(Numb. 21:21:) “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon […].” This text is related (to Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; [seek peace and pursue it].” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments.145Numb. R. 19:27. Rather [it says] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter the ox of one who hates you”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey of one who hates you”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage him in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”
וַיִּשְׁלַח יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלְאָכִים אֶל סִיחוֹן מֶלֶךְ הָאֱמוֹרִי. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: סוּר מֵרַע וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב וְגוֹ' (תהלים לד, טו). וְלֹא פָּקְדָה הַתּוֹרָה לִרְדֹּף אַחַר הַמִּצְוֹת, אֶלָּא, כִּי יִקָּרֵא קַן צִפּוֹר לְפָנֶיךָ (דברים כ״ב:ו׳), כִּי תִפְגַּע שׁוֹר אוֹיִבְךָ (שמות כ״ג:ה׳), כִּי תִרְאֶה חֲמוֹר שְׂנַאֲךָ (שם), כִּי תַּחְבֹּט (דברים, כד), כִּי תִּבְצֹר (שם), כִּי תָּבֹא בְּכֶרֶם רֵעֶךָ (שם פסוק כג). כֻּלָּם, אִם בָּאוּ לְיָדְךָ, אַתָּה מְצֻוֶּה עָלֶיהָ, וְלֹא לִרְדֹּף אַחֲרֶיהָ. וְהַשָּׁלוֹם, בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם בִּמְקוֹמְךָ, וְרָדְפֵהוּ בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר. וְכֵן עָשׂוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הָחֵל רָשׁ וְהִתְגָּר בּוֹ מִלְחָמָה (שם ב, כד), רָדְפוּ אֶת הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיִּשְׁלַח יִשְׂרָאֵל מַלְאָכִים וְגוֹ'.
(Numb. 21:21:) “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon […].” This text is related (to Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; [seek peace and pursue it].” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments.145Numb. R. 19:27. Rather [it says] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter the ox of one who hates you”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey of one who hates you”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage him in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”