Midrasch zu Dewarim 23:25

27 (Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers [to Sihon …]”: This text is related (to Ps. 37:3), “Trust in the Lord and do good, abide in the land and remain loyal.” And it states (in Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments. Rather [it states] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter [the ox of one who hates you]”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey [of one who hates you]”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage him in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”

(Numb. 21:21:) “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon […].” This text is related (to Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; [seek peace and pursue it].” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments.¹⁴⁵Numb. R. 19:27. Rather [it says] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter the ox of one who hates you”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey of one who hates you”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage him in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”

(Numb. 21:21:) THEN ISRAEL SENT MESSENGERS TO SIHON. This text is related (to Pss. 34:15 [14]): DEPART FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. The Torah did not command <them> to go in pursuit of the commandments.²⁰⁰Tanh., Numb. 6:22; Numb. R. 19:27. Rather <it says>: (as in Deut. 22:6:) WHEN YOU COME ON A BIRD'S NEST, (as in Exod. 23:4:) WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER THE OX OF ONE WHO HATES YOU, (as in Exod 23:5:) WHEN YOU SEE THE DONKEY OF ONE WHO HATES YOU, (as in Deut. 24:20:) WHEN YOU BEAT YOUR OLIVE TREE, (as in Deut. 24:21:) WHEN YOU GATHER THE GRAPES OF YOUR VINEYARD, (as in Deut. 23:25:) WHEN YOU GO INTO YOUR NEIGHBOR's VINEYARD. If <these situations> present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but <you are> not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15 [14]): SEEK PEACE, wherever you are, AND PURSUE IT, wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One had said to them (in Deut. 2:24): BEGIN TO TAKE POSSESSION, AND ENGAGE HIM IN BATTLE, they went in pursuit of peace.