Not just any giant, but the giant. The one with a bed... well, you won't believe it.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, Og had this bed—fashioned out of ivory, no less!—that was nine arms' length long. And get this: that's using Og's arm as the standard. Can you imagine? It makes your California King look a little inadequate, doesn't it?
So, why a ridiculously huge ivory bed? And why did Og keep it in the Ammonite city of Rabbah? Because, Og, apparently, was no dummy. He figured that the Israelites wouldn't be messing with the Ammonites or the Moabites. Why? Because God had specifically told them not to get too close to the descendants of Lot.
It's all about boundaries, both physical and divine, isn't it?
And it wasn't just the Ammonites and Moabites. God also forbade the Israelites from waging war with the Edomites. Now, this is where things get interesting. According to the text, Esau, a son kind to his father Isaac, was rewarded in this way. Because he was good to his father, his descendants, the Edomites, were protected from the Israelites.
It makes you think about the ripple effects of our actions, doesn't it? How kindness in one generation can create a shield for the next.
But here's the kicker. God says to Israel: "In this world ye shall have no sway over the mountain Seir, Edom's realm, but in the future world, when ye shall be released, then shall ye obtain possession of it." It's a promise, but also a warning.
"Until then, however, beware of the sons of Esau," God cautions, "even when they fear ye, much more so when ye shall dwell scattered among them."
There's a lot packed into that statement. It speaks to the complexities of power, the long game of history, and the enduring relationships between peoples. Even when the Israelites might be tempted to exert dominance, even when they are scattered and vulnerable, they must remember the divine decree.
So, what do we take away from the story of Og's bed and the fate of the Edomites? Perhaps it's a reminder that divine promises often come with conditions. That kindness has consequences. And that even giants, with their enormous ivory beds, are ultimately subject to a higher power. It also shows how much emphasis Judaism places on keeping one's word, with divine decrees lasting for generations.