We find a glimpse of a possible answer tucked away in Sifrei Devarim, a collection of early rabbinic legal interpretations on the Book of Deuteronomy. Specifically, in section 328, we encounter a provocative statement attributed to Rabbi Yehudah.
He suggests that in some future reckoning, Israel will turn to the nations and demand, "Where are your consuls and your commanders?"
What does this mean? It's not a literal call for personnel records, but rather a challenge. A pointed question about the supposed power and influence of these other nations' deities.
The text continues, elaborating on the phrase "who ate the fat of their sacrifices." Rabbi Yehudah interprets this to mean that these nations gave their gods “recruits, and officers, and taxes.”
Think about that for a moment. These nations weren't just offering symbolic gestures. They were investing heavily – perhaps even enslaving themselves – in the service of their gods. They were giving of their substance, of their very selves. According to R. Yehudah, they gave their gods the best of their armies and treasures.
So, the question “Where are your consuls and your commanders?” becomes even sharper. If these nations poured so much into their gods, where is the return on investment? Where is the divine leadership? Where is the promised protection?
It's a powerful indictment, isn't it? A challenge to the very foundation of other belief systems. A statement of faith, perhaps, that true power and protection come from somewhere else entirely.