Biblical Parallels Index – Devarim 3/0
Biblical Parallels Index – Devarim 3
Overview
This index is meant to help the reader explore Biblical parallels, be they two accounts of the same event or law, stories with similar motifs and themes, or units of text which are linguistically similar and perhaps alluding one to the other. The page includes links to tools that aid in comparison, primary sources that touch upon the parallels, and summaries of and links to articles which analyze them in depth.Battle Against Sichon
Israel's conquest of Arvot Moav from Sichon is originally described in Bemidbar 21:21-35 and then recounted by Moshe to the nation in Devarim 2, and by Yftach to the Ammonites in Shofetim 11:1-33 .
Tools
- Use the Tanakh Lab compare the chapters to each other, here and here.
Articles
- See Battles with Sichon and Og in Bemidbar and Devarim for a comparison of the account of the battle in Bemidbar and Moshe's retelling of it in Devarim. In contrast to most of the other stories in Sefer Devarim which are shorter than the original, here there are numerous additions. Many of these can be accounted for in light of Moshe's goal in the retelling - to instill confidence in the nation that they will be successful in conquering the Land of Israel.
Battles of Moshe and Yehoshua
Many of the events of Sefer Yehoshua parallel events during the period of Moshe’s leadership. Among other things, both leaders miraculously split waters, send spies, and engage in battles of conquest for the land. There are several points of contact between the battles of Sichon and Og described in our chapter and Yehoshua's initial battles in Yericho and Ai.
Tools
- Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the descriptions of the battles of Sichon and Yericho. There are not many linguistic parallels between the two, but in both stories, Hashem promises the leder to give thenemey "into his hands", and both cities are in fact "utterly destroyed" ( וַנַּחֲרֵם אֶת כָּל עִיר / וַיַּחֲרִימוּ אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּעִיר).
Articles
- See סיפורי שבח והצלחה - השוואה בין יהושע למשה, by Dr. Yehoshua Reiss, for a comparison of the splitting of the sea to the splitting of the Jordan, and the battles of Sichon and Og to the battles of Yericho and Ai, which demonstrates the sense in which Yehoshua represents a continuation of Moshe’s leadership.
- See Moshe and Yehoshua for a more general comparison of the two leaders, which notes many of the content and linguistic parallels between the stories of the two luminaries. The article concludes that perhaps the many similarities in the way the story both unfolded and is told are meant to demonstrate that, despite the difficulty inherent in being the successor to a leader of Moshe's caliber, Yehoshua was in fact able to fill Moshe's shoes.
Hardened Hearts
Sichon is one of three people or groups of people of whom Hashem says He will harden their hearts. The other two are Paroh (Shemot 3-14) and the Canaanites (Yehoshua 11:20). Comparing the various narratives might help one understand both what is meant by the expression and how to deal with the theological problem of Hashem's apparent removal of free will in these stories.
Tools
- See Makbilot Bamikra for a list and links to of all the verses which speak of Hashem hardening someone's heart.
Articles
- See Hardened Hearts for analysis of the wide range of different commentators’ approaches to the hardening of human beings’ hearts in Tanakh. Some propose that, at times, Hashem removes an individual’s free choice, in order to bring about punishment. This is justified either due to the gravity of their sins, the fact that they used up their opportunities to change, or because, as idolaters, they were simply not bequeathed the gift of repentance. Others interpret the Biblical text to imply that free choice is never lost.
- See And I Will Harden The Heart of Pharaoh, by R. Yaakov Medan, for a unified interpretation of the hardening of the hearts of Pharaoh, Sichon, and Canaan. He suggests that in all three cases the characters never fully lost their free will.
