דברים, פרק י״א, פסוק כ״ה

A divine promise of absolute security creates a reality where passive deterrence replaces physical combat. When the Israelites fulfill their spiritual destiny, their very presence projects a power that paralyzes all opposition. The assurance is absolute: no nation, family, or military force can withstand them [גור אריה, ברטנורא, שפתי חכמים]. Because this guarantee is made to the entire nation, it is already understood that ordinary armies will fail; therefore, the promise specifically guarantees that even exceptionally powerful individuals and giants, such as Og, King of Bashan, will be entirely helpless [רש״י, מזרחי, חתם סופר]. This protection even extends beyond natural threats, ensuring that supernatural forces like witchcraft will also yield to Divine providence [רש״י, דברי דוד].

There are differing views on where this profound security takes effect. While some maintain that this guarantee is strictly limited to the borders of the Land of Israel [רשב״ם], the primary approach among commentators is that this protection extends anywhere the Israelites tread, provided they first complete their obligation to drive out the seven nations within the Promised Land [ספורנו, הטור הארוך]. As they move, two distinct types of terror will grip the surrounding world, divided by geography and psychology. A sudden, paralyzing panic will fall upon nearby nations who know they are directly in the path of the advancing Israelites. Conversely, distant nations will experience a continuous, reverential dread; even knowing they are not under threat of attack, they will be deeply anxious regarding the sheer greatness and stature of the Israelites [רש״י, העמק דבר, ביאור יש״ר, שפתי חכמים]. This overwhelming awe will not be limited to humanity, but will also pacify wild animals, resembling the tranquility promised in the Messianic era [קיצור בעל הטורים].

Ultimately, this extraordinary reality depends entirely on the spiritual state of the people. When the nation serves God out of pure love, victory is achieved effortlessly without any need for war, standing in contrast to the later conquests of Joshua that required physical military effort [מלבי״ם]. There is a direct, reciprocal relationship between the Israelites' reverence for Heaven and the world's fear of them. The awe that the Israelites hold for God is projected outward, causing the nations to fear them in return. Conversely, fearing mortal men is viewed as a spiritual flaw, whereas absolute trust in God shields a person from all distress and grants long life [רבנו בחיי, צאינה וראינה, מלבי״ם]. This reality is the fulfillment of earlier Divine assurances, reflecting the promise made in the book of Exodus that God would send His terror ahead of the camp. Through this, Divine judgment miraculously strikes the enemy before the Israelites ever reach the battlefield [רש״י, רבנו בחיי].