Bereshit 15 – One Prophecy or Two/2

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Bereshit 15 – One Prophecy or Two?

Exegetical Approaches

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Overview

In trying to untangle the difficulties raised by Bereshit 15, commentators are led to question the chronology and relationship of its components.  Many exegetes, following the lead of Seder Olam Rabbah, suggest that the chapter is comprised of two disparate events, a promise of progeny which was given after the Battle of the Kings, and the Covenant of the Pieces which was actually sealed much earlier, when Avraham was 70, but recorded only now. This has the advantage of providing a single solution to most of the chapter's difficulties. Nonetheless, as the newly posited ordering makes many assumptions and creates new questions, many other exegetes instead opt to maintain the unity of the chapter and give local answers to the various questions.

Two Separate Achronological Events

Chapter 15 comprises two distinct prophecies.  The vision described in the first six verses of the chapter is in chronological order and took place after the Battle of the Five Kings, while the rest of the chapter recounts a separate prophecy (ברית בין הבתרים) which occurred many years earlier, when Avraham was 70.

400 or 430 years? The motivation for this approach is the discrepancy between the accounts of the length of the Egyptian exile in Bereshit 15:13 (400 years) and Shemot 12:40-41 (430 years). This position maintains that the 400 years started from the birth of Yitzchak, while the 430 count began thirty years earlier, at the Covenant of the Pieces.  Since Avraham was 100 when Yitzchak was born, the Covenant must have occurred when he was 70.2
Achronology – As Bereshit 12 is explicitly dated to the 75th year of Avraham's life, this approach is forced to say that the Covenant of the Pieces (i.e. the second part of the chapter) is recorded out of order.3  Rashbam, Chizkuni, and Ba'alei HaTosafot all point out that, nevertheless, the first part of the chapter is in its chronological place, as both the phrase "אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה" and Avraham's fear4 serve to connect it to the Battle of the Kings in the previous chapter.
Chronology of Bereshit 12-14
  • Chronological – This position works best if one assumes that Chapters 12-14 follow chronologically from one another and occurred at some point after Avraham was 75.  This appears to be the way Seder Olam Rabbah reads the verses,5 as the midrash suggests that Avraham's arrival in Canaan, the famine, and the war all took place in the same year, when Avraham was 75.6
  • Achronological – Rashi on the BavliShabbat 10bAbout R. Shelomo Yitzchaki7 and some TosafistsBerakhot 7bShabbat 10bAbout Ba'alei HaTosafot,8 though, assume that the Battle of the Kings took place when Avraham was 74.9  However, since the events of Chapters 12 – 15:6 are causal and sequential,10 if one dates the war to Avraham's 74th year, one must similarly date most of Chapters 12–13 earlier.  This would wreak chronological havoc, as it would mean that Tanakh has the story of Avraham unfold in reverse chronological order.  [Chapter 12 opens with Avraham at age 75. The text then moves back in time for the events of the rest of Chapters 12–14 to age 74, and then goes even further back in time in Chapter 15 to age 70.]11
"וְאַבְרָם בֶּן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה בְּצֵאתוֹ מֵחָרָן" – Bereshit 12:4 suggests that Avraham first departed for Canaan at 75.   As such, this position must assume either that the Covenant took place out of Israel, or (as Seder Olam Rabbah asserts) that Avraham went to Israel at 70 but then returned to live in Charan for five years.12  Each one of these options, though, is fraught with difficulty:
  • Occurred out of Israel – Chizkuni points out that the phrase, "לָתֶת לְךָ אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת" implies that the Covenant is taking place in Israel rather than outside of it.‎
  • Returned to Charan – Ralbag points out that it is unlikely that Avraham would have emigrated from Israel after being promised the land,13 barring extremely dire circumstances (such as famine).14
Why record the story out of order? This position must explain why the Torah did not write about the Covenant in its chronological place. Rashbam and Chizkuni suggest that the story is written out of order in order to juxtapose the promise of land with the promise of progeny mentioned in the first part of Chapter 15.  This suggestion, though, is unsatisfying as there are multiple places where Hashem promises Avraham land or seed, and they do not always appear together.
Why make a covenant now? This approach would suggest that as this is the first time that Hashem is promising Avraham the land, He accompanies the promise with a covenant, thereby both strengthening and explaining the conditions of the promise.
Night or day? Rashbam points out that the difference in time between the two halves of the chapter is easily explained if one posits that the two are distinct prophecies, occurring many years apart.
Introductory formula – "אֲנִי ה'‏" – Since verse 6 is the beginning of a new prophecy, rather than the continuation of Hashem's words from verse 1, Hashem's new introduction makes sense.15  Moreover, if the Covenant took place when Avraham was 70, it is possible that this was the first time that Hashem spoke with Avraham, making such an introduction even more understandable.
"וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו" – The language of "וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו" at the beginning of the Covenant of the Pieces is difficult for this approach, as it appears to indicate that this story continues from where the preceding narrative left off.  Were it an opening of a separate story, one would have expected the standard opening formula of "ויאמר ה' אל אברהם" to identify the participants in the conversation.
Avraham's doubts – "בַּמָּה אֵדַע כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה" – Chizkuni asserts that according to this chronology, at the point that this prophecy was given, Hashem had just promised Avraham land, but had not yet promised him progeny. As such, Avraham's question is a legitimate one.  He is merely asking that if he dies barren, how will the land be his inheritance?16  Moreover, according to this position, this is the first (not the third) promise of land, and so it is logical that questioning comes here rather than elsewhere.
Belief versus doubt – The inconsistency of tone between verse 6 where the text relates that Avraham "believed in Hashem" and verse 8 where Avraham questions Hashem, is not problematic for this position since there is no continuity in time between the verses.  The doubting does not follow belief, but rather precedes it by several years.
Vision vs. sleep – This position might suggest that the two totally disparate prophecies were relayed in different forms.  The first was a vision, while the second began with a series of actions and culminated in a deep slumber.

