Giants of the East: The Rise and Fall of Sichon and Og

Toward the end of Parshat Chukat, the Torah recounts two pivotal battles waged by Moshe against Sichon, king of the Emorites, and Og, king of the Bashan. These two powerful monarchs ruled key territories east of the Jordan River. Though unmatched in physical might, both were ultimately vanquished through Divine intervention, setting the stage for Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land.

The Battle with Sichon: From Diplomacy to Conquest

Sichon ruled a vast kingdom stretching from the Arnon River to the Yabok, with his capital in Cheshbon. Originally Moabite land, Sichon had conquered much of Moav’s territory, as described in Bamidbar 21:26–29. Since the Israelites were forbidden to attack Moav directly, Hashem orchestrated events so that Israel would inherit the land by defeating Sichon instead.

When the Israelites approached his territory, Moshe sent messengers with peaceful intentions, requesting safe passage: “I will pass through your land. We will not turn into fields or vineyards; we will not drink well water. We will go along the king’s road…” (Bamidbar 21:22).

Sichon, however, refused, mustering his army to confront the Israelites at Yahatz. There, Israel defeated him and seized all the land from the Arnon to the Yabok. The Torah emphasizes this victory as a miraculous triumph, commemorated in Tehillim 136: “To Him who struck great kings… to Sichon, king of the Emorites, for His kindness endures forever.”

Different Midrashim highlight Sichon’s might: he was taller than a tower, stronger than Pharaoh, and feared across the land. He had been paid by the kings of Canaan to protect them and block Israel’s path. Yet, when the time came, he was easily defeated by Hashem.

Notably, though Og was nearby, just a day's journey away, neither king came to aid the other (Shir HaShirim Rabbah 4:3). Their pride and isolation ultimately sealed their fate.

The Giant Og: Power, Fear, and a Miraculous Fall

Unlike with Sichon, no peaceful negotiation preceded the battle with Og. The Torah describes how Og marched out with his army to fight Israel at Edrei. Moshe feared facing him, not on account of Og's physical strength, but on account of a good deed performed generations ago. As Rashi explains, Moshe worried Og might be protected by his past: he had informed Avraham of Lot’s capture and thus had a potential spiritual merit.

Og’s physical size and strength were legendary. Midrashim describe him as a surviving remnant from the generation of the Flood, having clung to a rung of the ark's ladder. He was 9 cubits tall and 4 cubits wide (almost half his height), he was powerful enough to build 60 fortified cities, and his appetite was said to include a thousand oxen and measures of drink.

Despite this, Og’s character was base. Midrashim describe his selfish motives in informing Avraham, hoping Avraham would die in battle so he could take Sarah. Hashem, however, rewarded Avraham instead and ultimately decreed Og’s downfall.

According to the Talmud, Og attempted to destroy the Israelite camp by uprooting a mountain and hurling it at them. But Hashem sent ants to hollow it from within, causing it to fall onto Og’s neck. His teeth grew long and locked the mountain in place on him. Seizing the moment, Moshe, though 120 years old, leapt up and struck Og’s ankle with a spear, toppling the giant and ending his life.

Why Their Defeat Matters

Sichon and Og were not merely regional rulers. They represented fearsome, almost mythical barriers to Israel’s destiny. Midrashim emphasize that their defeat was harder for Israel than Pharaoh’s downfall, and some suggest songs of praise should have been composed for them alone. King David would later fulfill this by commemorating their demise in Tehillim.

Their downfall also signified a turning point: the land east of the Jordan, long held by giants and enemies, was now in Israelite hands. The victories over Sichon and Og cleared the final path to entering the land promised to their forefathers.