דברים, פרק ל״ב, פסוק כ״ז

The survival of the Israelites through history is often secured by the most unlikely of forces: the arrogance and foolishness of their enemies. Despite the severe sins of the nation, a total destruction is averted due to a profound Divine concern over how the nations of the world would interpret such an event. God refrains from wiping out the Israelites to prevent their conquerors from distorting the historical and religious truth of what actually transpired.

To express this dynamic, the Torah uses language describing God as being apprehensive or fearful of the enemy's reaction. The primary approach among commentators is that this apprehension is not literal fear, but rather the Torah speaking in human terms to make a profound concept easier to grasp [אבן עזרא, רבנו בחיי, רלב״ג, רא״ש, הדר זקנים, ביאור יש״ר, דעת זקנים, בכור שור, אדרת אליהו]. Conversely, another group of commentators understands this language not as Divine fear, but as a description of the enemy's anger, which is stored up, gathered, and ready to destroy the Israelites [רש״י, אור החיים, מזרחי, נתינה לגר].

The core concern is that the conquering nations will completely deny the truth and twist the narrative of their victory [אבן עזרא, ביאור יש״ר]. This distortion would take one of two main forms. The enemies might credit their success to their foreign gods and false beliefs [רש״י, אור החיים, העמק דבר, אדרת אליהו], or they might boast that their own military might and strategic brilliance secured the triumph [רא״ש, הדר זקנים, דעת זקנים, בכור שור, מלבי״ם]. A unique perspective suggests an entirely different danger: the conquering nations might draw the hearts of the surviving Israelites, causing them to assimilate and become foreigners themselves [ספורנו].

In their arrogance, the enemies would proudly declare that their own strong hand achieved the victory, entirely rejecting any notion of Divine providence [רשב״ם, העמק דבר, חזקוני]. Instead of recognizing that they are merely instruments used by God to punish the Israelites, they would view their success as the result of blind luck, chance, or their own inherent power [אור החיים, הטור הארוך, אדרת אליהו]. This reveals a deep foolishness on the part of the enemy. If they possessed true wisdom, they would realize the impossibility of a small, insignificant army chasing down and defeating thousands of Israelites unless God had deliberately handed His people over because of their sins [רא״ש, הדר זקנים].

The stakes of this historical misunderstanding are cosmic. God created humanity so that people would recognize their Creator, and the Israelites are the specific nation tasked with declaring His oneness in the world. If their memory were completely erased, the miracles of God would be forgotten, and the very purpose of creation would be lost [הטור הארוך, ביאור יש״ר]. Therefore, rather than bringing about their total destruction, God chooses to scatter the Israelites into exile among the nations. This dispersion guarantees that the enemies can never completely annihilate them. More importantly, it stands as enduring proof that the exile is a deliberate Divine punishment, rather than the result of the enemy's superior power [ספורנו, מלבי״ם].