לְ֭סִיחוֹן מֶ֣לֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִ֑י כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃
Sihon, raja orang Amori, sebab kasih setia-Nya untuk selama-lamanya.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
Rabbi Yitzḥak interpreted the verse regarding the Midianite war. “Your hair is like a flock of goats” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the flocks that went to the Midianite war went only due to the merit of Moses and Pinḥas.29They were successful in the war against Midian only due to the merit of Moses and Pinḥas (Etz Yosef). That is what is written: “Moses and Elazar the priest took the gold from…” (Numbers 31:54).30Some suggest that the text should read: That is what is written: “Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Pinḥas” (Numbers 31:6). This verse may be understood as equating Pinḥas with the rest of those who went out to war (Matnot Kehuna). “That streams down [shegaleshu] from Mount Gilad” (Song of Songs 4:1) – the mountain from whose midst you took away [shegelashten], I rendered a memorial for the nations of the world. Which is this? This is the Midianite war. What is it that you took away from its midst? “Your teeth are like a flock of ordered ewes” (Song of Songs 4:2) – defined matters, twelve thousand volunteers and twelve thousand conscripts, as it is stated: “One thousand per tribe from the thousands of Israel were provided, [twelve thousand mobilized soldiers]” (Numbers 31:5). Rabbi Ḥananya bar Yitzḥak said: They went to the Midianite war with twelve thousand.
“That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Huna said: Not one of them gave precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries,31The arm phylacteries are supposed to be donned before the head phylacteries. as, had one of them given precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries, Moses would not have praised them and they would not have ascended from there unharmed. That is to say that they were extremely righteous.
“That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as when they would enter in pairs to the woman, one of them would blacken her face and one of them would remove her jewelry.32The war against Midian was fought in the aftermath of the events in Shitim, where Moavite and Midianite women enticed Israelites to engage in sexual immorality and idolatry. As a result, twenty-four thousand Israelites died in a plague (see Numbers 25:1–9). When the Israelites defeated the Midianite army and entered the private dwellings where the women were located to take the spoils of war, they would enter two at a time and would cause the women to look less enticing, so as to ensure that they would not sin. [The women] would say to them: ‘Are we not creations of the Holy One blessed be He that you do this to us?’ The Israelites would say to them: ‘Is it not enough for you that our people received their punishment because of you?’ That is what is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them” (Numbers 25:4). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was suspected of committing a transgression.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – when they said to Moses: “Your servants took a census of the men of war under our command, and not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49), in lewdness and in sin.33None of our men were killed, and none acted inappropriately with the captive women.
“Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – as they said to him: “We brought the offering of the Lord” (Numbers 31:50). Moses said to them: ‘Your statements contradict each other. You said: “Not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49) – in lewdness and in sin. And you said: “We brought the offering of the Lord.” If you did not sin, what is the purpose of this offering?’ They said to him: Moses our master, we would enter to the woman in pairs, and one of us would blacken her face and one would remove her jewelry. Is it possible that the evil inclination was not moved at all? For that moving of the evil inclination we say to bring an offering.
At that moment, Moses began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate, for anyone who is confronted by the opportunity to commit a transgression and is spared from it and does not perform it has performed a great mitzva. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
“Like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which [David] elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “Siḥon king of the Emorites.… and Og king of the Bashan.… and gave their land as an inheritance” (Psalms 136:19–21).34These verses state that God gave the land of Siḥon to Israel as an inheritance. Included in this territory was the land of Midian. The fact that Israel merited to inherit the land of Midian speaks positively of them. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot].
“One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – all those tens of thousands and those thousands who went to the Midianite war and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations. Not only you alone relied upon it, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – everyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, is called mighty, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time. Their entire generation depends upon them. By means of whom was the Midianite war waged? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses, the head of the Sanhedrin, and Pinḥas.
“That have come up from bathing” (Song of Songs 4:2) – Rabbi Huna said: Not one of them gave precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries,31The arm phylacteries are supposed to be donned before the head phylacteries. as, had one of them given precedence to the head phylacteries before the arm phylacteries, Moses would not have praised them and they would not have ascended from there unharmed. That is to say that they were extremely righteous.
