Parashat Devarim - Sixth Aliyah

In this aliyah we stand in the midst of the wars that led to the beginning of the conquest of the eastern side of the Jordan: the battle against Sichon king of Cheshbon and after it the battle against Og king of Bashan. The Torah describes the complete victory in both cases, including the conquest of many fortified cities, some with “chomah gevohah delatayim uvriach” (a high wall, double doors, and a bar, Deuteronomy 3:5), a description hinting at real military power.

In these verses the recurring idea of divine giving stands out: “Vayitnehu Adonai Eloheinu lefaneinu” (And the Lord our God delivered him before us, Deuteronomy 2:33) in the battle against Sichon, and “Vayiten Adonai Eloheinu beyadenu” (And the Lord our God gave into our hand, Deuteronomy 3:3) in the battle against Og. This emphasizes that the victory did not stem from Israel’s military might, but from direct divine providence. The confrontation with Sichon was the opening of a wider campaign, and in its wake Og too, who is described as the last of the “Refa’im” (Deuteronomy 3:11), is defeated.

This success makes possible the beginning of the settlement across the Jordan: the tribes of Reuven, Gad, and half of Menasheh begin to inherit the conquered regions, the land of Gilad, the Bashan, the district of Argov, Chavot Yair, and more.

A thought for life: these victories teach that one cannot lean only on power or numbers. Even with military strength and strategy, true success depends on the bond with God. And the stage at which the land begins to be settled after the battles reminds us: war is only a means, the goal is life, building, settlement, and belonging. Sometimes it is precisely the hard struggles, like standing before mighty enemies, that open the way to something new. Standing with courage, humility, and faith grants us too an inner inheritance, and a personal victory, when we fight rightly and the heart is in the right place.