circled this mountain long enough; turn northward.   גרַב־לָכֶ֕ם סֹ֖ב אֶת־הָהָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה פְּנ֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם צָפֹֽנָה:
פְּנוּ לָכֶם צָפֹֽנָה - Turn northward - i.e., turn toward the east side of Edom and, facing northward, travel from south to north. They thus traveled along its eastern side, and this is the meaning of what it says: “and he traveled to the east of Moab.” 1   פְּנוּ לָכֶם צָפֹֽנָה.  סֹבּוּ לָכֶם לְרוּחַ מִזְרָחִית, מִן הַדָּרוֹם לַצָּפוֹן, פְּנֵיכֶם לַצָּפוֹן, נִמְצְאוּ הוֹלְכִים אֶת רוּחַ הַמִּזְרָחִית וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שופטים י"א) "וַיָבוֹאוּ (וַיָּבֹא) מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁמֶשׁ לְאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב":
4Command the people, saying, “You are about to cross the boundary of the land of your kinsmen, the descendants of Esau, who dwell on Mount Se’ir, and they will be afraid of you. Take great care that   דוְאֶת־הָעָם֘ צַ֣ו לֵאמֹר֒ אַתֶּ֣ם עֹֽבְרִ֗ים בִּגְבוּל֙ אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם בְּנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֔ו הַיֹּֽשְׁבִ֖ים בְּשֵׂעִ֑יר וְיִֽירְא֣וּ מִכֶּ֔ם וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם מְאֹֽד:
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹֽד - Take great care. And about what do you need to take care? – “do not provoke them.”   וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹֽד.  וּמַהוּ הַשְּׁמִירָה? אל תתגרו בם:
5you not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land—not even so much as a foot can tread on—because I have given Mount Se’ir to Esau as an inheritance.   האַל־תִּתְגָּ֣רוּ בָ֔ם כִּי לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֤ן לָכֶם֙ מֵֽאַרְצָ֔ם עַ֖ד מִדְרַ֣ךְ כַּף־רָ֑גֶל כִּֽי־יְרֻשָּׁ֣ה לְעֵשָׂ֔ו נָתַ֖תִּי אֶת־הַ֥ר שֵׂעִֽיר:
עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף־רָגֶל - means: even to set foot there; i.e., I do not allow you even to set foot in their land without their permission. But its aggadic explanation 2 is: Until the day of treading on the Mount of Olives comes, as stated: “His feet will stand….” 3   עַד מִדְרַךְ כַּף־רָגֶל.  אֲפִלּוּ מִדְרַךְ כַּף רֶגֶל, כְּלוֹמַר אֲפִלּוּ דְּרִיסַת הָרֶגֶל אֵינִי מַרְשֶׁה לָכֶם לַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצָם שֶׁלֹּא בִרְשׁוּת. וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא יוֹם דְּרִיסַת כַּף רֶגֶל עַל הַר הַזֵּיתִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה י"ד) "וְעָמְדוּ רַגְלָיו וְגוֹ'":
יְרֻשָּׁה לְעֵשָׂו - To Esau as an inheritance - from Abraham. I gave him 10 nations: Seven I gave to you; and of the other three – the Keinites, Kenizites, and Kadmonites, who are Ammon, Moab, and Se’ir – one (Se’ir) I gave to Esau, and the other two to the descendants of Lot. As a reward for accompanying Abraham to Egypt and keeping silent when he said about his wife: “she is my sister,” 4 God treated Lot as Abraham’s son, giving an inheritance to his offspring.   יְרֻשָּׁה לְעֵשָׂו.  מֵאַבְרָהָם, עֲשָׂרָה עֲמָמִים נָתַתִּי לוֹ, שִׁבְעָה לָכֶם וְקֵינִי וּקְנִזִּי וְקַדְמוֹנִי הֵן עַמּוֹן וּמוֹאָב וְשֵׂעִיר, אֶחָד מֵהֶם לְעֵשָׂו וְהַשְּׁנַיִם לִבְנֵי לוֹט, בִּשְׂכַר שֶׁהָלַךְ אִתּוֹ לְמִצְרַיִם וְשָׁתַק עַל מַה שֶּׁהָיָה אוֹמֵר עַל אִשְׁתּוֹ אֲחוֹתִי הִיא, עֲשָׂאוֹ כִּבְנוֹ (בראשית רבה נ"א):