One Single Event in Chronological Order

The events of the entire chapter are connected and they are all recorded in their proper chronological place, after the Battle of the Kings.

"וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו" – The lack of named speaker and audience in this phrase suggest that the verse is a continuation of what came before and is not introducing a new event.  As such, the entire chapter should be viewed as one episode occurring at one point in time.  Since the opening words of the chapter "אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה" clearly connect it to the previous one, the entire chapter must have occurred after the Battle of the Kings.
Introductory formula – "אֲנִי ה'‏"
  • Language of oath – Radak asserts that, in this verse, Hashem was not introducing Himself to Avraham (as it is in the middle of a conversation), but was rather strengthening His promise of the land by stating it in His name.  Radak sees this as comparable to Hashem taking an oath in His name ("בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי נְאֻם ה'‏").
  • Special introduction for the Covenant – According to R. D"Z Hoffmann, these words do constitute a new opening, since, in his opinion, verse 7 begins a new prophecy, albeit one given within a day of the previous one (see next point).  As such, the introductory formula is not problematic.17  Moreover, since Hashem is about to make a covenant with Avraham, an elaborate opening is warranted.
Vision vs. sleep – These sources disagree regarding the nature of the prophecy received by Avraham and thus differ in the way they explain this issue:
  • All one vision – According to R"Y Bekhor Shor, Radak, Ralbag, and Hoil Moshe, the entire chapter occurs in one long vision, including the various actions done by Avraham such as leaving his tent to view the stars18 and the slicing of the animals in half.19  They suggest that, in the middle of this vision, due to the power of the prophecy, a slumber fell upon Avraham.20
  • Periods of wakefulness and prophecy – Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel, in contrast, assert that the chapter alternates between periods in which Avraham was awake and those in which he was sleeping. Thus, after receiving the first part of the prophecy in a vision, Avraham awoke, cut the animals, and only afterwards fell back asleep to receive further prophecy.
  • Two prophecies – According to R. D"Z Hoffmann, the chapter consists of two distinct but consecutive prophecies, with verses 1-6 occurring at night and the rest of the chapter taking place the following day.  Thus, Avraham does not fall asleep mid-vision, but rather only for a separate second revelation.
Night or day?
  • Day – According to R"Y Bekhor Shor and Ralbag,21 the entire vision occurred during the day, as evidenced by the verse, "וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לָבוֹא"‎.22  The stars Avraham saw were simply part of his dream.23 
  • Night and following day – According to Ibn Ezra and R. D"Z Hoffman, Hashem really did appear to Avraham over a period of a night and the next day.
Avraham's doubts – "הֵן לִי לֹא נָתַתָּה זָרַע" – These commentators agree that Avraham's words did not stem from doubt in Hashem's earlier promises, but they disagree regarding what he was thinking instead:
  • Lest he sinned - Radak and Ramban suggest that Avraham thought that maybe he had sinned and was no longer deserving of Hashem's promise of progeny.24
  • Eliezer included in "זַרְעֲךָ" – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Radak posit that perhaps Avraham thought that Eliezer was intended to be the heir in Hashem's earlier promise "לְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת", and he thus requested that he have a real son to inherit.  R. Yosef Bekhor Shor suggests that Eliezer may have been a relative and was, thus, included in the term "‎‏לְזַרְעֲךָ",‎25 while Radak suggests that Avraham thought the term included important members of his household.26
Avraham's doubts – "בַּמָּה אֵדַע כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה" – Most of these commentators maintain that this question, too, is not an expression of doubt in Hashem, as the previous verse just attested to Avraham's belief.  They differ, though, in how they understand Avraham's words:
