7. It is written: "Hashem said, 'I will bring back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea'" (Tehilim 68:23). We must pay attention to the Faith in the Holy One, blessed be He, since all His words are spoken with truth and great Faith. As soon as He utters something, it is immediately completely accomplished. If a person who is narrow of heart says that it will take several years, and a certain time to fulfill his wish, that is what happens, with THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, in accord with His dominion that all the universe is filled with His glory, it is surely so. A person's words are of small consequence and all his words are of a temporary nature. Similarly, he himself is of a temporary nature, LIKE A PASSING SHADOW. However, he is sanctified with repentance and prayer and good deeds and many tears, SINCE the Supernal One who is higher than all the world lights His lamp and contracts His Holiness to that person to do his wish.

9. Sihon was the desert colt and Moab's security depended on him. "For Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites" (Bemidbar 21:13), MEANING THAT HE WAS HIS NEIGHBOR AND GUARDED HIS BORDER. Come and see: When Yisrael destroyed the city of Sihon, the proclamation went forth in the Heavenly Kingdom, MEANING AMONG THE SEVENTY CHIEFTAINS OF THE SEVENTY NATIONS: Gather together, you mighty who rule over other nations, and see how the Emorite kingdom is destroyed.

10. At that moment, all the rulers who were appointed over the seventy nations gathered and wanted to restore the kingdom of Sihon to its prior state. As soon as they saw Moses' might, they retreated. That is the meaning of the words: "Wherefore they who speak in similes say, 'Come to Heshbon'" (Ibid. 27). These are the appointed ministers over the nations, who gathered and said, "Come to Heshbon." Who is he who destroyed it? Let it "be built and established" (Ibid.) as originally, and let the kingdom be reinstated as before.

11. When they saw Moses' might and the flame of his kingdom, they said, "For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon" (Ibid. 28). HE ASKS: If it already says "from Heshbon," why the additional "from the city of Sihon?" Isn't the city of Sihon Heshbon, as it says, "For Heshbon was a city of Sihon the king of the Amorites" (Ibid. 26).

12. HE REPLIES: It is only that a flame from the King of Heaven went and destroyed everything. When they said, "Let the city of Sihon be built and established" simply, and did not specify Heshbon, it is because they figured that it would be rebuilt for the Amorites' dwelling place. Then they replied and said, 'We cannot.' What is the reason? It is because all the roads and paths were sealed by the might of their higher authority. If we say and mention again that Heshbon should be built, did not "a fire gone out of Heshbon?" And if we say again 'the city of Sihon,' surely a flame started out from the city of Sihon. Since that flame of fire still prevails there, there is nobody who can return it to its prior state, because we have no permission from any side.

398. Come and see, when Balak saw that Sihon and Og were killed and their country was taken, he saw ONE MORE THING. HE ASKS: What did he see THAT THE SCRIPTURE says, "saw?" It is only that he saw in his wisdom he and the five top chiefs of Midian and his people were falling into the hands of Yisrael. He saw, yet did not know CLEARLY. Therefore, he first approached Bilaam, whose power was in his mouth TO BLESS AND CURSE, like Yisrael, whose power is in their mouth.