Midrash sa Mga Hukom 11:18: Bamidbar Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

“Then Israel sang this song: Rise, well; give voice for it” (Numbers 21:17).
“Then Israel sang this song” – this song was recited at the conclusion of forty years, and the well was given to them at the beginning of forty. What did the reason that led it to be written here? This matter is expounded previous to it: “Therefore it is said in the book of the Wars of the Lord: Vahev [by storm [besufa], and the tributaries of the Arnon]” (Numbers 21:14) – the Holy One blessed be He performed on their behalf signs and miracles at the tributaries of the Arnon like the miracles that He performed on their behalf at the Red Sea [Yam Suf]. What are the miracles of the tributaries of Arnon? A person stands on this mountain and speaks to another on that mountain, and it is at a distance of seven mil.⁷⁰To walk from one to the other, one has to climb down from one mountain and then up the other. The way descends into the ravine and ascends, and Israel’s path was to cross in the ravine. All the nations gathered there, endless multitudes. Some were positioned in the ravine. Above them the ravine was caves, and opposite the caves were projections of boulders like breasts [shadayim], as it is stated: “And the outpouring of [ve’eshed] the ravines” (Numbers 21:15). The multitudes entered the caves and said: When Israel descends into the ravine, these will confront them in the ravine and those above from the caves; we will kill them all. When Israel reached that place, He did not require them to descend below through the ravine, but rather intimated to the mountains, and the breast-like projections of this mountain entered into the caves, and they all died. The mountains brought their peaks adjacent to one another and became a smooth road. It is unknown which mountain moved adjacent to the other.
That ravine interposes between the domain of the Land of Israel and the domain of the land of Moav, as it is stated: “For Arnon is the border of Moav, between Moav and the Emorites” (Numbers 21:13). The mountain that was in the land of Moav, the one with the caves, did not move. The mountain from the Land of Israel, in which there were breast-like projections, moved adjacent to the mountain opposite it. Why did it move? It is because it is of the Land of Israel. This is analogous to a maidservant⁷¹This a metaphor for the mountain. who saw the son of her master⁷²This is a metaphor for the children of Israel. coming to her. She leapt from her place and preceded him and received him. The boulders entered into the caves and crushed all those mighty ones; and the well descended into the ravine and swelled, and eliminated all of the multitudes just as the sea eliminated them. That is why it juxtaposed: “Vahev by storm [besufa]” (Numbers 21:14), to “the tributaries of the Arnon” (Numbers 21:14). Israel passed atop those mountains but were unaware of all these miracles. The Holy One blessed be He said: I will inform My children how many multitudes I eliminated from before them. The well descended into those caves and took out unfathomable numbers of skulls, arms, and legs. Israel returned to seek the well and saw it emerging full from the ravine and taking out limbs upon limbs.
From where is it derived that the well informed them? It is as it is stated: “And the outpouring of the ravines.… and from there to the well” (Numbers 21:15–16). Was it from there? Was it not with them from the beginning of forty years? It is, rather, that it descended to publicize the miracles, and Israel was standing over the ravines and saying: “Rise, well, give voice for it” (Numbers 21:17), and they recited song over them.

(Numb. 21:17:) “Then Israel sang this song.” This song (of the well) was uttered at the end of forty [years], while the well was given to them at the beginning of the forty [years]?¹³⁰Numb. R. 19:25; see also above, Lev. 7:7; Numb. 1:2; 6:35, and the notes there. So what was the purpose of writing [it down] here? This matter has been explained from what is above (in vs. 14), “It is therefore said in the book of the wars of the Lord, ‘'t¹³¹This untranslated word is used here to indicate a direct object, but it also means “sign.” Waheb in Suphah (Sufah) [and 't the Wadis of the Arnon].’” What is this? That the Holy One blessed be He did for them signs ('twt, singular: 't) and miracles in the Arnon Wadis like the miracles which He did for them in the Reed (suf) Sea. And what were the miracles in the Arnon Wadis? One would stand on one mountain and speak with his companion on the other mountain; yet he was seven mil¹³²Milim. Lat.: milia. away from him. Now the road descended into the middle of the wadi and then ascended, and Israel's course was to cross through the midst of the mountains. All the nations assembled endless troops there.¹³³Gk.: ochloi. Some of them took up positions in the middle of the wadi. Moreover, [the slope of] the mountain above them was riddled with caves, and facing them was a mountain which was correspondingly riddled with crags in the form of breasts (shdym), as stated (in Numb. 21:15), “And the slope ('shd) of the wadies.” The troops entered into the caves; for they said, “As soon as Israel comes down into the wadi, those ahead of them who are in the wadi and those in the caves will arise and kill all of them. When Israel did arrive at that place, the Holy One, blessed be He, did not make it necessary for them to go down into the wadi. Instead, He gave a signal to the mountains, and the [craggy] breasts of the latter mountain entered the caves, so that they all died. Moreover, the mountains brought their summits so close to each other that they became a highway, for there was no knowing [where] each [mountain] joined its neighbor. Furthermore, that wadi separates the borders between the Land of Israel and the Land of Moab, as stated (in Numb. 21:13 = Jud. 11:18), “For the Arnon is the border of Moab […].” The mountain in the Land of Moab, the one with the caves, was [not] shaken; but the mountain in the Land of Israel, the one with the crags in the form of breasts, was shaken and joined to the mountain opposite. Why was the one in the Land of Israel shaken? The matter is comparable to a female slave who saw her master's son coming to her.¹³⁴In this illustration the female slave is the mountain, the master is God, and the son is Israel. She jumped up to greet him and welcome him. The crags entered into the caves and all those warriors were crushed. Then the well descended to the wadi, where it became a mighty [torrent] and destroyed the troops, just as the [Reed] Sea had destroyed those [Egyptians]. Scripture therefore compared (in Numb. 21:14), “Waheb in Suphah (Sufah) and the Wadies of the Arnon.”¹³⁵The fact that WAHEB IN SUPHAH (understood as Yam Suf, or Reed Sea) is mentioned next to the Wadi Arnon shows that the two deliverances are comparable. When Israel crossed upon those mountains without knowing about all these miracles the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Behold, I will let My Children know how many troops I destroyed because of them.” [So] the well descended into the caves and brought out innumerable skulls, arms, and legs. Thus when Israel returned to seek the well, they saw it shining like the moon in the midst of the wadi, as it discharged the limbs of the troops. And where is it shown that the well informed [Israel] about them? Where it is stated (in Numb. 21:15-16), “And the slope of the wadies…. And from there they continued to Beer (the well).” But was [the well] with them from there; was it not with them from the beginning of the forty years? It is simply that it had gone down to inform about the miracles, while Israel remained at the wadies and said to it (in Numb. 21:17, cont:) “Rise up, O well, sing to it.”