  • What if sin interferes?  – Radak, Ramban, and Ralbag maintain that Avraham feared lest his children lose their inheritance due to sins ("שמא יגרום החטא").  Ramban asserts that Hashem responded by sealing a covenant which made the inheritance unconditional.
  • How will I inherit? – R"Y Bekhor Shor reinterprets the phrase to mean, "how will I inherit the land".  According to him, Avraham was asking by what means and when would the promise come to fruition.27 [Hashem answers him that first his sons will be enslaved in exile, and only afterwards will they inherit.]
  • Part of the vision – The Hoil Moshe asserts that these words of Avraham are simply part of the vision that Hashem constructed, and don't represent Avraham's thoughts at all.  Hashem put the question into his mouth only as a means of revealing to him that there would be an exile.
"וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לּוֹ צְדָקָה" – These sources disagree regarding who is the subject of this phrase:
  • Hashem – According to Radak and R. D"Z Hoffmann, it is Hashem who thinks that Avraham's belief was meritorious.  At such an old age and after so many years of waiting, it was no easy feat to maintain faith.  R. Hoffmann, in fact, claims that it is as a reward for this faith that Hashem then makes the covenant with him.
  • Avraham – R"Y Bekhor Shor, Ramban, Ralbag, and Abarbanel disagree,28 claiming that it should be expected that Avraham will have belief.29  Rather, the verse must mean that Avraham viewed Hashem's act as an act of "‎‏צדק".‎30
When was the Covenant? Although all of these commentators agree that the Covenant took place after the war (as the opening connecting phase "אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה" would suggest), they disagree regarding the specific year:31 
  • Eighty – According to Ramban, Avraham was 80 years old at the time of the Covenant.  This is midway between the two ages mentioned in the surrounding chapters (75 in Chapter 12 and 85 in Chapter 16).
  • Eighty-five – Bereshit Rabbah and Ralbag set Avraham's age at 85,32 the age given for Avraham in the next chapter.33 
Why now? It is not clear why Hashem would have waited until now to make a covenant with Avraham regarding the future inheritance, while sufficing with promises until now:
  • Reward – R. D"Z Hoffmann suggests that Hashem was originally simply responding to Avraham's fears post the war.  Then, as a reward for the great faith that Avraham expressed ("וְהֶאֱמִן בַּי"י וַיַּחְשְׁבֶהָ לּוֹ צְדָקָה"), Hashem decided to seal His promise with a covenant.
  • Reassurance – Ramban suggests that after the war, Avraham feared that the kings would retaliate and he would be killed before Hashem's promises came to fruition.  Hashem, thus, reconfirmed the blessings, and by making a covenant, He further reassured Avraham that the blessing was unconditional.
  • Explanation – One might posit instead, that after conquering the four kings, Avraham felt that he was beginning to realize the promise of inheriting the land.  Hashem, thus, needed to reveal to him that in reality, the promise was not to be fulfilled until after 400 years of exile and slavery.34
400 vs. 430 – These commentators resolve the discrepancy in a variety of ways, none of which require rearranging the chronology of Bereshit 15:35
  • Varying starting points – According to R. Saadia Gaon, Ibn Ezra, and R"Y Bekhor Shor, the 430 years begin from Avraham's departure from Charan at age 70,36 while the 400 year period starts with Yitzchak's birth (as this verse specifies "זַרְעֲךָ").
  • Change of plan – In contrast, according to both Ramban and Ralbag,37 the 430 years begin from the Covenant, which took place at either 80 (Ramban) or 85 (Ralbag). Ramban suggests that the original decree was for 400 years, but an extra 30 years of exile were later added due to the nation's sins.  Ralbag, instead, claims that the 400 years begins with Yaakov's birth, but Hashem later decided to shorten the decree by 45 years.
  • Round number – Both Abarbanel38 and Hoil Moshe resolve the discrepancy by suggesting that 400 is simply a round number.39