Literary Devices – Bereshit 14/0

Literary Devices – Bereshit 14

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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 RabbahAbout Midrash Rabbah Sectioned 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

¹ The BDB definition emphasizes that the term “עברי" is generally used by non-Israelites and serves “to distinguish Israelites from foreigners".