“That are all paired” (Song of Songs 4:2) – as when they would enter in pairs to the woman, one of them would blacken her face and one of them would remove her jewelry.32The war against Midian was fought in the aftermath of the events in Shitim, where Moavite and Midianite women enticed Israelites to engage in sexual immorality and idolatry. As a result, twenty-four thousand Israelites died in a plague (see Numbers 25:1–9). When the Israelites defeated the Midianite army and entered the private dwellings where the women were located to take the spoils of war, they would enter two at a time and would cause the women to look less enticing, so as to ensure that they would not sin. [The women] would say to them: ‘Are we not creations of the Holy One blessed be He that you do this to us?’ The Israelites would say to them: ‘Is it not enough for you that our people received their punishment because of you?’ That is what is written: “The Lord said to Moses: Take all the leaders of the people, and hang them” (Numbers 25:4). “And there is none missing among them” (Song of Songs 4:2) – that not one of them was suspected of committing a transgression.
“Your lips are like a scarlet thread” (Song of Songs 4:3) – when they said to Moses: “Your servants took a census of the men of war under our command, and not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49), in lewdness and in sin.33None of our men were killed, and none acted inappropriately with the captive women.
“Your speech is lovely” (Song of Songs 4:3) – as they said to him: “We brought the offering of the Lord” (Numbers 31:50). Moses said to them: ‘Your statements contradict each other. You said: “Not a man is missing from among us” (Numbers 31:49) – in lewdness and in sin. And you said: “We brought the offering of the Lord.” If you did not sin, what is the purpose of this offering?’ They said to him: Moses our master, we would enter to the woman in pairs, and one of us would blacken her face and one would remove her jewelry. Is it possible that the evil inclination was not moved at all? For that moving of the evil inclination we say to bring an offering.
At that moment, Moses began praising them: “Your temple [rakatekh] is like a pomegranate slice” (Song of Songs 4:3) – even the empty among you is packed with mitzvot like this pomegranate, for anyone who is confronted by the opportunity to commit a transgression and is spared from it and does not perform it has performed a great mitzva. It goes without saying: “Behind your braid [letzamatekh]” (Song of Songs 4:3) – regarding the modest and the fervent [metzumatin] among you.
“Like the tower of [kemigdal] David” – regarding which [David] elevated [gidel] you in his book. Regarding what did David elevate you in his book? “Siḥon king of the Emorites.… and Og king of the Bashan.… and gave their land as an inheritance” (Psalms 136:19–21).34These verses state that God gave the land of Siḥon to Israel as an inheritance. Included in this territory was the land of Midian. The fact that Israel merited to inherit the land of Midian speaks positively of them. “Built magnificently [letalpiyot]” – a book that was stated by many mouths [piyot].
“One thousand bucklers are hung upon it” – all those tens of thousands and those thousands who went to the Midianite war and I defended them. I defended them only because of the merit of what came after one thousand generations. Not only you alone relied upon it, but rather, “all the shields of the mighty” – everyone who arises and controls and overcomes his inclination, is called mighty, like Moses in his time, David in his time, Ezra in his time. Their entire generation depends upon them. By means of whom was the Midianite war waged? It was by means of “your two breasts” (Song of Songs 4:5) – these are Moses, the head of the Sanhedrin, and Pinḥas.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Our masters have taught: Sihon was as strong as a wall tower.32See above, Deut. 1:5; M. Pss. 136:11. When he sat on the wall his feet reached to the ground, and there was no creature on earth able to stand against him. So what did the Holy One do? He bound his guardian angel (SRW SL M'LH, rt.: 'LH), cast him down, and deliverered him into the hand of Moses. It is so stated (with reference to the Amorite in Amos 2:9, cont.): I DESTROYED HIS FRUIT ABOVE (MM'L, rt.: 'LH) AND HIS ROOTS BELOW, i.e., his seed. Why? Because the Holy One foresaw his children and his children's children up to the resurrection that not one of them would fear Heaven, he immediately cut off his seed. But how did the Amorites die? Rabbi Levi said: The Holy One prepared two hornets for each and every one of them, as stated (in a literal translation of Deut. 7:20): MOREOVER, THE LORD [YOUR] GOD WILL SEND THE HORNET AMONG THEM. Now the hornet flies and smites one in the midst of his eye. Then immediately his eye drops out and he dies. And this is what David said (in Ps. 44:4 [3]): FOR THEY DID NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND WITH THEIR OWN SWORD, NOR DID THEIR MIGHTY ARM DELIVER THEM…. If you had not helped them they would not have overcome them. So for that reason, when Moses saw them, he was afraid of them, until the Holy One said to him: Do not be afraid of them. The sages have said: Sihon and Og were stronger than Pharaoh and his armies; for just as they uttered a song over the fall of Pharaoh and his army, so were they worthy to utter <a song> over Sihon and Og. It is simply that David came and uttered a song over them (in Ps. 136:19–20): SIHON, KING OF THE AMORITES, FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER; AND OG, KING OF BASHAN, FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Siḥon did not allow Israel to pass within his border, and Siḥon gathered his entire people and came out toward Israel to the wilderness, and he came to Yahatz; and he fought against Israel” (Numbers 21:23).