(Numb. 21:17:) THEN ISRAEL SANG THIS SONG. This song (of the well) was uttered at the end of forty <years>, while the well was given to them at the beginning of the forty <years>.¹⁸²Tanh., Numb. 6:20; Numb. R. 19:25; see also above, Lev. 7:7; Numb. 1:2; 6:35, and the notes there. So what was the purpose of writing <it down> here?. This matter has been explained from what is above (in vs. 14): IT IS THEREFORE SAID IN THE BOOK OF THE WARS OF THE LORD: 'T¹⁸³This untranslated word is used here to indicate a direct object, but it also means “sign.” WAHEB IN SUPHAH (Sufah) <AND 'T THE WADIES OF THE ARNON,> <i.e.,> the signs ('TWT, singular: 'T) and miracles [which were done for them] in the Arnon Wadies were like the miracles which were done for them in the Reed (Suf) Sea. What were the Miracles in the Arnon Wadies? One would stand on one mountain and speak with his companion on the other mountain; yet he was seven miles¹⁸⁴Milim. Lat.: milia. away from him. Now the road decended into the middle of the wadi and then ascended, and Israel's course was to cross through the midst of the wadies. All the nations assembled endless troops.¹⁸⁵Gk.: ochloi. Some of them took up positions in the middle of the wadi. Moreover, <the slope of> the wadi¹⁸⁶The parallel accounts here read “mountains.” above them became riddled with caves, and facing them was a mountain which correspondingly became riddled with crags in the form of breasts (ShDYM), as stated (in Numb. 21:15): AND THE SLOPE ('ShD) OF THE WADIES. The troops entered into the caves; for they said: As soon as Israel comes down into the wadi, those ahead of them who are in the wadi and those above from out of the caves will arise and kill all of them. When Israel did arrive at that place, the Holy One did not make it necessary for them to go down into the wadi. Instead, he gave a signal to the mountains, and the <craggy> breasts of the latter mountain entered the caves, so that they all died. Moreover, the mountains brought their summits so close to each other, that they became a highway, for there was no knowing <where> each one joined its neighbor. Furthermore, that wadi separates the borders between the land of Israel and the land of Moab, as stated (in Numb. 21:13 = Jud. 11:18): FOR THE ARNON IS THE BORDER OF MOAB. The mountain in the land of Moab, the one with the caves, was [not] shaken; but the mountain in the land of Israel, the one with the crags in the form of breasts, was shaken and joined to the mountain opposite. Why was it shaken? Because it belonged to the land of Israel. <The matter> is comparable to a female slave who saw her master's son coming to her.¹⁸⁷In this illustration the female slave is the mountain, the master is God, and the son is Israel. She jumped up to greet him and welcome him. The crags entered into the caves and all those warriors were crushed. Then the well descended to the wadi, where it became became a mighty <torrent> and destroyed the troops, just as the <Reed> Sea had destroyed those <Egyptians>. It is therefore written (in Numb. 21:14): WAHEB IN SUPHAH (Sufah) AND THE WADIES OF THE ARNON.¹⁸⁸The fact that WAHEB IN SUPHAH (understood as Yam Suf, or Reed Sea) is mentioned next to the Wadi Arnon shows that the two deliverances are comparable. When Israel crossed upon those mountains without knowing about all these miracles the Holy One said: Behold, I will let the children of Israel know how many troops I destroyed because of them. The well descended into the cave and brought out innumerable skulls, arms, and legs. Thus when Israel returned to seek the well, they saw it shining like the moon in the midst of the wadi, as it discharged the limbs of the troops. And where is it shown that the well informed <Israel> about them? Where it is stated (in Numb. 21:15–16): AND THE SLOPE OF THE WADIES…. <AND FROM THERE THEY CONTINUED TO BEER, I.E., THE WELL (beer.) WHERE THE LORD SAID TO MOSES….>