Literary Devices – Bereshit 14/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 14

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Character Titles

Avraham

• Throughout the chapter Avram is referred to by his proper name alone, with one exception. In Bereshit 14:13, when he first appears on the scene, he is called “אַבְרָם הָעִבְרִי”. The concordance reveals  that this is an appellation that is predominantly used in contexts that involve non-Jews, often serving to contrast ethnicities.¹
• This may explain the statement in Midrash Rabbah on this verse that Avraham is called “Ha-Ivri” because he stood on one side, while everyone else in the world stood on the other side

Lot

Hashem

¹ The BDB definition emphasizes that the term “עברי" is generally used by non-Israelites and serves “to distinguish Israelites from foreigners".