Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story/2"
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<p>The story serves to highlights how Avraham was exceptional not only in his beliefs but in his other attributes as well. The inclusion of the episode helps the reader to better appreciate Avraham's greatness and sets him as a role model to emulate.</p> | <p>The story serves to highlights how Avraham was exceptional not only in his beliefs but in his other attributes as well. The inclusion of the episode helps the reader to better appreciate Avraham's greatness and sets him as a role model to emulate.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RadakBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14:1</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RBachyaBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">R. Bachya</a><a href="RBachyaBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14:1</a><a href="R. Bachya b. Asher" data-aht="parshan">About R. Bachya b. Asher</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshit14Toalot2-9" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBereshit14Toalot2-9" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14 Toalot 2-9</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershon (Ralbag)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit14" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit12Question16" data-aht="source">Bereshit 12 Question 16</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann</a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RadakBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14:1</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RBachyaBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">R. Bachya</a><a href="RBachyaBereshit14-1" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14:1</a><a href="R. Bachya b. Asher" data-aht="parshan">About R. Bachya b. Asher</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagBereshit14Toalot2-9" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagBereshit14Toalot2-9" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14 Toalot 2-9</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershon (Ralbag)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit14" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit12Question16" data-aht="source">Bereshit 12 Question 16</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann</a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>What qualities?</b | + | <point><b>What qualities?</b> The commentators differ regarding what specific characteristics of Avraham the chapter highlights: |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
<li><b>Military Might</b> – According to R. Bachya and Abarbanel, Avraham's victory over the kings revealed both his bravery and his capabilities as a military strategist and warrior.<fn>Ralbag adds that it also teaches the reader more specific lessons in conducting a war. One should learn from Avraham who only took "חֲנִיכָיו יְלִידֵי בֵיתוֹ" to battle that only those who have been personally trained and gained confidence in warfare should go to fight. Moreover, one should do one's utmost to minimize the dangers of battle, learning from Avraham who decided to attack at night when the enemy would be less aware. R. D"Z Hoffmann, though, claims that this alone could not possibly be the story's purpose, as the Torah does not come to glorify its heroes as mighty warriors: "גיבורי התנ"ך 'גיבורי כח עושי דברו' הם ולא גיבורי מלאכת המלחמה".</fn></li> | <li><b>Military Might</b> – According to R. Bachya and Abarbanel, Avraham's victory over the kings revealed both his bravery and his capabilities as a military strategist and warrior.<fn>Ralbag adds that it also teaches the reader more specific lessons in conducting a war. One should learn from Avraham who only took "חֲנִיכָיו יְלִידֵי בֵיתוֹ" to battle that only those who have been personally trained and gained confidence in warfare should go to fight. Moreover, one should do one's utmost to minimize the dangers of battle, learning from Avraham who decided to attack at night when the enemy would be less aware. R. D"Z Hoffmann, though, claims that this alone could not possibly be the story's purpose, as the Torah does not come to glorify its heroes as mighty warriors: "גיבורי התנ"ך 'גיבורי כח עושי דברו' הם ולא גיבורי מלאכת המלחמה".</fn></li> | ||
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</ul> | </ul> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li><b>Amon, Moav, and Seir</b> – Ma'asei Hashem and Cassuto further point out how Avraham also gained rights to the lands east of the Jordan which were to go to his other descendants, the progeny of Lot and Esav.  In conquering the four kings, Avraham inherited all that they had previously conquered - the lands of the Refaim, Zuzim, Eimim and Hori.<fn>This position, thus, clearly explains the necessity of these seemingly extraneous details.  It further explains why Devarim 2, when warning the nation that they are not to inherit the lands of Seir, | + | <li><b>Amon, Moav, and Seir</b> – Ma'asei Hashem and Cassuto further point out how Avraham also gained rights to the lands east of the Jordan which were to go to his other descendants, the progeny of Lot and Esav.  In conquering the four kings, Avraham inherited all that they had previously conquered - the lands of the Refaim, Zuzim, Eimim and Hori.<fn>This position, thus, clearly explains the necessity of these seemingly extraneous details.  It further explains why Devarim 2, when warning the nation that they are not to inherit the lands of Seir, Ammon, or Moav, similarly mentions all these people who had previously settled in these lands, but were then kicked out.  Devarim is presumably alluding back to the story of Bereshit 14, when these lands were initially conquered by the four kings and then inherited from them by Avraham to ultimately be the possession of his descendants.</fn>  Thus, here, too, the chapter is emphasizing Avraham's gaining of historical sovereignty.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
− | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – | + | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – Devarim 2, when warning the nation that they are not to inherit the lands of Seir, Ammon, or Moav, similarly mentions all the nations (Refaim, Zuzim etc.) who had previously settled in these lands,<fn>See Devarim 2:10-12 and 20-22.</fn> but were then kicked out.  Devarim is presumably alluding back to Bereshit 14 so as to explain how Avraham's descendants came to possess these lands - through Avraham's conquest.</point> |
− | <point><b>Extraneous details</b> – According to R. Ashkenazi's | + | <point><b>Extraneous details</b> – According to R. Ashkenazi's variation of this approach, the details are essential to the story's message and proof of possession.</point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category name="">Vulnerability of Israel | <category name="">Vulnerability of Israel | ||
<p>4</p> | <p>4</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RSRHirsch" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirsch" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann </a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RSRHirsch" data-aht="source">R. S"R Hirsch</a><a href="RSRHirsch" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. Samson Raphael Hirsch" data-aht="parshan">About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann </a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit14" data-aht="source">Bereshit 14</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Zvi Hoffmann</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>4</b> – Both note how the story serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel.  Standing as it does between the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, and the two main cultures of the Ancient Near East, Egypt and Mesopotamia, Israel is fated to be eternally caught in the midst of the major battles of its neighbors.  It is chosen, according to R. Hirsch, for this very vulnerability, to teach that its security is dependent on and due only to Hashem.<fn>R. Hirsch adds that from the | + | <point><b>4</b> – Both note how the story serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel.  Standing as it does between the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, and the two main cultures of the Ancient Near East, Egypt and Mesopotamia, Israel is fated to be eternally caught in the midst of the major battles of its neighbors.  It is chosen, according to R. Hirsch, for this very vulnerability, to teach that its security is dependent on and due only to Hashem.<fn>R. Hirsch adds that from the perspective of natural resources, too, Israel is not ideal.  As soon as Avraham enters the land he is forced to leave due to famine. Israel has no Nile, and must depend instead on rainfall, and thus on God.  In these two aspects, its political and natural security, Israel is the opposite of Egypt.  The latter consistently relies on its own strength while Israel must learn to turn to Hashem.</fn> This message of recognition of and reliance on Hashem is one of the key lessons that Avraham introduced to the world.</point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
</approaches> | </approaches> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> |
Version as of 07:05, 28 October 2014
Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story
Exegetical Approaches
Avraham's Exceptional Qualities
The story serves to highlights how Avraham was exceptional not only in his beliefs but in his other attributes as well. The inclusion of the episode helps the reader to better appreciate Avraham's greatness and sets him as a role model to emulate.
- Military Might – According to R. Bachya and Abarbanel, Avraham's victory over the kings revealed both his bravery and his capabilities as a military strategist and warrior.1
- Loyalty – Alternatively, Radak, Ralbag, Abarbanel and R. D"Z Hoffmann assert that the story teaches the importance of remaining loyal to one's family. Even though Lot had decided to leave Avraham, Avraham was willing to risk his life to save him.
- Selflessness – Ralbag, Abarbanel and R. D"Z Hoffmann also point to Avraham's decision not to take from the spoils of battle as evidence of both Avraham's generosity and his recognition that all really belongs to Hashem. In light of the norms of the Ancient Near East in which the victor took the spoils of battle, Avraham is unique.2
Sign for the Future
Avraham's victory over the four kings foreshadowed Israel's future victory over the four kingdoms: Bavel, Media, Greece and Rome. The import of the episode, thus, lies in its major impact on the future of the Israelite nation rather than its contribution to the portrait of Avraham.
Fulfillment of Hashem's Promise
The battle of the kings provides the backdrop for the actualization of Hashem's promise to Avraham, "לְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת". The story is not out of place at all, but rather connects directly to the promises of the surrounding chapters.
- Israel's Conquest – R. Hirsch and Cassuto point out that through Avraham's victory over the four kings, he effectively gained control over the entire land of Canaan. He chases the kings from the south all the way to Damesek,6 inheriting the land from them, and thus staking out Israel's future rights to Israel.
- Amon, Moav, and Seir – Ma'asei Hashem and Cassuto further point out how Avraham also gained rights to the lands east of the Jordan which were to go to his other descendants, the progeny of Lot and Esav. In conquering the four kings, Avraham inherited all that they had previously conquered - the lands of the Refaim, Zuzim, Eimim and Hori.7 Thus, here, too, the chapter is emphasizing Avraham's gaining of historical sovereignty.
Vulnerability of Israel
4