In Deuteronomy 9, Moses sharply rebuked his brethren. A swollen national ego had gotten out of hand.
But before delivering the brusque message, Moses provided a military briefing.
“Hear, O Israel. You are to pass over the Jordan [River] this day, to go
disgorge nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and
fortified to heaven.”
The people heard that Canaanites were “greater and mightier” than the Jewish army. More discouraging
still, Canaanite cities were “great and fortified to heaven.” And if that wasn’t enough, the defenders
were gigantic, “a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim…”
For Abravanel, the assessment of Canaan’s impregnable defense positions had been overstated. In
either event, city walls did tower. Military strategists, Abravanel imparts, analyze three factors when
gauging an enemy: 1) the belligerent's troops (How is their training and preparedness?), 2) defense
positions and city buttresses (Are they walled, fortified?), and 3) military top brass (Are the officers
gutsy?).
Our verse and the following one returned these answers: "greater and mightier", "cities great and
fortified to the heavens" and "a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim." The latter verse may be
seen as a throwback to the olden days, when there were goliaths, although not too many. That said,
these ornery ogres did fight obdurately. That was in yesteryear. Today there were many more Godzillas
with whom to contend. Worse still, they inhabited Canaan. Just who had apprised the Hebrew campers?
Knowledge had been disseminated forty years earlier a la Hebrew spies. From them, the young
generation had heard it with their own ears.
Moses felt certain that his words were making headway with his flock. He believed that they understood
the nature of the upcoming war to liberate Israel. "And today you know that God your Almighty will pass
before you." The Creator would deck the enemy, while the Jews would watch in awed silence. As for the
Hebrew soldier' heroism, well that would contribute little.
The prophet felt secure that his co-religionists fully comprehended Heaven's upcoming role in
decimating Canaan. His word had seeped in. However, the ensuing verses marked Moses’ gruff remarks.
Here is where the prophet was less sure of himself, on their account.
“When God your Almighty pushes them out from before you, do not delude yourself saying it is because
of my righteousness God brought me to inherit this land. It has to do with the evil of these nations that
God disgorged them from before you." Moses would lay his concern on the table. How would the
prophet correct their gross misconceptions about the Maker's imminent move and motivation for
bringing them to Israel? Moses put two points into focus: How Canaanites lost the Holy Land and how
the Hebrews gained it.
The Jews assumed, conveniently enough, a connection between the two. Namely, on the one hand,
Canaanites forfeited the Holy Land due to their egregious misconduct. Two, the land transferred to the
Jews, and not to others, because of their probity. They deserved the Holy Land. "It is because of my
righteousness God brought me to inherit this land. It has to do with evil of these nations that God
disgorged them."
Moses understood psychology, Abravanel informs us. Man is quick to attribute success to himself for
any number of reasons. Perhaps, he will overstate his fortitude. Alternatively, he might chalk up good
happenings to earnestness, fancying himself as a driven chap who knows not indolence. Should he find
that prosperity exceeded expectations, he'll suppose that his good fortune came about as a result of his
merit and piety.
