It’s not just a simple border dispute; there's so much more bubbling beneath the surface.

We find the story in Numbers 21:23: “Siḥon did not allow Israel to pass within his border, and Siḥon gathered his entire people and came out toward Israel to the wilderness, and he came to Yahatz; and he fought against Israel.” But what led to this showdown?

Israel wasn't looking for a fight. They sent messengers to Siḥon, just as they had to the king of Edom, asking for safe passage. "Please, let us pass through your land" (Numbers 20:17). They even offered to pay for food and water – "You will sell me food for silver […and water for silver]" (Deuteronomy 2:28). Think about that. Water, a free resource, and they were willing to pay. They promised to stick to the main road – "We will go on the king’s way […until we pass your border]" (Numbers 20:17) – and even, elsewhere, “Until I will cross [the Jordan]" (Deuteronomy 2:29). So what was the problem? Why the hard no?

Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 19 offers a fascinating explanation. It uses a parable: Imagine a watchman hired to protect a vineyard. Someone comes along and says, "Move, I'm here to harvest the grapes." The watchman replies, "I'm guarding this vineyard from you! I'm not going anywhere.”

According to the Midrash, Siḥon saw himself as the protector of the Canaanite kingdoms. He extracted taxes from them in exchange for keeping them safe. He and Og, king of Bashan, were considered equals to all those kings, as it is stated: “Siḥon king of the Emorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan” (Psalms 135:11). Israel, in Siḥon's eyes, wasn't just passing through; they were a threat to his entire power structure. They said, ‘Let us pass through your land to conquer the kingdom.’ He said to them: ‘I am sitting here only to guard them from you’ – “Siḥon did not allow Israel to pass within his border.”

But here's where it gets even more interesting. The Midrash suggests that God orchestrated the situation to deliver Siḥon into Israel's hands. "Siḥon gathered" – the Holy One blessed be He acted with forethought to deliver him into their hands with no trouble. Deuteronomy 1:4 tells us Siḥon resided in Ḥeshbon. The Midrash points out, "Were Ḥeshbon filled with gnats, no person would be able to conquer it." Ḥeshbon was a formidable city.

Think about that for a moment. If Siḥon had been spread out across multiple cities with his armies, Israel would have faced a much tougher challenge. Instead, God "assembled them [the Emorites] before them to deliver them into their hands with no trouble.” As Deuteronomy 2:31 says: “See, I have begun delivering before you.” They defeated Siḥon's mighty warriors and then easily took the cities. That is why it is written: “Siḥon gathered.” “Israel took all these cities” (Numbers 21:25).

So, what does this tell us? On one level, it's a story about geopolitics and power struggles. But it's also a story about divine providence. About how seemingly impossible obstacles can be overcome when God is on your side.

Perhaps the next time we face a seemingly insurmountable challenge, we can remember the story of Siḥon. Remember that sometimes, what appears to be a barrier might actually be a carefully orchestrated opportunity.