6You may buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you may also buy water from them with money, that you may drink,   ואֹ֣כֶל תִּשְׁבְּר֧וּ מֵֽאִתָּ֛ם בַּכֶּ֖סֶף וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּ֑ם וְגַם־מַ֜יִם תִּכְר֧וּ מֵֽאִתָּ֛ם בַּכֶּ֖סֶף וּשְׁתִיתֶֽם:
תִּכְרוּ - You may buy - is a term for “buying,” and similarly: אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי “that I purchased for myself,” 5 for in the sea cities they call a sale כִּירָה. 6   תִּכְרוּ.  לְשׁוֹן מֶקַח, וְכֵן "אֲשֶׁר כָּרִיתִי לִי" (בראשית נ'), שֶׁכֵּן בִּכְרַכֵּי הַיָּם קוֹרִין לִמְכִירָה כִּירָה (ראש השנה כ"ו):
7in order to show that God, your God, has blessed you in whatever you do. He was aware of your needs during your trek through this great desert; you have lacked nothing throughout these forty years that God, your God, has been with you.”’   זכִּי֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ בֵּֽרַכְךָ֗ בְּכֹל֙ מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָדֶ֔ךָ יָדַ֣ע לֶכְתְּךָ֔ אֶת־הַמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה זֶ֣ה | אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֗ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹ֥א חָסַ֖רְתָּ דָּבָֽר:
כִּי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בֵּֽרַכְךָ - That God, your God, has blessed you. Therefore, do not be indifferent to His goodness by acting as if you are poor, but show yourselves to be wealthy.   כִּי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בֵּֽרַכְךָ.  לְפִיכָךְ לֹא תִכְפּוּ אֶת טוֹבָתוֹ לְהַרְאוֹת כְּאִלּוּ אַתֶּם עֲנִיִּים, אֶלָּא הַרְאוּ עַצְמְכֶם עֲשִׁירִים:
8We left our kinsmen, the descendants of Esau, who dwelt on Mount Se’ir, the way of the plain, Eilat, and Etzyon Gever, and we turned, passing toward the Moab desert.   חוַנַּֽעֲבֹ֞ר מֵאֵ֧ת אַחֵ֣ינוּ בְנֵֽי־עֵשָׂ֗ו הַיּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּשֵׂעִ֔יר מִדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ הָֽעֲרָבָ֔ה מֵֽאֵילַ֖ת וּמֵֽעֶצְיֹ֣ן גָּ֑בֶר וַנֵּ֨פֶן֙ וַנַּֽעֲבֹ֔ר דֶּ֖רֶךְ מִדְבַּ֥ר מוֹאָֽב:
וַנֵּפֶן וַנַּֽעֲבֹר - And we turned, passing - northward; i.e., we changed direction in order to travel along the eastern side of Edom.   וַנֵּפֶן וַנַּֽעֲבֹר.  לְצַד צָפוֹן הָפַכְנוּ פָנִים לַהֲלֹךְ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית:
9God said to me, ‘Do not distress the Moabites by provoking them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as an inheritance, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as an inheritance.   טוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י אַל־תָּ֨צַר֙ אֶת־מוֹאָ֔ב וְאַל־תִּתְגָּ֥ר בָּ֖ם מִלְחָמָ֑ה כִּ֠י לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֨ן לְךָ֤ מֵֽאַרְצוֹ֙ יְרֻשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֣י לִבְנֵי־ל֔וֹט נָתַ֥תִּי אֶת־עָ֖ר יְרֻשָּֽׁה:
