The story of Og, King of Bashan, from Legends of the Jews, is a wild ride that explores just that!
The Israelites, fresh from their victory against Sihon (a battle that, by the way, took place during the month of Elul, right before the High Holy Days), were on a roll. After resting through the month of Tishrei (filled with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot), they immediately geared up for another fight — this time against none other than Og.
Now, you might be wondering, where was Og when his brother Sihon was battling the Israelites? He was close by, only a day's journey away! But Og, in his arrogance, figured Sihon could handle the Israelites all by himself. Boy, was he wrong! It seems hubris runs in the family.
But Og's story runs deeper than just a missed opportunity to aid his brother. Remember the war of the four kings against the five, way back in the time of Abraham? Og played a part then too. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, it was Og who rushed to Abraham with the news that his nephew Lot had been taken captive. Why? Well, Og wasn't exactly acting out of the goodness of his heart. He figured Abraham would rush to Lot's rescue, get killed in the process, and then Og could snatch up the beautiful Sarah for himself! Talk about a twisted plan.
The text reminds us that God doesn't let good deeds go unnoticed, nor does he ignore wicked intentions. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, Og was rewarded for his quick feet in delivering the news to Abraham – he was granted a lifespan of five hundred years! Five centuries! That’s quite a bonus, right?
But here’s the catch. That wicked motive of his? It ultimately led to his downfall. He may have lived for five hundred years, but he never got his hands on Sarah. Instead, he met his end at the hands of her descendant: Moses. What goes around comes around, right?
So, what's the takeaway? Maybe it's that even a seemingly good deed, like delivering important news, can be tainted by selfish desires. Or maybe it's a reminder that arrogance and underestimating your opponents can lead to your downfall. Either way, the story of Og is a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of motive, reward, and ultimate justice in the world. It's a potent reminder that our intentions matter, perhaps even more than our actions.