Midrash sobre Exodo 23:27

Come and see how many miracles were wrought on that day! — Israel crossed the Jordan, came to Mt. Gerizem and Mt. Ebal, which is a distance of more than sixty miles; no creature of the world could stand against them [Israel], and whoever did stand against them, became ill immediately, as it is said (Ex. 23, 27) My terror will I send before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shall come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee, and again it is said (Ib. 15, 16) Terror and dread falleth upon them; by the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as a stone: till Thy people pass over, O Lord, this refers to the first entrance into the land of Israel; Till these people pass over, which Thou hast purchased, this refers to the second entrance into the land of Israel. Hence it may be inferred that Israel deserved that a miracle should be wrought for them, in the second entrance [during the days of Ezra], just as it happened during the first entrance; however, Israel's sin prevented the fulfillment of this. Afterwards they brought [on that very same day] stones and erected an altar, covered it with plaster and inscribed upon it the entire Torah in seventy languages, as it is said (Deut. 27, 8) Very plainly. They then offered burnt and peaceofferings, afterwards they ate, drank and rejoiced. They then pronounced the blessings [facing Mt. Gerizim] and the curses [facing Mt. Ebal] and they packed up the stones and spent their night in Gilgal, as it is said (Jos. 4, 3) And ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place. One may assume that they should be carried to each and every lodging place; it is therefore said (Ib.) Where ye will lodge this night, and again it is written (Ib.) And those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan did Joshua set up in Gilgal. We are taught in a Baraitha: The hornet did not cross the Jordan with Israel. Is this so? Behold it is written (Ex. 23, 29) I will send the hornet before thee, and it shall drive out, [hence it did pass the Jordan]? Said Resh Lakish: "It remained on the banks of the Jordan and from there threw its poison which blinded their eyes and rendered them impotent, as it is said (Amos 2, 9) Yet have I destroyed the Ammorite from before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from beneath." R. Papa said: "There were two kinds of hornets, one mentioned by Moses and the other by Joshua. The one mentioned by Moses did not pass the Jordan, but the one mentioned by Joshua did pass the Jordan." [Hence the above contradiction is explained].

(Devarim 11:25) "Your terror and your fear will the L-rd your G-d place on the face of all the land": Why is this mentioned? Because it is written (Ibid. 16:16) "Three times a year shall appear each of your males in the presence of the L-rd your G-d in the place that He chooses," lest Israel say: When we go up to bow down, who will protect our land for us, the Holy One Blessed be He told them: Go up, and I will guard what is yours. As it is written (Shemoth 24:24) "And no man will desire your land when you go up to appear before the L-rd your G-d three times in the year." If it is not desirable in his eyes, why should he come to take his property and his beasts? And, what is more, they are afraid of you, as it is written "Your terror and your fear, etc." And thus do you find with Israel when they do G-d's will. What did Na'aman (the leper of Aram) say to Elisha (II Kings 5:17) "Will there not be given to your servant two mules' burden of earth?" Now does this not follow a fortiori, viz.: If he is afraid to take earth from Eretz Yisrael without permission, how would he come to take his (an Israelite's) property and beasts! This is the intent of "Your terror and your fear will the L-rd your G-d place on the face of all the land where you tread." "as He spoke to you": When did He speak thus? (Shemoth 23:27) "My fear will I send before you, and I shall confound all the people to whom you come."