כִּ֤י תָבֹא֙ בְּכֶ֣רֶם רֵעֶ֔ךָ וְאָכַלְתָּ֧ עֲנָבִ֛ים כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖ שָׂבְעֶ֑ךָ וְאֶֽל־כֶּלְיְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִתֵּֽן׃ (ס)
Quando entrares no vinhedo do teu próximo, poderás comer uvas até saciares o teu desejo, mas não as colocarás no teu recipiente. {ס}
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Israel sent messengers to Siḥon, king of the Emorites, saying” (Numbers 21:21).
“Israel sent messengers” – this is what the verse said: “Trust in the Lord and perform good; dwell in the land and cultivate faith” (Psalms 37:3), and it says: “Turn away from evil and perform good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:15). But the Torah did not insist upon pursuing mitzvot, but rather: “If a bird’s nest should happen before you” (Deuteronomy 22:6); “if you encounter [your enemy’s ox]” (Exodus 23:4); if you see – “if you see a donkey” (Exodus 23:5); “when you beat your olive tree” (Deuteronomy 24:20); “when you harvest your vineyard” (Deuteronomy 24:21); “when you enter another’s vineyard” (Deuteronomy 23:25). If they present an opportunity, you are commanded in their regard, but not to pursue them. But peace, “seek peace” – in your place; “and pursue it” – elsewhere. This is what Israel did. Although the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Begin taking possession, and provoke war with him” (Deuteronomy 2:24), they pursued peace: “Israel sent messengers to Siḥon.… let me pass” (Numbers 21:21–22).81The verse as quoted here in Hebrew includes the word “please [na].” It does not appear in the actual verse. It does appear in Judges 11:17, regarding a similar message sent to the king of Edom.
“Israel sent messengers” – this is what the verse said: “Trust in the Lord and perform good; dwell in the land and cultivate faith” (Psalms 37:3), and it says: “Turn away from evil and perform good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalms 34:15). But the Torah did not insist upon pursuing mitzvot, but rather: “If a bird’s nest should happen before you” (Deuteronomy 22:6); “if you encounter [your enemy’s ox]” (Exodus 23:4); if you see – “if you see a donkey” (Exodus 23:5); “when you beat your olive tree” (Deuteronomy 24:20); “when you harvest your vineyard” (Deuteronomy 24:21); “when you enter another’s vineyard” (Deuteronomy 23:25). If they present an opportunity, you are commanded in their regard, but not to pursue them. But peace, “seek peace” – in your place; “and pursue it” – elsewhere. This is what Israel did. Although the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Begin taking possession, and provoke war with him” (Deuteronomy 2:24), they pursued peace: “Israel sent messengers to Siḥon.… let me pass” (Numbers 21:21–22).81The verse as quoted here in Hebrew includes the word “please [na].” It does not appear in the actual verse. It does appear in Judges 11:17, regarding a similar message sent to the king of Edom.
Midrash Tanchuma
(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….”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(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.