“Please, let us pass through your land” (Numbers 20:17) – just as he sent to the king of Edom that he would not harm him, so he sent to this one: “You will sell me food for silver […and water for silver]” (Deuteronomy 2:28) – typically, water is given for free, but we will pay its price. “We will go on the king’s way […until we pass your border]” (Numbers 20:17). Elsewhere it is written: “Until I will cross [the Jordan]” (Deuteronomy 2:29). I will tell you a parable, to what is the matter comparable? It is to a watchman who took his wages to guard a vine or a fig tree. One came and said to him: ‘Move from here, as I am harvesting the vineyard.’ He said to him: ‘I am sitting here and guarding only against you, and you are coming to harvest it?’ So, Siḥon took his payment from all the kings of the land of Canaan, and they would pay him taxes, as he would crown them as kings. He and Og were equal to them all, as it is stated: “Siḥon king of the Emorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan” (Psalms 135:11). Israel said: ‘Let us pass through your land to conquer the kingdom.’ He said to them: ‘I am sitting here only to guard them from you’ – “Siḥon did not allow Israel to pass within his border.”
“Siḥon gathered” – the Holy One blessed be He acted with forethought to deliver him into their hands with no trouble. It is written: “Siḥon king of the Emorites, who resides in Ḥeshbon” (Deuteronomy 1:4). Were Ḥeshbon filled with gnats, no person would be able to conquer it; were Siḥon in a valley, no person could gain control over him; and it goes without saying when he is a mighty warrior and located in a fortified city. “Who resides in Ḥeshbon” – had he been residing in his cities, he and his multitudes, Israel would have exhausted themselves in the attempt to conquer each and every city. Instead, the Holy One blessed be He assembled them [the Emorites] before them to deliver them into their hands with no trouble. Likewise it says: “See, I have begun delivering before you” (Deuteronomy 2:31) – they killed all his mighty warriors who had emerged to meet them, and returned against the women and children without exertion. That is why it is written: “Siḥon gathered.” “Israel took all these cities” (Numbers 21:25).
“Please, let us pass through your land” (Numbers 20:17) – just as he sent to the king of Edom that he would not harm him, so he sent to this one: “You will sell me food for silver […and water for silver]” (Deuteronomy 2:28) – typically, water is given for free, but we will pay its price. “We will go on the king’s way […until we pass your border]” (Numbers 20:17). Elsewhere it is written: “Until I will cross [the Jordan]” (Deuteronomy 2:29). I will tell you a parable, to what is the matter comparable? It is to a watchman who took his wages to guard a vine or a fig tree. One came and said to him: ‘Move from here, as I am harvesting the vineyard.’ He said to him: ‘I am sitting here and guarding only against you, and you are coming to harvest it?’ So, Siḥon took his payment from all the kings of the land of Canaan, and they would pay him taxes, as he would crown them as kings. He and Og were equal to them all, as it is stated: “Siḥon king of the Emorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan” (Psalms 135:11). Israel said: ‘Let us pass through your land to conquer the kingdom.’ He said to them: ‘I am sitting here only to guard them from you’ – “Siḥon did not allow Israel to pass within his border.”
“Siḥon gathered” – the Holy One blessed be He acted with forethought to deliver him into their hands with no trouble. It is written: “Siḥon king of the Emorites, who resides in Ḥeshbon” (Deuteronomy 1:4). Were Ḥeshbon filled with gnats, no person would be able to conquer it; were Siḥon in a valley, no person could gain control over him; and it goes without saying when he is a mighty warrior and located in a fortified city. “Who resides in Ḥeshbon” – had he been residing in his cities, he and his multitudes, Israel would have exhausted themselves in the attempt to conquer each and every city. Instead, the Holy One blessed be He assembled them [the Emorites] before them to deliver them into their hands with no trouble. Likewise it says: “See, I have begun delivering before you” (Deuteronomy 2:31) – they killed all his mighty warriors who had emerged to meet them, and returned against the women and children without exertion. That is why it is written: “Siḥon gathered.” “Israel took all these cities” (Numbers 21:25).