We find a passage that starts with the seemingly straightforward command to drive out "all the nations." But wait! The text immediately anticipates a potential misunderstanding. "All the nations?" it asks. "I might think, literally!" To clarify, it specifies "these," referring to the seven nations of Canaan. Okay, that narrows it down. But then the passage expands again: what about those who help these seven nations? Well, "all the nations" includes them too! It's a fascinating dance of inclusion and exclusion, a constant refinement of meaning.
Then comes the phrase, "from before you." What does that even mean? Here, the Sifrei Devarim offers a beautiful image of gradual progress. "You will progressively increase," it says, "and they will progressively diminish." This isn't about instant annihilation; it's about a slow, steady displacement. Think of it like the verse in Exodus (23:30): "Little by little I will drive them out from before you." Or even Exodus 23:21, "I will not drive them out from before you in one year." This incremental process, we learn, is deliberate.
R. Yitzchak emphasizes this point. It's not a sudden, violent expulsion, but a gradual unfolding of events.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting. R. Elazar b. Azaryah raises a profound question: if Israel is righteous, why would they fear wild animals? After all, doesn't the Book of Job (5:23) promise, "For with the stones of the field will be your covenant, and the animals of the field will make peace with you?" It’s a powerful image of harmony and divine protection. So, what gives?
The text anticipates a very important unasked question: if everything is supposed to go so swimmingly, why did Joshua have to go through all the trouble of conquering the land? Why the battles, the sieges, the struggles?
The answer, according to R. Elazar b. Azaryah, lies in the potential for Israel's own failings. If Israel sins, they become subject to the decree of "Little by little I will drive them out from before you." In other words, the gradual nature of the conquest wasn't just a divine plan; it was a consequence of Israel's own imperfections. The passage subtly suggests that God knew, even then, that Israel would stumble.
So, what does this all mean? It's a reminder that divine promises are often conditional. They're intertwined with our own actions and choices. The path to fulfillment isn't always a straight line; it's a winding road with its share of obstacles and setbacks. The gradual nature of progress, the constant struggle against opposing forces – these are not signs of failure, but rather inherent aspects of the human condition and the ongoing covenant between God and Israel. We learn that even divinely ordained events are affected by human choices. It's a sobering, but ultimately hopeful, message.