Parsha Shiur Devorim 5785

The time had come for Moshe to rebuke the Jews. But, being an experienced leader, he anticipated some serious resistance and push back. Jews don’t like being told off.

Moshe took precaution in 2 significant ways:

1. ​ He made sure to rebuke them, while they were all present. He challenged the Jews to their face: ‘You are all here. If anyone has anything to say in response, let him say it now.’ The Jews were silent.
2. ​ He made sure to rebuke the Jews only after he had slain Sichon King of Emori and Og King of Bashan. This way, he could not be rebuffed as being incapable of bringing the Jews into Israel.

This Shiur explores some of the Midrashim regarding Og. Particularly, the Midrash that says he was the same person identified by the Torah as Eliezer servant of Avrohom. Moshe feared him. Hashem reassured Moshe that there was nothing to fear and Moshe killed him.

In the end, it was the slaying of Og, that gave Moshe Rabbeinu the platform to teach the Jews about their own miraculous identity.

מקורות

חומש דברים פרק א׳ פסוקים א׳ - ד׳

פירש״י פסוק א׳ ד״ה אל כל ישראל

ופירש״י פסוק ד׳ ד״ה אחרי הכותו

דברים פרק ג׳ פסוקים א׳ - ג׳

פירש״י פסוק ב׳ ד״ה אל תירא אותו

דברים רבה פרשה א׳ אות כ״ה

תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף נ״ד ע״ב

פרקי דר׳ אליעזר בראשית פרק ט״ז

דעת זקנים מבעלי התוס׳ בראשית פרק כ״ד פסוק ל״ט

פירוש האלשיך דברים ג׳ י״א

אגרות קודש הרבי מליובאוויטש חלק ד׳ אגרת א׳סב

ליקוטי שיחות חלק ח׳ חוקת ב׳