וְאַל־תִּתְגָּר בָּם וגו' - By provoking them… He forbade them only to provoke Moab into waging war, but they did frighten them and appear before them with weapons. Therefore, Scripture says: “Moab became terrified of the people of Israel,” 7 for they were plundering them and taking booty. But regarding the Ammonites, it says: וְאַל תִּתְגָּר בָּם “and do not provoke them” 8 – by means of any form of provocation. This consideration was reward for their mother’s modesty, namely, the fact that she did not publicize the sin of her father, as her sister did by naming her son Moab.   וְאַל־תִּתְגָּר בָּם וגו'.  לֹא אָסַר לָהֶם עַל מוֹאָב אֶלָּא מִלְחָמָה, אֲבָל מְיָרְאִים הָיוּ אוֹתָם, וְנִרְאִים לָהֶם כְּשֵׁהֶם מְזֻיָּנִים, לְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב (במדבר כ"ב) "וַיָּגָר מוֹאָב מִפְּנֵי הָעָם", שֶׁהָיוּ שׁוֹלְלִים וּבוֹזְזִים אוֹתָם; אֲבָל בִּבְנֵי עַמּוֹן נֶאֱמַר (פסוק י"ט) "וְאַל תִּתְגָּר בָּם" – שׁוּם גֵּרוּי, בִּשְׂכַר צְנִיעוּת אִמָּם, שֶׁלֹּא פִרְסְמָה עַל אָבִיהָ כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשְׂתָה הַבְּכִירָה שֶׁקָּרְאָה שֵׁם בְּנָהּ מוֹאָב (בבא קמא ל"ח):
עָר - Ar - is the name of the province.   עָר.  שֵׁם הַמְּדִינָה:
10The Eimim formerly dwelt there. They were a people as great, numerous, and tall as the giants.   יהָֽאֵמִ֥ים לְפָנִ֖ים יָ֣שְׁבוּ בָ֑הּ עַ֣ם גָּד֥וֹל וְרַ֛ב וָרָ֖ם כַּֽעֲנָקִֽים:
הָֽאֵמִים לְפָנִים וגו' - The Eimim formerly… You might think that this is the land of the Rephaim that I gave to Abraham, since the Emim, who are also Rephaim, lived there originally. However, this is not the case, as I drove out those Rephaim in favor of Lot’s descendants and settled them there in their place.   הָֽאֵמִים לְפָנִים וגו'.  אַתָּה סָבוּר שֶׁזּוֹ אֶרֶץ רְפָאִים שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לוֹ לְאַבְרָהָם, לְפִי שֶׁהָאֵמִים שֶׁהֵם רְפָאִים יָשְׁבוּ בָהּ לְפָנִים, אֲבָל לֹא זוֹ הִיא, כִּי אוֹתָן רְפָאִים הוֹרַשְׁתִּי מִפְּנֵי בְנֵי לוֹט וְהוֹשַׁבְתִּים תַּחְתָּם:
11They were also considered Rephaim, just like the giants. The Moabites called them Eimim.   יארְפָאִ֛ים יֵחָֽשְׁב֥וּ אַף־הֵ֖ם כַּֽעֲנָקִ֑ים וְהַמֹּ֣אָבִ֔ים יִקְרְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם אֵמִֽים:
רְפָאִים יֵחָֽשְׁבוּ וגו' - They were also considered Rephaim… Those Emim were considered Rephaim, just like giants are called Rephaim because the hands of all who see them become weak (מִתְרַפּוֹת) out of fear.   רְפָאִים יֵחָֽשְׁבוּ וגו'.  רְפָאִים הָיוּ נֶחֱשָׁבִין אוֹתָם אֵמִים, כָּעֲנָקִים הַנִּקְרָאִים רְפָאִים, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁכָּל הָרוֹאֶה אוֹתָם יָדָיו מִתְרַפּוֹת (בראשית רבה כ"ו):
אֵמִֽים - Emim. They were so called because they cast dread (אֵימָה) upon the people. Similarly, “the Horites formerly dwelt on Mount Se’ir…”. and I gave their territory to Esau’s descendants.   אֵמִֽים.  עַל שֵׁם שֶׁאֵימָתָם מֻטֶּלֶת עַל הַבְּרִיּוֹת (שם), וְכֵן בְּשֵׂעִיר יָשְׁבוּ הַחֹרִים וּנְתַתִּים לִבְנֵי עֵשָׂו:
12The Horites formerly dwelt on Mount Se’ir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them. They destroyed them and settled in their place, just as the Israelites did to the land of your inheritance that God gave you.   יבוּבְשֵׂעִ֞יר יָֽשְׁב֣וּ הַֽחֹרִים֘ לְפָנִים֒ וּבְנֵ֧י עֵשָׂ֣ו יִֽירָשׁ֗וּם וַיַּשְׁמִידוּם֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֵּֽשְׁב֖וּ תַּחְתָּ֑ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֧ר עָשָׂ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לְאֶ֨רֶץ֙ יְרֻשָּׁת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֥ן יְהֹוָ֖ה לָהֶֽם:
