נְקֹם נִקְמַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֵת הַמִּדְיָנִים
Avenge the Israelite people on the Midianites (31:2)
Thousands of people died in a plague caused by the Moavites and Midianites allowing their women to entice the Jewish men to worship the Pagan deity of Ba’al. It was time to avenge the honor of the Jewish people, which is the honor of G-d, by waging war with those who brought about that catastrophe. Why then was war waged only against Midian and not against Moav?
Rashi in his commentary cites two answers. The first is that the Moavites entered into this matter because they feared that Bnei Yisroel might harm them. The Midianites had nothing to be afraid of. They got involved in an issue that did not concern them and therefore they were punished.
Another explanation (which also explains why it was forbidden to wage war against the Ammonite nation as stated in Devarim 2:19) is because G-d considered the two goodly doves (virtuous women) which He would bring forth from them: Ruth the Moabitess, and Naamah the Ammonitess [Solomon’s wife] (Bava Kamma 38b).
There is a profound point being made here. It’s worth sparing an entire nation deserving of retribution for their very eveil deeds just to produce one holy soul!
This should be seen as a lesson that extends beyond the production of something as great as a holy person like Ruth. It should be seen as the power of one! All the efforts we invest are worthwhile even if all we end up with at the end is just one holy product.
Rabbi Yaakov Lorberbaum (1760-1832) wrote a number of classic works on the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) which have been studied for hundreds of years. He wrote (in his humility) that if all he produced from all his writings was just one true, novel insight it would be worth all the effort that went into writing and publishing his works!
Years ago it was common for sermons to be delivered in synagogues before Maariv( the evening service). Rabbi Yisroel Lipkin, famously known as Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, once remarked, “All the effort involved in preparing a sermon is worthwhile if it brings just one Jew to pray with greater kavanah (focus and meaning) – even if that one Jew is me!”
We must never allow ourselves to feel dejected when our efforts seem to produce so few accomplishments. Every accomplishment is great and cherished by G-d.
We should feel very accomplished with that!
Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak