Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Deuteronomy 2:33 mean?
A: Deuteronomy 2:33 describes how Hashem (God) delivered the enemy king Sihon and his people into the hands of the Israelites, allowing them to defeat them in battle. According to Rashi, this was a miraculous intervention showing God's protection of Israel as they entered the land.
Q: Why is this verse important in Jewish tradition?
A: This verse is important because it demonstrates God's fulfillment of His promise to give the Israelites victory over their enemies as they entered the Promised Land. The Rambam teaches that such events strengthen our faith in Divine providence and God's active role in Jewish history.
Q: Why does the verse mention defeating 'his sons and all his people'?
A: The mention of defeating Sihon's sons and entire nation, as explained in the Talmud (Sanhedrin 105b), teaches that this was a complete victory where no significant resistance remained. This thoroughness was necessary to secure Israel's position in the land according to God's command.
Q: How does this apply to us today?
A: While we don't face the same battles today, the Midrash teaches that we can learn from this verse about trusting in God's help during our struggles. Just as God helped our ancestors, we believe He assists us in overcoming challenges when we follow His ways.
Q: Does this verse justify violence?
A: Jewish tradition, as explained by commentators like Ramban, makes clear this was a specific, Divinely-commanded war for the conquest of the Promised Land - not a general permission for violence. The Torah has strict ethical laws of war (Deuteronomy 20) that limit conflict and protect civilians.
Context and Source
The verse appears in Devarim (Deuteronomy) 2:33, where Moshe recounts the Israelites' victory over Sichon, king of the Amorites. This event occurred during their journey toward Eretz Yisrael after leaving Egypt.
Grammatical and Textual Analysis
The phrase "וַנַּךְ אֹתוֹ וְאֶת־בנו [בָּנָיו]" ("we smote him and his sons") contains a keri u'ketiv discrepancy—the written text (ketiv) has "בנו" (singular, "his son"), while the tradition (keri) reads it as "בָּנָיו" (plural, "his sons"). Rashi explains that this teaches that Sichon and his designated heir (his primary son) were struck down, implying the collapse of his dynasty (Rashi on Devarim 2:33, based on Midrashic interpretation).
Theological Implications
Rambam (Maimonides) emphasizes in Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed 3:50) that wars fought by Israel under divine command were not acts of aggression but fulfillments of justice—eradicating corrupt nations that posed a moral and spiritual threat. The phrase "וַיִּתְּנֵהוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ לְפָנֵינוּ" ("Hashem our God delivered him before us") underscores that victory was divinely ordained, not merely military prowess.
Midrashic Insights
Halachic Perspective
The Ramban (Nachmanides) observes that this battle set a precedent for the laws of milchemet mitzvah (obligatory war), where the Israelites were commanded to annihilate certain nations to prevent moral corruption (Ramban on Devarim 20:10). The verse’s emphasis on divine deliverance reinforces that such wars were not discretionary but mandated by Hashem.