יִֽירָשׁוּם - (lit.) Will dispossess them. This is a continuous present-tense form, i.e., I gave them sufficient strength to steadily dispossess them.   יִֽירָשׁוּם.  לָשׁוֹן הוֹוֶה, כְּלוֹמַר נָתַתִּי בָהֶם כֹּחַ שֶׁהָיוּ מוֹרִישִׁים אוֹתָם וְהוֹלְכִים:
13Now arise and cross the Zered Brook.’ So we crossed the Zered Brook.   יגעַתָּ֗ה קֻ֛מוּ וְעִבְר֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־נַ֣חַל זָ֑רֶד וַנַּֽעֲבֹ֖ר אֶת־נַ֥חַל זָֽרֶד:
14The time we spent traveling from Kadesh Barne’a until we crossed the Zered Brook was 38 years—until the end of the entire generation of soldiers from the camp, just as God swore to them.   ידוְהַיָּמִ֞ים אֲשֶׁר־הָלַ֣כְנוּ | מִקָּדֵ֣שׁ בַּרְנֵ֗עַ עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־עָבַ֨רְנוּ֙ אֶת־נַ֣חַל זֶ֔רֶד שְׁלשִׁ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה עַד־תֹּ֨ם כָּל־הַדּ֜וֹר אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ מִקֶּ֣רֶב הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר נִשְׁבַּ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה לָהֶֽם:
15God intervened directly with them in order to wipe them out from the camp, until their end.   טווְגַ֤ם יַד־יְהֹוָה֙ הָ֣יְתָה בָּ֔ם לְהֻמָּ֖ם מִקֶּ֣רֶב הַמַּֽחֲנֶ֑ה עַ֖ד תֻּמָּֽם:
הָיְתָה בָּם - [GOD intervened directly] with them - to hurriedly wipe them out within the 40 years, so they not cause their children to prolong their stay in the desert.   הָיְתָה בָּם.  לְמַהֵר וּלְהֻמָּם בְּתוֹךְ אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, שֶׁלֹּא יִגְרְמוּ לִבְנֵיהֶם עוֹד לְהִתְעַכֵּב בַּמִּדְבָּר:
16It was when all those soldiers finished dying out from the people   טזוַיְהִ֨י כַֽאֲשֶׁר־תַּ֜מּוּ כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֧י הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה לָמ֖וּת מִקֶּ֥רֶב הָעָֽם:
17that God spoke to me, saying,   יזוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר:
וַיְהִי כַֽאֲשֶׁר־תַּמּוּ וגו' וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֵלַי וגו' - 17. וַיְהִי כַאֲשֶׁר תַּמּוּ וְגוֹ'. וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֵלַי וְגוֹ' – It was when [all those soldiers] finished [dying out]…God spoke to me…. But from the mention of sending the spies until now the term וַיְדַבֵּר was not used in this passage, but וַיֹּאמֶר. This teaches you that during the entire 38 years that Israel were out of grace, God did not speak to Moses intimately and affectionately, face to face, and in a tranquil manner. This teaches you that the Divine Presence rests upon the prophets only on account of Israel.   וַיְהִי כַֽאֲשֶׁר־תַּמּוּ וגו' וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֵלַי וגו'.  אֲבָל מִשִּׁלּוּחַ הַמְרַגְּלִים עַד כָּאן לֹא נֶאֱמַר בְּפָרָשָׁה זוֹ וַיְדַבֵּר אֶלָּא וַיֹּאמֶר, לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁכָּל ל"ח שָׁנָה שֶׁהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נְזוּפִים, לֹא נִתְיַחֵד עִמּוֹ הַדִּבּוּר בִּלְשׁוֹן חִבָּה, פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים וְיִשּׁוּב הַדַּעַת – לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵין הַשְּׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה עַל הַנְּבִיאִים אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל יִשְׂרָאֵל (מכילתא שמות י"ב, ספרא ויקרא ו):
אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה - (lit.) The men of battle - i.e., those over 20 years old, who were eligible for army service.   אַנְשֵׁי הַמִּלְחָמָה.  מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה הַיּוֹצְאִים בַּצָּבָא:
18‘Today you are crossing the boundary of Moab, Ar.   יחאַתָּ֨ה עֹבֵ֥ר הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־גְּב֥וּל מוֹאָ֖ב אֶת־עָֽר:
אַתָּה עֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת־גְּבוּל מוֹאָב וקרבת מול בני עמון - Today you are crossing the boundary of Moab…when you approach [the area] opposite the Ammonites…. From here we see that Ammon is to the north.   אַתָּה עֹבֵר הַיּוֹם אֶת־גְּבוּל מוֹאָב וקרבת מול בני עמון.  מִכָּאן שֶׁאֶרֶץ עַמּוֹן לְצַד צָפוֹן:
19When you approach the area opposite the Ammonites, neither distress them, nor provoke them, for I will not give you any part of the land of the Ammonites as an inheritance, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as an inheritance.   יטוְקָֽרַבְתָּ֗ מ֚וּל בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן אַל־תְּצֻרֵ֖ם וְאַל־תִּתְגָּ֣ר בָּ֑ם כִּ֣י לֹֽא־אֶ֠תֵּ֠ן מֵאֶ֨רֶץ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֤וֹן לְךָ֙ יְרֻשָּׁ֔ה כִּ֥י לִבְנֵי־ל֖וֹט נְתַתִּ֥יהָ יְרֻשָּֽׁה:
20It too is considered the land of the Rephaim. Rephaim formerly dwelt in it; the Ammonites call them Zamzumim.   כאֶֽרֶץ־רְפָאִ֥ים תֵּֽחָשֵׁ֖ב אַף־הִ֑וא רְפָאִ֤ים יָֽשְׁבוּ־בָהּ֙ לְפָנִ֔ים וְהָ֣עַמֹּנִ֔ים יִקְרְא֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם זַמְזֻמִּֽים:
אֶֽרֶץ־רְפָאִים תֵּֽחָשֵׁב - It, too, is considered the land of the Rephaim - i.e., it, too, is considered the land of the Rephaim, for the Rephaim used to live there, but it is not the land of the Rephaim that I gave to Abraham.   אֶֽרֶץ־רְפָאִים תֵּֽחָשֵׁב.  אֶרֶץ רְפָאִים נֶחְשֶׁבֶת אַף הִיא, לְפִי שֶׁהָרְפָאִים יָשְׁבוּ בָהּ לְפָנִים, אֲבָל לֹא זוֹ הִיא שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לְאַבְרָהָם:
21They were a people as great, numerous, and tall as the giants, but God destroyed them for them, and they dispossessed them and settled in their stead,   כאעַ֣ם גָּד֥וֹל וְרַ֛ב וָרָ֖ם כַּֽעֲנָקִ֑ים וַיַּשְׁמִידֵ֤ם יְהֹוָה֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּֽירָשֻׁ֖ם וַיֵּֽשְׁב֥וּ תַחְתָּֽם:
22just as He did for the descendants of Esau, who dwell on Mount Se’ir, when He destroyed the Horites for them and they dispossessed them and settled in their stead, living there to this day.   כבכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשָׂה֙ לִבְנֵ֣י עֵשָׂ֔ו הַיּֽשְׁבִ֖ים בְּשֵׂעִ֑יר אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִשְׁמִ֤יד אֶת־הַֽחֹרִי֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּֽירָשֻׁם֙ וַיֵּֽשְׁב֣וּ תַחְתָּ֔ם עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה:
23The Avim were the dwellers in the open cities until Gaza. The Kaftorites, who hail from Kaftor, destroyed them and dwelt in their stead.   כגוְהָֽעַוִּ֛ים הַיּֽשְׁבִ֥ים בַּֽחֲצֵרִ֖ים עַד־עַזָּ֑ה כַּפְתֹּרִים֙ הַיֹּֽצְאִ֣ים מִכַּפְתֹּ֔ר הִשְׁמִידֻ֖ם וַיֵּֽשְׁב֥וּ תַחְתָּֽם:
