Rashi of the week

I hate people who treat the Torah like a Magic Eye puzzle and squint at every posuk looking for clues about the week ahead; but today, I guess, I am one of them:

When you cross the border of your brothers, the children of Eisav who live in Se'ir; they will fear you, but you must be very careful. (Duet: ii, 4)

Careful? Why? Explains Rashi: Do not provoke them.

Samson Rephael Hirsh says:

The tribes of mankind were guided in their search for their place on earth by HaShem's providential hand. Israel must keep this in mind when it receives its Land from God. When Israel finds its place amongst the nations, it must be wary of the nations' rights to their inheritance. It should not see itself as a conquering people, striking fearamongst the nations, so that no nation would be able to live peacefully in its land. Rather, its acts Rather, its acts and displays of war should be limited to the one Land that HaShem designated for us from the moment of its formation in history.
and displays of war should be limited to the one Land that HaShem designated forus from the moment of its formation in history.

As the ground war with Lebanon continues this week, I join those who are praying for a fast, and final resolution-- but not one that so demolishes and humliates the Lebanese people that they seek to replace Hezobollah with something worse.

As the Troah (per Rashi) warned more than 3000 years ago at the begining of the very first ground war in our history: Be careful. Do not provoke them.