Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story/2"
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<category name="">Avraham's Exceptional Qualities | <category name="">Avraham's Exceptional Qualities | ||
− | <p>The story highlights how Avraham was | + | <p>The story highlights how Avraham was unique not only in his monotheistic beliefs but also in his other attributes. The Torah's inclusion of the episode helps the reader better appreciate Avraham's greatness and presents his behavior as a 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> These commentators differ regarding which 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> | ||
− | <li><b>Loyalty</b> – Alternatively, Radak, Ralbag, Abarbanel and R. D"Z Hoffmann assert that the story teaches the importance of | + | <li><b>Loyalty</b> – Alternatively, Radak, Ralbag, Abarbanel, and R. D"Z Hoffmann assert that the story teaches the importance of enduring loyalty to one's family.  Avraham was willing to risk his own life in order to rescue his nephew, even though Lot had taken up company with evil people.</li> |
− | <li><b>Selflessness</b> – Ralbag, Abarbanel and R. D"Z Hoffmann | + | <li><b>Selflessness</b> – Ralbag, Abarbanel, and R. D"Z Hoffmann point to Avraham's refusal to benefit from the spoils of battle as evidence of both his generosity and recognition that all belongs to Hashem. Avraham's conduct stands out, particularly in light of the norms of the Ancient Near East in which the victor took the spoils of battle.<fn>Avraham alone recognized that the real victor is Hashem.</fn></li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
− | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – Throughout their commentaries, both Radak and Ralbag consistently point to the lessons the reader is meant to learn from the conduct of Biblical heroes. | + | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – Throughout their commentaries, both Radak and Ralbag consistently point to the lessons the reader is meant to learn from the conduct of Biblical heroes.<fn>Thus, for instance, both note Avraham's desire for "שלום בית" (tranquility in the home) in Bereshit 17 and his hospitality in Bereshit 18.</fn></point> |
− | <point><b>Extraneous details</b> – This position does not account for the | + | <point><b>Extraneous details</b> – This position does not account for why the Torah needed to go in to elaborate detail regarding the Refaim, Zuzim, and other nations conquered by the four kings.</point> |
</category> | </category> | ||
<category name="">Sign for the Future | <category name="">Sign for the Future |
Version as of 09:18, 30 October 2014
Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story
Exegetical Approaches
Avraham's Exceptional Qualities
The story highlights how Avraham was unique not only in his monotheistic beliefs but also in his other attributes. The Torah's inclusion of the episode helps the reader better appreciate Avraham's greatness and presents his behavior as a 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 enduring loyalty to one's family. Avraham was willing to risk his own life in order to rescue his nephew, even though Lot had taken up company with evil people.
- Selflessness – Ralbag, Abarbanel, and R. D"Z Hoffmann point to Avraham's refusal to benefit from the spoils of battle as evidence of both his generosity and recognition that all belongs to Hashem. Avraham's conduct stands out, particularly in light of the norms of the Ancient Near East in which the victor took the spoils of battle.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.
- The Children of Israel – 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 chased the kings from the south all the way to Damesek,7 inheriting the land from them, and thus staking out Israel's future rights to Israel.
- Ammon, 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. Thus, here, too, the chapter is emphasizing Avraham's gaining of historical sovereignty.
Vulnerability of Israel
The episode serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel amongst the nations.