וְהָֽעַוִּים הַיּֽשְׁבִים בַּֽחֲצֵרִים וגו' - The Avim were the dwellers in the open cities… The Avim were of the Philistines, for they are reckoned among them in the book of Joshua, as it says: “The five governors of the Philistines – the Azaites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, the Ekronites – and the Avim.” 9 However, on account of the oath that Abraham swore to Avimelech, 10 the Jewish people were unable to take away their land from them. I therefore brought the Kaftorites against them, and they destroyed them and lived there instead of them, so now you are permitted to take it away from them.   וְהָֽעַוִּים הַיּֽשְׁבִים בַּֽחֲצֵרִים וגו'.  עַוִּים מִפְּלִשְׁתִּים הֵם, שֶׁעִמָּהֶם הֵם נֶחֱשָׁבִים בְּסֵפֶר יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע י"ג) "חֲמֵשֶׁת סַרְנֵי פְלִשְׁתִּים הָעַזָּתִי וְהָאַשְׁדּוֹדִי הָאֶשְׁקְלוֹנִי הַגִּתִּי וְהָעֶקְרוֹנִי וְהָעַוִּים", וּמִפְּנֵי הַשְּׁבוּעָה שֶׁנִּשְׁבַּע אַבְרָהָם לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ לֹא יָכְלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהוֹצִיא אַרְצָם מִיָּדָם, וְהֵבֵאתִי עֲלֵיהֶם כַּפְתּוֹרִים וְהִשְׁמִידוּם וַיֵּשְׁבוּ תַחְתָּם, וְעַכְשָׁיו אַתֶּם מֻתָּרִים לְקַחְתָּהּ מִיָּדָם (חולין ס'):
24Arise, journey, and cross the Arnon River. Behold, I have delivered Sichon the Amorite, king of Cheshbon, and his land into your hand. Begin to take possession of it, and provoke him to war.   כדק֣וּמוּ סְּע֗וּ וְעִבְרוּ֘ אֶת־נַ֣חַל אַרְנֹן֒ רְאֵ֣ה נָתַ֣תִּי בְ֠יָֽדְךָ֠ אֶת־סִיחֹ֨ן מֶֽלֶךְ־חֶשְׁבּ֧וֹן הָֽאֱמֹרִ֛י וְאֶת־אַרְצ֖וֹ הָחֵ֣ל רָ֑שׁ וְהִתְגָּ֥ר בּ֖וֹ מִלְחָמָֽה:
25Today I will begin to place the dread of you and the fear of you upon all the nations that dwell under the entire heaven, who will hear reports of you and tremble and be in trepidation because of you.’   כההַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה אָחֵל֙ תֵּ֤ת פַּחְדְּךָ֙ וְיִרְאָ֣תְךָ֔ עַל־פְּנֵי֙ הָֽעַמִּ֔ים תַּ֖חַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁמְעוּן֙ שִׁמְעֲךָ֔ וְרָֽגְז֥וּ וְחָל֖וּ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ:
תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָיִם - Under the entire heaven. From here we learn that the sun stood still for Moses on the day of the battle with Og, and thus the matter became known everywhere beneath the entire heaven.   תַּחַת כָּל־הַשָּׁמָיִם.  לִמֵּד שֶׁעָמְדָה חַמָּה לְמֹשֶׁה בְּיוֹם מִלְחֶמֶת עוֹג וְנוֹדַע הַדָּבָר תַּחַת כָּל הַשָּׁמַיִם (עבודה זרה כ"ה):
26Following the example God set in the Sinai desert, I sent messengers to King Sichon of Cheshbon with words of peace, saying,   כווָֽאֶשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכִים֙ מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר קְדֵמ֔וֹת אֶל־סִיח֖וֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן דִּבְרֵ֥י שָׁל֖וֹם לֵאמֹֽר:
מִמִּדְבַּר קְדֵמוֹת - (lit.) From the Kedemot Desert. Although the Omnipresent did not command me to make overtures of peace with Sichon, I learned that I should do so from what happened in the Sinai Desert – from the Torah that preceded (קָדְמָה) the world. When the Holy One, blessed be He, came to give it to the Israelites, He first offered it to the descendants of Esau and Ishmael, and although it was clear to Him that they would not accept it, He nevertheless made overtures of peace to them. I, too, made overtures of peace with Sichon. Another explanation: What is the meaning of מִמִּדְבַּר קְדֵמוֹת? I learned from You, who preceded (קָדַמְתָּ) the world. You could have sent one bolt of lightning and consumed the Egyptians, but You sent me from the desert to Pharaoh, to say to him: “Send forth My people!” 