Behind the rise and fall of ancient empires lies God's precise providence, orchestrating global events to prepare the Promised Land for the Israelites. The historical accounts of foreign wars are not mere trivia, but profound lessons in divine intervention and the fulfillment of promises. A prime example is the ancient nation known as the Avim. The primary approach among commentators is that they were actually the Hivites, one of the seven Canaanite nations promised to Abraham. Their name carried ominous undertones; they were known for twisting their ways through idolatry, and their terrifying appearance was said to cause convulsions of fear in anyone who crossed their path [רשב״ם]. Other traditions suggest they were of Philistine origin [רש״י] or descended from Esau with roots in Yemen [העמק דבר].
The Avim resided in open, unfortified settlements stretching as far as Gaza, a major city on the coastal plain that marked the edge of the Canaanite territory [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Living without protective walls was a testament to their immense physical power. As descendants of giants, they relied entirely on their formidable strength and felt no need to hide behind fortifications [רא״ש, בכור שור, דעת זקנים]. However, their dominance was challenged by the Caphtorim, a nation originating from Egypt or Philistia who migrated from their island home of Crete in search of a new territory. According to ancient tradition, the Caphtorim were small in stature, short, and stout. Astoundingly, these dwarfish invaders completely destroyed the terrifying giants and settled in their land. This unnatural victory of the weak over the mighty was orchestrated by God to send a clear message of encouragement to the Israelites. Just as God miraculously enabled the weak to conquer giants to advance His grand design, the Israelites had no reason to fear their upcoming battles against massive adversaries and powerful kings like Sihon the Amorite [העמק דבר, פני דוד].
Beyond moral encouragement, this historical upheaval resolved a complex legal and spiritual entanglement regarding Israel's right to conquer the territory. One perspective [רש״י, ספורנו, תורה תמימה, ברכת אשר] explains that Abraham had previously sworn a treaty of peace with Abimelech, the Philistine king. This oath legally prevented the Israelites from attacking the Avim, who according to this view were Philistines. To resolve this, God brought the Caphtorim to wipe out the Avim and take their land. With the original inhabitants gone, the oath no longer applied to the territory, leaving the Israelites free to conquer the land from the Caphtorim, to whom they owed no allegiance.
Conversely, another approach [רמב״ן, מלבי״ם, טור הארוך, ביאור יש״ר] maintains that the Avim were indeed Canaanites, and their territory was always part of the original divine promise to Abraham. When the Caphtorim invaded, they effectively did the difficult work of eradicating the Canaanite giants on behalf of the Israelites. Because the land was fundamentally part of the Canaanite inheritance promised to Israel, its temporary occupation by the Caphtorim did not invalidate Israel's ultimate right to claim it. Through either lens, the shifting of ancient borders is revealed as a wondrous divine intervention, meticulously clearing the legal and physical path for the Israelites to inherit their land.