Sihon and Og

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.

8. NOW HE EXPLAINS THE VERSE: "Hashem said" is in the future to come. The Holy One, blessed be He, will arise and bring back from Bashan all those whom the wild beasts killed and devoured, SINCE "MI (ENG. 'FROM') BASHAN" IS SPELLED WITH THE SAME LETTERS OF MIBEIN SHINEI (LIT. 'FROM BETWEEN THE TEETH OF') THE BEASTS. There exists in the world a dwelling place where all the great beasts and the great high mountains are, and these are hidden in those, THE BEASTS HIDE IN THE MOUNTAINS. THAT PLACE IS CALLED 'BASHAN.' There is the strong wild desert donkey. This is Og, who dwelt among the wild desert asses. There lies his strength, because he was the King of Bashan, MEANING THE KING OF THAT AREA, and none of the world's kings could fight with him due to the powerful might of Bashan. Moses came and waged war with him.

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.

13. From here on, woe to you Moab, since your protector has been broken. Therefore, as soon as Moab saw that their defense was breached, then "Moab was sore (Heb. meod) afraid of the people" (Bemidbar 22:3). What is "meod?" It means very, that is, more than death, SINCE MEOD ALLUDES TO THE ANGEL OF DEATH.

14. "Because they were many (Heb. rav)" (Ibid.). At earlier times, ESAU was great (Heb. rav) and great is small, as it is written: "Behold, I will make you small among the nations" (Ovadyah 1:2). Yisrael became great instead of Esau, as it is written about him: "And the elder (Heb. rav)," MEANING: "AND THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER" (BERESHEET 25:23). What is the reason THEY CONSIDERED YISRAEL AS GREAT? It is because they saw that Yisrael were dominant above and below, as it is written: "All that Yisrael had done to the Amorites" (Bemidbar 22:2). It should have said, 'That which Yisrael had done.' What is "all that (Heb. et)?" It is to also include above and below, that they toppled THEIR chiefs and rulers above from their domination and also knocked down the chiefs and rulers below, IN THIS WORLD. Therefore, IT IS WRITTEN: "All that (Heb. et) Yisrael had done." That is why THEY SAID, "Because they were many (Heb. rav)" instead of 'the rav,' which would have meant the holy firstborn IN PLACE OF ESAU'S BIRTHRIGHT, as it is written: "Yisrael is My son, My firstborn" (Shemot 4:22).

15. You might say that the Holy One, blessed be He, desired it that way, TO GIVE THE BIRTHRIGHT TO YISRAEL, yet it was not according to justice. Come and see that Esau was a Klipah of the Other Side AND IT IS KNOWN THAT THE SKULL (HEB. KLIPAH) PRECEDED THE BRAIN. THEREFORE, HE EMERGED FIRST. As soon as the skull came out and removed, the brain was found. The foreskin come first, THAT IS ESAU, found externally; THEREFORE, HE EXITED FIRST. The of circumcised member that is most precious, MEANING JACOB, is revealed later. THEREFORE, ESAU'S PRIOR APPEARANCE IS NOT CONSIDERED AS THE BIRTHRIGHT SINCE THE KLIPAH AND THE FORESKIN HAVE NO VALUE IN COMPARISON TO THE BRAIN AND THE CIRCUMCISED MEMBER. NOT ONLY THAT, HE WAS FIRST TO EXIT FOR THAT SAME REASON, SINCE THE SHELL COMES BEFORE THE FRUIT.