11 treating him in a restrained manner.   מִמִּדְבַּר קְדֵמוֹת.  אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא צִוַּנִי הַמָּקוֹם לִקְרֹא לְסִיחוֹן לְשָׁלוֹם, לָמַדְתִּי מִמִּדְבַּר סִינַי – מִן הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁקָּדְמָה לָעוֹלָם – כְּשֶׁבָּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִתְּנָהּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל חָזַר אוֹתָהּ עַל עֵשָׂו וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל, וְגָלוּי לְפָנָיו שֶׁלֹּא יְקַבְּלוּהָ וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן פָּתַח לָהֶם בְּשָׁלוֹם, אַף אֲנִי קִדַּמְתִּי אֶת סִיחוֹן בְּדִבְרֵי שָׁלוֹם; דָּבָר אַחֵר, ממדבר קדמות – מִמְּךָ לָמַדְתִּי, שֶׁקָּדַמְתָּ לָעוֹלָם, יָכוֹל הָיִיתָ לִשְׁלֹחַ בָּרָק אֶחָד וְלִשְֹרֹף אֶת הַמִּצְרִים, אֶלָּא שְׁלַחְתַּנִי מִן הַמִּדְבָּר אֶל פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר (שמות ה') "שַׁלַּח אֶת עַמִּי", בְּמִתּוּן (תנחומא):
27‘Allow me to pass through your land. I will keep to the highway; I will turn neither to the right nor to the left.   כזאֶעְבְּרָ֣ה בְאַרְצֶ֔ךָ בַּדֶּ֥רֶךְ בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֵלֵ֑ךְ לֹ֥א אָס֖וּר יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹֽאול:
28You will sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink—I will only pass through on foot.   כחאֹ֣כֶל בַּכֶּ֤סֶף תַּשְׁבִּרֵ֨נִי֙ וְאָכַ֔לְתִּי וּמַ֛יִם בַּכֶּ֥סֶף תִּתֶּן־לִ֖י וְשָׁתִ֑יתִי רַ֖ק אֶעְבְּרָ֥ה בְרַגְלָֽי:
29Sell me food and drink, just as the descendants of Esau (who dwell on Mount Se’ir) and the Moabites (who dwell in Ar) did for me, until I cross the Jordan River into the land that God, our God, is giving us.’   כטכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָֽשׂוּ־לִ֜י בְּנֵ֣י עֵשָׂ֗ו הַיּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּשֵׂעִ֔יר וְהַמּ֣וֹאָבִ֔ים הַיּֽשְׁבִ֖ים בְּעָ֑ר עַ֤ד אֲשֶֽׁר־אֶֽעֱבֹר֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֶל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽנוּ:
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר עָֽשׂוּ־לִי בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו - Just as the descendants of Esau did for me. Not regarding allowing us to traverse their land, but regarding selling us food and water.   כַּֽאֲשֶׁר עָֽשׂוּ־לִי בְּנֵי עֵשָׂו.  לֹא לְעִנְיַן לַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצָם, אֶלָּא לְעִנְיַן מֶכֶר אֹכֶל וּמַיִם:
עַד אֲשֶֽׁר־אֶֽעֱבֹר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן - Until I cross the Jordan. This refers back to: “Allow me to pass through your land.” 12   עַד אֲשֶֽׁר־אֶֽעֱבֹר אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּן.  מוּסָב עַל אֶעְבְּרָה בְאַרְצֶךָ:
30But King Sichon of Cheshbon did not wish to let us pass through his land, for God, your God, caused his spirit to be hardened and his heart to be obstinate, so that He could give him into your hand, as this day.   לוְלֹ֣א אָבָ֗ה סִיחֹן֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן הַֽעֲבִרֵ֖נוּ בּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הִקְשָׁה֩ יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ אֶת־רוּח֗וֹ וְאִמֵּץ֙ אֶת־לְבָב֔וֹ לְמַ֛עַן תִּתּ֥וֹ בְיָֽדְךָ֖ כַּיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה: