Why Moses Feared Og King of Bashan More Than Sihon

"And Og came out." And why was he called by the name Og? After the name of the cakes (ugot) of unleavened bread, for at that time, when Lot was taken captive, it was Passover, and Og came and told Abraham, as it is said, "And the fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew" (Genesis 14:13). And he did this only for evil. For thus he said in his heart: Abram has dealt kindly with Lot, and he loves him; and when he hears that Lot has been taken captive, he will immediately go out to wage war against them and be killed, and I will take Sarah his wife. And why is it said, "And the Lord said to Moses: Do not fear him" (verse 34)? And why did Moses fear, what he did not fear from Sihon? Were not Sihon and Og the sons of Achiah and Hiyya, the sons of Shemchai and Uzza, and the two of them equal in greatness and in might? And concerning them it is said, "To Him who smote great kings; and slew mighty kings: Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan" (Psalms 136:17-19-20). And why did he fear Og more than Sihon? Rather, Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, was doing well. Moses said: Perhaps a merit will stand for him on account of his having told Abraham that Lot had been taken captive, as it is said, "And the fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew" (Genesis 14:13). And therefore the Holy One said to him: "Do not fear him, for into your hand I have given him" — and the matter about which you fear concerning him, fear not, for at that time as well he intended for evil and not for good; and even so I gave him his reward, that I multiplied his days and his years until this day. But his deeds and the thought that he thought, I will requite him, that I will deliver him into your hand; this is what is written, "for into your hand I have given him" (verse 34).