As we travel through time we are very much like blind rats in a maze. We cannot know for certain what is ahead of us. Even things which we are sure that they are imminent never materialize. We are constantly living for a future that we can never totally predict. Similarly, in the dimension of space, we are limited to the confines of where we are at any given moment. If we want to be somewhere else, 'where the action is', we can only be in one place at any given time. Even in the modern world of technology, where you can see and hear things going on in different parts of the world, you can only tune in to one place at a time.
There is, however, one way that we can 'be' wherever we want to be and see whatever we choose to see. If we step out of time and look back at things that transpired, we can see the world in true perspective, bringing into focus things that turned out to be significant, and tuning out events that seemed earth shattering at the time, but ultimately proved to be disappointing.
In this Parsha we find Moshe Rabbeinu describing events that the people themselves participated in. He emphasizes places, the names of each place, its previous name, and what nations lived there. Using the recurrent expression Ba'es Hahee (at that point in time), he points out different events that occurred in different times. Each location, each moment in time, has its own special significance, its own characteristics, and if we learn these characteristics we will be able to correct our ways for the future.
The mountain known as Chermon, for example, was first called Siryon, and then Snir. Both names have the same letters in Hebrew, because these letters express the essence of the place. When the inhabitants of the place changed, however, the nature of the place changed slightly, causing a change of order in the letters. Similarly, Se'ir was originally inhabited by the Chori nation, whose very name indicates their propensity to anger. This parcel of land consisted of steep, red granite cliffs, perfectly suited to its stark inhabitants. It was not surprising that red-headed Esau later on took this land from them, for it was divinely suited to his temperament as well.
If we look back at our lives from a historical perspective, if we look at the history of the whole Jewish nation, we then have a chance of steering our lives on the right path, the path best suited to our most inner essence.
Adapted from Rabbi Vali's book on Dvarim. Questions and subscriptions can be mailed to: the Yeshiva
Chag Kasher Vesameach