Shabbat Parashat Devarim - 5785

Shabbat Parashat Devarim - 5785

Rabbi Hal Miller

  I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedmot to Sichon king of Cheshbon, words of peace, saying [Devarim 2:26]

In our verse, Moshe recalls to the people an incident leading to the battles against Sichon and Og where he sent a negotiating delegation to the enemy to discuss peace. From that event we learn that this is the usual Torah requirement (Rambam Hilchot Melachim 6:1), to try for peace before commencing war. But in Bamidbar [21:21-22] where the incident actually took place, there are some differences. There it says "Israel sent emissaries to Sichon" rather than as here where Moshe says that he sent them. Further, as we see in Devarim [3:1-2], Moshe did not send anyone to Og. Here in Devarim, Moshe adds that he sent word to Sichon that the Israelites would buy food and water from him, meaning there was a potential economic benefit to Sichon, an offer that does not appear in Bamidbar.

As to this last point, it is possible that the Torah did not see a need to tell us about the trade mission until now as it did not seem to have relevance at the time it happened. Moshe is now explaining that he gave Sichon every chance, both trade and peace. Malbim tells us that this explains the difference betwen Moshe sending and Israel sending. Israel is obligated to offer peace, which was done in Bamidbar. Moshe adds here that he himself offered the trade deal as an incentive for Sichon. Whether the same messengers related both messages or there were two sets of messengers, there certainly were two messages, one from Israel and one from Moshe.

But what about Og? Why was he not offered peace, let alone a trade deal? This is answered from Devarim [3:1] that "Og king of Bashan went out toward us, he and his entire people, for war at Edrei". In the case of Sichon, the Israelites approached his border. Had he responded positively to the Israelite peace offering there would have been no battle. In the case of Og, he marched against Israel without provocation, and launched an attack. Once the enemy attacks, we are not obligated to offer peace.