Midrash
Midrash Tanchuma (Buber), Balak 3 מדרש תנחומא (בובר), בלק ג׳
Part of: Siman 3
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ויגר מואב (במדבר כב ג). מהו ויקר, כשהיו נראים לעמונים נראים עטופים לשלום, למואבים נראים מזויינים, שנאמר וקרבת מול בני עמון אל תצורם [ואל תתגר בם (דברים ב יט), אל תצורם] כל מיני צרה, ואל תתגר בם כל מין גירוי, ולמואב אמר אל תצר את מואב [ואל תתגר בם מלחמה] (שם שם ט), מה שאתה יכול לחטוף מן החוץ חטוף, לפיכך נראין מזויינין והם היו נאגרים לעריהם, שנאמר ויגר מואב, אין ויגר אלא לשון אסיפה, כמד"א אוגר בקיץ בן משכיל (משלי י ה).
(Numb. 22:3:) WAYYAGOR MO'AV.6A traditional translation of these words would be NOW MOAB WAS IN GREAT DREAD, or something similar. What is the meaning of WAYYAGOR (rt.: YGR)?7Tanh., Numb. 7:2, cont.; Numb. R. 20:3. When <Israel> appeared to the Ammonites, they appeared clothed for peace. To the Moabites they appeared armed <for battle>. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 2:19): WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR THE FRONTIER OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, DO NOT TROUBLE THEM, [AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM. (Ibid.:) DO NOT TROUBLE THEM] with all kinds of trouble, AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM with any kind of provocation. In regard to Moab, however, he said (in Deut. 2:9): DO NOT TROUBLE MOAB, [AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM WITH WAR]. Whatever you can seize apart from <war>, seize. For that reason they appeared armed, and <the Moabites> gathered themselves (rt.: 'GR) to their cities, as stated (in Numb. 22:3): NOW MOAB YAGOR (i.e., GATHERED). WAYYAGOR (rt.: YGR, here understood a form of 'GR) can only be a word for a gathering, just as it says (in Prov. 10:5): A PRUDENT CHILD GATHERS (rt.: 'GR) IN THE SUMMER.
(Numb. 22:3:) WAYYAGOR MO'AV.6A traditional translation of these words would be NOW MOAB WAS IN GREAT DREAD, or something similar. What is the meaning of WAYYAGOR (rt.: YGR)?7Tanh., Numb. 7:2, cont.; Numb. R. 20:3. When <Israel> appeared to the Ammonites, they appeared clothed for peace. To the Moabites they appeared armed <for battle>. Thus it is stated (in Deut. 2:19): WHEN YOU DRAW NEAR THE FRONTIER OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, DO NOT TROUBLE THEM, [AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM. (Ibid.:) DO NOT TROUBLE THEM] with all kinds of trouble, AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM with any kind of provocation. In regard to Moab, however, he said (in Deut. 2:9): DO NOT TROUBLE MOAB, [AND DO NOT PROVOKE (rt.: GRH) THEM WITH WAR]. Whatever you can seize apart from <war>, seize. For that reason they appeared armed, and <the Moabites> gathered themselves (rt.: 'GR) to their cities, as stated (in Numb. 22:3): NOW MOAB YAGOR (i.e., GATHERED). WAYYAGOR (rt.: YGR, here understood a form of 'GR) can only be a word for a gathering, just as it says (in Prov. 10:5): A PRUDENT CHILD GATHERS (rt.: 'GR) IN THE SUMMER.
ד"א ויגר. לשון יראה, שהיו מתייראין מפניהם.
Another interpretation (of Numb. 22:3): WAYYAGOR. <It is> a word for fear, in that they were afraid because of <Israel>.
Another interpretation (of Numb. 22:3): WAYYAGOR. <It is> a word for fear, in that they were afraid because of <Israel>.
ויקץ מואב, שהיו רואין את עצמן כקוץ בפניהם.
(Numb. 22:3, cont:) AND MOAB HAD A HORROR (rt.: QWTs) <OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL>, because they saw themselves as a <mere> thorn (QWTs) over against them.
(Numb. 22:3, cont:) AND MOAB HAD A HORROR (rt.: QWTs) <OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL>, because they saw themselves as a <mere> thorn (QWTs) over against them.