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<h1>Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story</h1> | <h1>Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story</h1> | ||
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| + | <p>In trying to understand the purpose of including the episode of the battle of kings in Tanakh, some commentators analyze its contribution to the surrounding Avram narratives while others look to its relevance to the larger history of Israel.  Thus, Radak and others suggest that the story serves to fill in the portrait of Avram, pointing to his various qualities that emerge from the story, from military prowess to selflessness. U. Cassuto, similarly connects the story to the other Avram narratives, seeing in Avram's conquest the beginning of the realization of the Divine promises to Avram.  In contrast, Ramban suggests that the story's significance relates to its foreshadowing future attacks on the nation and Israel's ultimate victory later in history.  Finally, R. Hirsch asserts that it comes to underscore the vulnerability of the land of Israel from the time of Avram until modern times.</p></div> | ||
<approaches> | <approaches> | ||
<category name="">Avraham's Exceptional Qualities | <category name="">Avraham's Exceptional Qualities | ||
Version as of 02:06, 31 October 2014
Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story
Exegetical Approaches
Overview
In trying to understand the purpose of including the episode of the battle of kings in Tanakh, some commentators analyze its contribution to the surrounding Avram narratives while others look to its relevance to the larger history of Israel. Thus, Radak and others suggest that the story serves to fill in the portrait of Avram, pointing to his various qualities that emerge from the story, from military prowess to selflessness. U. Cassuto, similarly connects the story to the other Avram narratives, seeing in Avram's conquest the beginning of the realization of the Divine promises to Avram. In contrast, Ramban suggests that the story's significance relates to its foreshadowing future attacks on the nation and Israel's ultimate victory later in history. Finally, R. Hirsch asserts that it comes to underscore the vulnerability of the land of Israel from the time of Avram until modern times.
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 triumph over the four kings foreshadows Israel's future prevailing over the four major kingdoms: Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome. The import of the episode, thus, lies in its impact on the future of the Israelite nation rather than its contribution to the portrait of Avraham.
Fulfillment of Hashem's Promise
Avraham's victory over the kings constituted a preliminary conquest of Canaan and its neighboring lands and was the beginning of the actualization of Hashem's promises to Avraham. The story is not out of place at all, but rather is integrally connected to the Divine covenants and assurances of the surrounding chapters.
- The Children of Israel – R. Hirsch and Cassuto claim that since the four kings had conquered the entire region, when Avraham vanquished them and chased them all the way to Damascus,6 he effectively gained control over the entire land of Canaan. This action thus staked out the Israelites' future claims to the land.
- Ammon, Moav, and Seir – The Ma'asei Hashem and Cassuto note that Avraham gained rights also to the lands east of the Jordan which were to go to his other descendants and relatives, the progeny of Lot and Esav. In conquering the four kings, Avraham inherited all that they had previously conquered, including the lands of the Refaim, Zuzim, Eimim, and Hori. Thus, the story provides the background for how Avraham's family (other than Yaakov's descendants) became sovereign over the entire region.
Vulnerability of Israel
The episode serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel amongst the nations.
