Parshas Korach 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- Jun 26
- 1 min read
כאשר בא יעקב ... ויוציאו את אבתיכם ממצרים וישבום במקום הזה (שמואל א'יב-ח)
Shmuel HaNavi, a descendent of Korach, made it his life’s mission to correct his ancestor’s rebellious actions when he contested the leadership of Moshe Rabbeinu. In a speech to Klal Yisroel in Gilgal, Shmuel said, “When Yaakov came to Egypt ... your ancestors cried out to Hashem and He sent Moshe and Aharon who brought your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.” Why does Shmuel specify that the nation was settled in this specific spot? Wasn’t Klal Yisroel settled all across Eretz Yisroel?
R’ Meir Simcha of Dvinsk zt”l (Meshech Chochma) explains that at first the Jewish people attempted to bypass the nation of Ammon to get to the borders of Eretz Yisroel. In fact, Klal Yisroel had no intention of engaging with Ammon. They merely wished to pass through. However, the Ammonites waged war with the Jewish people and attempted to wipe them out. Thankfully, Hashem was on our side and with the help of Moshe Rabbeinu, the Ammonites were smitten and their armies decimated..
Thus, when Shmuel HaNavi was giving his speech in Gilgal, it was not a mere figure of speech when he said that the nation settled in this place - it was this very place where the nation had battled with the accosting Ammonites. Not only did Klal Yisroel win the land, but they won a decisive victory against a formidable foe when they needed it most. Shmuel was pointing out the very spot in which Hashem performed wondrous miracles for his beloved nation.