Setting the Stage
Yehoshua 5:1
Witnessing the profound miracles that unfolded for the Jewish people at the Yarden, the regional monarchs, ranging from the Amorites near the Yarden to the Canaanites by the Mediterranean, were struck with a profound sense of powerlessness against Am Yisrael.
ויהי כשמע כל־מלכי האמרי אשר בעבר הירדן ימה וכל־מלכי הכנעני אשר על־הים את אשר־הוביש יהוה את־מי הירדן מפני בני־ישראל עד־[עברם] (עברנו) וימס לבבם ולא־היה בם עוד רוח מפני בני ישראל
The Malbim explains that this pasuk provides a foundational context for the rest of the perek. It details the pivotal events of the Bnei Yisrael: the Mila at Gilgal, the Korban Pesach, and Yehoshua’s encounter with an angel outside Yericho. These events, unfolding over several days, did not weaken the military edge of Bnei Yisrael, as fear had deeply embedded itself in the hearts of their new neighbors.
Building upon this pshat, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky broadens this idea. He suggests that this pasuk serves as a foundational element not just for this perek, but for the entire sefer. He observes that while Christian compilers integrated this pasuk into the narrative as if it seamlessly connects to the surrounding text and is just an introductory pasuk to the rest of the perek, it actually stands independently, forming a crucial base for understanding the forthcoming perakim. This pasuk illustrates that the conquest of Eretz Yisrael unfolded without resistance from the Canaanites.
After the splitting of the Yam Suf, Bnei Yisrael were poised to enter Eretz Yisrael unchallenged. However, the intervention of Amalek1 'cooled' the nations' awe of Israel. The subsequent parting of the Yarden rekindled this awe, reinstating the fear among the Canaanites. This resurgence of dread of the hand of God, is the essential message of this pasuk and that is why it is a parsha in itself.
Furthermore, Rav Kamenetsky emphasizes the strategic implications of this fear among the Canaanites. It facilitated a crucial moment for the Bnei Yisrael – the performance of the Bris Mila. Initially, there was a concern that the Canaanites might capitalize on their weakened state during their recovery from the Mila. However, the pervasive fear among the Canaanites prevented them from attacking, thereby granting the Bnei Yisrael the necessary time for both the Mila and the subsequent recovery period.
Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky's insightful observation about the standalone nature of this pasuk serves as a reminder to always look deeper than the apparent surface of words and events. It underscores the importance of context and underlying themes that may not be immediately evident. This lesson extends beyond understanding Pshat and is equally relevant to our daily lives, reminding us to consider broader perspectives and deeper meanings in our interactions and experiences.
As Rashi comments in Devarim 25;18