In our parasha, we encounter one of the great miracles that happened to our forefathers. After the Amorites saw what Israel had done to all the nations on their way to the Land of Israel, they planned to ambush them. What did they do? There was a valley that passed between two high mountains that stood opposite one another. In one mountain were many caves, and in the mountain opposite were large protrusions. The Amorites stood below in the valley, and some of them entered the caves holding large rocks which they planned to throw down on the heads of the Children of Israel. They said: when Israel comes to pass through the valley, we will surprise them with a combined attack from below and above. But ’ישחק בשמים יושב‘ - “He who sits in the heavens will laugh” (Tehillim 2:4). HaKadosh Baruch Hu hinted to the mountains, and the protrusions of one mountain entered into the caves of the opposite mountain, crushing them all, and they died. Bnei Yisrael passed through and did not know of the miracle that had occurred for them.
HaKadosh Baruch Hu said: Who will inform My children of these miracles? After Israel had passed, the mountains returned to their place, and the well descended into the valley and brought up from there the blood of the slain, along with arms and limbs, and carried them around the camp. And Israel saw and sang a song. Rashi says on the words ‘על ארנון הנחלים ואת בסופה והב את ’ד מלחמות בספר יאמר כן‘ - “Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of Hashem, ‘Vahev in Suphah, and the streams of Arnon’” (21:14)– just as the miracles of the Sea of Reeds [Yam Suf] are recounted, so too must the miracles of the streams of Arnon be recounted, for here as well great miracles were done.
Two important teachings we learn here. The first is that when one sees miracles that HaKadosh Baruch Hu performs for Israel, one must give thanks, just as when Israel saw the miracles that were done for them, they all stood and sang a song – ’ישראל ישיר אז‘ - “Then sang Israel” (Shemos 15:1). But not only at that moment, rather for all generations, as Rashi says: “Just as the miracles of the Sea of Reeds are recounted,” and just as we recount the miracles of the Sea of Reeds every day, and each year on the night of the Seder, “so too must the miracles of the streams of Arnon be recounted.”
And although a special time was designated for recounting the miracles of the Sea of Reeds – Pesach – no special time was designated for the miracles of the streams of Arnon.
Seemingly, however, the Shabbos of Parashas Chukas, in which we read these miracles in the Torah, is the time to recount the miracles and to thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu for them. And of course, it is also the time to give thanks for the abundant kindness of HaKadosh Baruch Hu ’מידם מצילנו ה”והקב לכלותינו עלינו עומדים ודור דור שבכל‘ - “that in every generation they stand against us to destroy us, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu saves us from their hands.”
