Why the glee? Because, according to this legend (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, Vol. 3, p. 311), the other nations understood something profound: God had chosen Israel, had given them the Torah, precisely because of their moral purity. It wasn't just blind favoritism, it was about their character. Their integrity.
"Now," these nations gloated, "the crown has been taken from Israel's head, their pride is departed, for now they are no better than we." Ouch. They believed Israel had squandered its special status, becoming just another run-of-the-mill, morally compromised nation. The very thing that set them apart, their commitment to a higher standard, had vanished.
God, seeing the depths of Israel's fall, doesn't abandon them. Instead, He sends a plague upon the sinners at Shittim. Harsh? Maybe. But the purpose, according to the legend, was purification. A cleansing.
The legend concludes that through this harrowing experience, Israel could once again be proud of their lineage, their commitment to God's laws, the very things that distinguished them from all other nations. They learned, perhaps the hard way, that their special relationship with God wasn't a free pass, but a responsibility. A responsibility to live up to the high standards He had set for them.
So, what does this all mean for us today? Maybe it's a reminder that being "chosen," whatever that means in your own life, isn't a guarantee of success or moral superiority. It’s an ongoing process of striving, of falling, and of rising again, hopefully a little wiser each time. It is about the constant struggle to live up to the values we claim to hold dear, even when it's difficult.