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The Rashbam says that the miracles for Avraham motivated Avimelech. However, one can also identify a political purpose. The previous story tells about Avraham sending away Hagar (the daughter of Paroh) and Yishmael. This certainly cooled relations between Avraham and the Egyptians. The Plishtim, rivals of the Egyptians for the international route through their land, grabbed the opportunity to strengthen their ties with Avraham. As a result, Avraham advanced his monotheism movement in the south of Israel.
Despite the accomplishment, the Rashbam strongly criticizes Avraham. He made a peace treaty with his descendants’ future enemies, thus delaying his descendants’ ability to take over the Land when the time came. Therefore, Hashem made things difficult for Avraham (the akeida). The Rashbam strengthens his thesis with a midrash. The seven months that the aron was under Plishti control, the seven wars in which the Plishtim defeated the Jews, and the seven tzaddikim who thereby died correspond to the seven sheep that Avraham presented to Avimelech during their treaty. These were terrible consequences for Avraham’s descendants from a deal that, despite containing important religious achievements, was improper.
The Ramban, though, viewed this episode positively, as an example of Israelite relations with kings that allow the former to stay in their Land. How can the Ramban answer the Rashbam’s arguments? We have shown elsewhere that the Ramban made the following assumption that is supported by modern archeological discovery. The Plishtim of the patriarchs’ time were not the nation who later fought with Israel as they settled the Land after leaving Egypt. The former Plishtim were descendants of Cham; the latter were Kaftorim who came from the area of Cretes and conquered the coastal planes of the Negev and inward. This approach is supported by a gemara (Chulin 60b), which says that after Avraham made an agreement with Avimelech, Hashem had the Kaftorim conquer and pave the way for Israel to eventually take over the Land. If so, there was no contradiction between what Avraham promised and what Yehoshua had to carry out.
Let us pray that Hashem will lead the hearts and actions of our leaders, who are involved in international negotiations, to avoid agreements that contradict our mitzva to control the Land, as the famous passage of the Ramban confirms we are obligated to do.
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
