Difference between revisions of "Literary Devices – Bereshit 14/0"
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| − | Melchizedek is referred to as a priest to “El Elyon” in 14:18, and he refers to Hashem as “El Elyon” in 14:19-20.  This language is echoed by Avraham in verse 22.   By clicking on the words “El Elyon” and selecting Concordance, one can see that these are the only places in the Torah where this precise language appears, indicating that this was a Canaanite way of referring to God at the time.  The usage of this name for Hashem emphasizes the foreign culture in which Avraham had to make his way. | + | <ul> |
| + | <li>Melchizedek is referred to as a priest to “El Elyon” in 14:18, and he refers to Hashem as “El Elyon” in 14:19-20.  This language is echoed by Avraham in verse 22.   By clicking on the words “El Elyon” and selecting Concordance, one can see that these are the only places in the Torah where this precise language appears, indicating that this was a Canaanite way of referring to God at the time.  The usage of this name for Hashem emphasizes the foreign culture in which Avraham had to make his way.</li> | ||
| + | </ul> | ||
</subcategory> | </subcategory> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 02:27, 30 June 2023
Literary Devices – Bereshit 14
Key Words
- רְכוּשׁ –Tanakh Lab demonstrates that one of the most significant key words in the chapter is רְכוּשׁ, appearing 160 more times in this unit than elsewhere in Tanakh.
Character Titles and Relationship Epithets
Avraham
- Throughout the chapter Avram is referred to by his proper name alone, with one exception. In Bereshit 14:13, when he first appears on the scene, he is called “אַבְרָם הָעִבְרִי”. The concordance reveals that this is an appellation that is predominantly used in contexts that involve non-Jews, often serving to contrast ethnicities.1 This may explain the statement in Midrash Rabbah on this verse that Avraham is called “Ha-Ivri” because he stood on one side, while everyone else in the world stood on the other side
Lot
In contrast to Chapter 13, where Lot is never named in reference to his relationship to Avraham, throughout Chapter 14 he is consistently referred to in this manner. Lot is identified in 14:12 as “the son of Avraham’s brother,” in verse 14 as his "brother" and in verse 16 as "Lot, his brother.”
- These relational epithets highlight Avraham’s feeling of responsibility toward Lot.
- Nonetheless, there is a somewhat awkward reference to Lot’s property in 14:12, which interrupts the epithet : “They took Lot and his property, the son of Avraham’s brother.” The reference to property (which played a role in the separation of Avraham and Lot in Ch. 13) might allude to the distance that remains in the relationship between Avraham and Lot.
Hashem
- Melchizedek is referred to as a priest to “El Elyon” in 14:18, and he refers to Hashem as “El Elyon” in 14:19-20. This language is echoed by Avraham in verse 22. By clicking on the words “El Elyon” and selecting Concordance, one can see that these are the only places in the Torah where this precise language appears, indicating that this was a Canaanite way of referring to God at the time. The usage of this name for Hashem emphasizes the foreign culture in which Avraham had to make his way.
