דברים, פרק ט׳, פסוק ג׳

As the Israelites stand on the edge of the Land of Israel, preparing to face formidable enemies, they must understand that their upcoming military victories will not be the result of human strength, but of absolute divine intervention. This realization must be an unwavering, doubt-free certainty [העמק דבר]. When the people witness the sheer size of the opposing nations and the fortified strength of their cities, it will become clear that conquering them naturally is impossible. Consequently, they will recognize that God is fighting on their behalf, rather than relying on their own power [מלבי״ם, ביאור יש״ר]. This awareness needs to take root immediately, before they even cross into the land, rather than waiting for hindsight to bring understanding after the battles are won [אור החיים].

To illustrate God's power, His presence ahead of the nation is compared to a consuming fire. The primary approach among commentators is that this is a metaphor: just as fire rapidly destroys everything in its path, God will eliminate the enemies, rendering their immense size and power useless against Him. Alternatively, this indicates that God will send a force ahead of the camp, such as a messenger, an angel, or a natural phenomenon like a swarm of hornets, to act as the destructive agent [הכתב והקבלה]. The downfall of these enemy nations is achieved through two distinct actions: destruction and submission. One perspective suggests that destruction awaits those who dare to engage in direct, frontal combat, while submission is the fate of those who remain passive [העמק דבר]. Another approach focuses on the psychological reality of the battlefield. Submission represents the profound fear and broken spirit that God will cast upon the Canaanite nations, as divine justice has already decreed their end [רמב״ן, רש ר הירש]. According to this view, destruction targets the massive, powerful nations, while submission specifically affects the giants. Despite their intimidating height and strength, the giants will suffer the greatest psychological collapse. Terrified, they will not even attempt to fight, choosing instead to hide in the mountains and fortress cities [רמב״ן, ביאור יש״ר].

Even though God is the primary force securing the victory, the Israelites are still commanded to actively drive out and destroy the enemy. This requirement fulfills the divine promise that the Israelites themselves will physically carry out the conquest, even though they are fighting a nation already defeated by heaven and essentially considered dead [שפתי כהן]. They are instructed to achieve this swiftly, an idea drawn directly from the metaphor of the fast-moving, consuming fire [אבן עזרא, רבנו בחיי]. In practical terms, this means tactical victories will be won quickly, without the exhausting need to build siege ramps or endure prolonged standoffs outside city walls. However, commentators clarify that this speed applies only to individual battles. The Israelites will not wipe out all the inhabitants of the land at once, a deliberate delay meant to prevent wild animals from overrunning the emptied territories [רשב״ם, ביאור יש״ר]. Ultimately, despite the severe challenges ahead, triumph will be secured entirely through God's assistance [ביאור שטיינזלץ].