신명기 2:34의 주석

מתם means MEN. — Of the spoil taken from Sihon it is stated (v. 35) בזזנו לנו, an expression denoting plunder (בזה), because then this was an object of desire to them, so that each man took spoil for himself. But when they came to the plundering of Og, they were already full to satiety, and it was contemptible in their eyes, so that they tore in pieces and cast away cattle and garments, and took only silver and gold. On this account it is said (Deuteronomy 3:7) בַּזֹּנוּ לנו which is an expression denoting "holding in contempt" (בזיון). Thus is it expounded in Siphre in the chapter beginning with "And Israel dwelt in Shittim״ (Numbers 25:1).

AND WE UTTERLY DESTROYED EVERY CITY, THE MEN, AND THE WOMEN, AND THE LITTLE ONES — who were of the Amorites, and they were commanded thereon, as it is said, But of the cities of these peoples, that the Eternal thy G-d giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.²⁵⁷Further, 20:16. Even so, Moses opened discussions with them peacefully, for such is the commandment [that even for the seven nations we were obligated to proclaim peace to them] as I will explain with the help of G-d.²⁵²Further, 20:10. But to Og the king of Bashan he did not proclaim peace because Og had come forth to battle against Israel before they even came to his city.²⁵⁸This is clearly indicated in Scripture: Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan, and Og, the king of Bashan came out against us (above, 3:1). I have already explained the subject in the section Zoth Chukath.²⁵⁹Numbers 21:21.

ונחרם כל עיר מתם, “we destroyed every populated city.” Nachmanides writes that this was justified as the Emorites belonged to the seven tribes of the Canaanites concerning whom G’d had issued the decree: “do not allow a single soul to survive!” (Deut. 20,16) In light of this it is surprising that Moses offered the hand of peace to these people! I plan to explain this (compare Nachmanides on Deut. 20,17) as well as why no such offer was made to Og, King of Bashan, (but to the same tribe of people).The latter had come out swinging, without waiting for on offer of an olive branch.

V. 34. מתים, rad. מתה wovon מתי (siehe Bereschit S. 102). עיר מתים: das Transitorische in der Stadt: die lebenden sterblichen Menschen darin. רמב׳׳ן bemerkt, dass die Bevölkerung eine emoritische war (siehe V. 24) und demgemäß dem göttlichen Verhängnisse: רק מערי העמים האלה וגו׳ לא תחיה כל נשמה (Kap. 20, 16 u. 17 — siehe daselbst) unterlag. Dies Verhängnis war jedoch an die Bedingung geknüpft, dass sie sich nicht in friedlicher Unterwürfigkeit dem Entsagen des Polytheismus und der Verpflichtung zu den allgemeinen menschlichen Pflichten ז׳ מצות בני נח unterziehen wollten. Weshalb denn auch hier dem emoritischen Könige Sichon zuvor Frieden angeboten worden war (V. 26 f.).