Ever hear a story so wild, so larger-than-life, that you just have to lean in and ask, "Wait, really?" Well, buckle up, because we're diving into one of those tales today, straight from the heart of Jewish tradition. We're exploring a passage from Midrash Tehillim, specifically Psalm 136, and it's all about giants, divine intervention, and the enduring mercy of God.

The verse in question sings of God "striking down great kings," and the Midrash, in its wonderful way, expands on this. It immediately brings to mind the stories of Sihon and Og, two figures who loom large – quite literally – in the Israelite narrative.

Think about it: "Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars and who was as strong as oaks," we read in Amos 2:9. The Midrash paints Sihon as nearly invincible, "as hard as a tower and wall, and harder than any other creature, taller than any tower, and his feet touched the ground." No one, apparently, could stand before him. So how did the Israelites overcome such a formidable foe?

Divine intervention, of course! According to the text, God sent an angel to strike him down, uprooting him from his place and delivering him into the hands of Israel. It's a dramatic image, isn't it? A single angel dismantling this seemingly impenetrable giant. The Midrash goes on to say that Sihon and Og were even harder to defeat than Pharaoh and his armies. That's saying something! Just as the Israelites sang a song of praise after the Exodus, they were worthy of a song after defeating Sihon and Og.

But it was David who eventually immortalized them in song, in Psalm 136: "To strike down great kings, for His mercy endures forever; and Og, king of Bashan, for His mercy endures forever."

Now, let's zoom in on Og. He's a character shrouded in mystery and legend. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, quoting Bar Kapara, even suggests that Og's original name was Pelit (פָּלִט), referencing Genesis 14:13, "And he who had escaped [Pelit] came and told Abram the Hebrew." Why was he called Og then? Because, the story goes, he found Abraham preparing matzah (מַצָּה), unleavened bread, for Passover.

But the real showstopper comes when Moses and the Israelites approach the border of Edrei. Moses, planning to conquer the city, is met with a truly unbelievable sight. As the Midrash tells it, he looks up and sees Og sitting on the wall, his feet planted firmly on the ground. Moses is bewildered: "I don't know what I'm seeing. A different wall has been built here tonight." God clarifies: "That is Og whom you see."

Rabbi Yochanan adds a detail that truly boggles the mind: Og's legs were eighteen cubits long! That's roughly 27 feet! But the story doesn't end there. Og, in a moment of epic defiance, uproots a mountain and hurls it at the Israelites! Moses, ever the resourceful leader, takes a beam, inscribes the explicit Name of God upon it, and throws it back at Og.

The reactions of the surrounding nations are priceless. "Cursed be the hands that throw," cry the Israelites, perhaps fearing the power unleashed. "Cursed be the hands that support," retort the Amorites, recognizing the threat Og posed to them as well.

What are we to make of these stories? Are they literal accounts of historical events? Perhaps. Are they allegories, metaphors for the challenges and obstacles the Israelites faced? Absolutely. They illustrate the awesome power of God, the resilience of the Israelites, and the importance of remembering God's mercy, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. These stories resonate because they speak to something deep within us – the knowledge that even giants can fall, and that even the smallest of us can overcome great challenges with faith and courage. It makes you wonder, what "giants" are we facing in our lives, and what "beams" can we inscribe with divine power to overcome them?