דברים, פרק ב׳, פסוק י׳

As the Israelites journey toward their destination, the historical narrative pauses to offer a glimpse into the ancient inhabitants of the region east of the Jordan River. This brief ethnographic background serves a profound psychological, historical, and theological purpose on the eve of entering the land. An ancient nation known as the Emim once lived in this territory. They earned their name because they cast a heavy shadow of terror and dread upon anyone who encountered them [רמב״ן, העמק דבר, ביאור יש״ר, שטיינזלץ]. They were physically massive, possessing immense strength and towering height [ביאור יש״ר], so much so that they were compared to the famous giants of the ancient world [רמב״ן, נתינה לגר].

The primary approach among commentators is that detailing the terrifying might of these earlier inhabitants serves to encourage the Israelites and teach a vital historical lesson. By pausing to explain how these giants were defeated, the narrative illustrates how God guides His world. God actively helped the descendants of Lot and Esau conquer and replace these massive nations, completely defying the natural order of warfare. This knowledge was meant to instill deep confidence in the Israelites as they prepared to face the formidable giants of Canaan. The One who performed miracles to help other nations defeat giants would surely help them do the same. Furthermore, because God granted this land to the descendants of Lot as a miracle in the merit of Abraham, the territory rightfully belongs to them, and the Israelites are strictly forbidden from taking it [רמב״ן, ספורנו, שד״ל, רש״ר הירש, מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר, שפתי כהן].

Alternatively, other scholars suggest that mentioning the Emim prevents a potential legal and historical misunderstanding. God had promised Abraham the land of the Rephaim, and since the Emim are considered part of that broader family of giants, the Israelites might have mistakenly assumed that the land of Moab was theirs to claim. By clarifying that God had already driven out the Emim to settle the descendants of Lot in their place, it becomes clear that the ancient promise to Abraham did not apply to this specific region, but rather to other territories, such as the land of Og, King of Bashan [רש״י, גור אריה, דברי דוד, שפתי חכמים]. Offering a different perspective on their identity, another viewpoint maintains that the Emim were not the Rephaim from the time of Abraham at all. Instead, they were members of the Kenite, Kenizzite, and Kadmonite nations, and it was the Moabites who specifically named them Emim due to the sheer terror they inspired [העמק דבר].