Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story/2"
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<approaches> | <approaches> | ||
<category name="">Avraham's Exceptional Qualities | <category name="">Avraham's Exceptional Qualities | ||
− | <p>The story | + | <p>The story 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> The commentators differ regarding what specific characteristics of Avraham the chapter highlights: | <point><b>What qualities?</b> The commentators differ regarding what specific characteristics of Avraham the chapter highlights: | ||
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<p>The episode serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel amongst the nations.</p> | <p>The episode serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel amongst the nations.</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>"Center of the world"</b> – Israel stands at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, and the two main cultures of the Ancient Near East, Egypt and Mesopotamia.  As such, it is fated to be eternally caught in the midst of the major battles of its neighbors. | + | <point><b>"Center of the world"</b> – Israel stands at the crossroads of Asia, Africa and Europe, and the two main cultures of the Ancient Near East, Egypt and Mesopotamia.  As such, it is fated to be eternally caught in the midst of the major battles of its neighbors.</point> |
<point><b>Dependence on Hashem</b> – Israel was chosen, according to R. Hirsch, for this very vulnerability, to teach that its security is dependent on and due only to Hashem. This message of recognition of and reliance on Hashem is one of the key lessons that Avraham introduced to the world.</point> | <point><b>Dependence on Hashem</b> – Israel was chosen, according to R. Hirsch, for this very vulnerability, to teach that its security is dependent on and due only to Hashem. This message of recognition of and reliance on Hashem is one of the key lessons that Avraham introduced to the world.</point> | ||
<point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – The concept that Israel's natural insecurity is what makes it unique is explicit in Devarim 11 which contrasts Egypt's self sufficiency due to the Nile with Israel's dependence on rain, and thus, Hashem.<fn>R. Hirsch points out that Avraham's first few trials brought home to him this message.  Soon after arrival in Canaan he was forced to leave due to famine and not long after the land was attacked by enemies.  The trials revealed the land's lack of both political and natural security, underscoring that success in such a place must only be due to Hashem's providence.</fn></point> | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – The concept that Israel's natural insecurity is what makes it unique is explicit in Devarim 11 which contrasts Egypt's self sufficiency due to the Nile with Israel's dependence on rain, and thus, Hashem.<fn>R. Hirsch points out that Avraham's first few trials brought home to him this message.  Soon after arrival in Canaan he was forced to leave due to famine and not long after the land was attacked by enemies.  The trials revealed the land's lack of both political and natural security, underscoring that success in such a place must only be due to Hashem's providence.</fn></point> |
Version as of 08:24, 28 October 2014
Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story
Exegetical Approaches
Avraham's Exceptional Qualities
The story 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.
- 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,6 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.