Difference between revisions of "Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story/2"
m |
m |
||
Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
− | <li><b>Ammon, Moav, and Seir</b> – 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 | + | <li><b>Ammon, Moav, and Seir</b> – 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, including the lands of the Refaim, Zuzim, Eimim, and Hori.  Thus, the story provides the background for how Avraham's descendants became sovereign in the entire region.</li> |
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
<point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – When warning the nation that they are not to inherit the lands of Seir, Ammon, or Moav in Devarim 2, Moshe similarly mentions all the nations (Refaim, Zuzim etc.) who had previously settled in these lands,<fn>See Devarim 2:10-12 and 20-22.</fn> but were then kicked out.  Devarim is presumably alluding back to Bereshit 14 so as to explain how Avraham's descendants came to possess these lands - through Avraham's conquest.</point> | <point><b>Biblical parallels</b> – When warning the nation that they are not to inherit the lands of Seir, Ammon, or Moav in Devarim 2, Moshe similarly mentions all the nations (Refaim, Zuzim etc.) who had previously settled in these lands,<fn>See Devarim 2:10-12 and 20-22.</fn> but were then kicked out.  Devarim is presumably alluding back to Bereshit 14 so as to explain how Avraham's descendants came to possess these lands - through Avraham's conquest.</point> |
Version as of 12:34, 30 October 2014
Battle of the Kings – Purpose of the Story
Exegetical Approaches
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 was the beginning of the actualization of Hashem's promise of the land to Avraham. The story is not out of place at all, but rather is integrally connected to the Divine assurances of the surrounding chapters.
- The Children of Israel – R. Hirsch and Cassuto point out 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 his descendants' future claims to the land.
- 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, including the lands of the Refaim, Zuzim, Eimim, and Hori. Thus, the story provides the background for how Avraham's descendants became sovereign in the entire region.
Vulnerability of Israel
The episode serves to highlight the precarious placement of Israel amongst the nations.