The Finances of the Forefathers- Part 3
Introduction to Parashat Hashavua
Yeshivat Har Etzion
PARASHAT CHAYEI SARA
The Finances of the Forefathers- Part 3
By Rav Yaakov Beasley
Part 3 Riches and Redemption
A. Introduction
We have been
analyzing the specific role money performs in the vast panorama of Avrahams
narrative. Surprisingly, we
discover that what the Torah promisingly introduced as a reward for Avrahams
faithfulness, has instead served to complicate his life beyond our
expectations. In Parashat Lekh
Lekha, Avrahams enhanced prosperity came at the cost of Saras degradation
and
B. Avimelekhs Request
Openly, the
narrative continues with the birth of
And it happened at that time that Avimelekh, and Pichol his general with him, said to Avraham, God is with you in whatever you do.
Therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely, neither with my descendants nor with me. According to the kindness that I have done for you, so shall you do for me, (while) you are in the land where you dwell.
And Avraham said, I will swear. (21:22-24)
Again,
Avraham prospers, provoking the concern of the native rulers. The commentators debate precisely where
and when this conversation occurred.
Radak notes that it does not state that Avimelekh went to Avraham,
but simply that he spoke to Avraham. This leads to Radaks suggestion that
Avraham accepted Avimelekhs invitation to dwell in Gerar (see also Ibn Ezra),
and that this encounter took place during the party for
Rabbinic thought, however, portrays Avraham as having declined Avimelekhs offer. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabba 61:1) praises Avraham for his refusal as one who [Tehillim 1:1] Sat not in the session of scorners [as the Philistines are described in Avoda Zara 19a]. If so, the ramifications are that like the incident with the King of Sedom above, Avraham has refused the generous offers of strangers to enrich him, and has chosen to rely instead solely on the providence of God.[1]
As significant as the above is Avrahams immediate response to the offer proffered by Avimelekh. The Torah continues:
Then Avraham rebuked Avimelekh concerning the well of water that Avimelekhs servants had seized.
And Avimelekh said, I do not know who did such a thing; and also [ve-gam] you did not tell me, and also [ve-gam] I myself never heard of it until this day. (25-26)
The commentators try to explain Avimelekhs disjointed response. Seforno suggests that Avimelekh attempts to claim complete ignorance of the entire incident, as he would not harbor in his court anyone capable of perpetrating such violence. The Ibn Shoib suggests that Avimelekh, in fact, accuses Avraham of impropriety, for had Avraham interceded with the king earlier, this incident would have been resolved. A creative explanation of the seemingly repetitive statements is attributed to Maaseh Hashem:
First, Avimelekh said, I do not know who did such a thing, and then turned to his general Pichol and accused him, And you did not tell me [for it was Pichols responsibility to ensure that the king is abreast of everything that occurs in the kingdom]. Pichol responded, in self-defense, I myself never heard of it until this day.
Careful readers, however, recognize the rhythmic refrain of and also [ve-gam] in Avimelekhs rejoinder, and hear the echo of a previous conversation between Avraham and Avimelekh:
For I said, there is no fear of God in this place. And also [ve-gam], she is my sister through my fathers side (20:11-13)
Previously, it was Avimelekh who accused Avraham of impropriety, leaving Avraham to stumble through a response. With the tables clearly turned, now Avraham holds the upper moral hand, while Avimelekh is left gasping for excuses.
C. Wealth and Finding Rivka
After the
death and burial of Sara, Avraham faces one more task to find a worthy wife
for
And Avraham was old, advanced in years, and Hashem had blessed Avraham with everything. (24:1)
Radak
explains simply that Avraham lacked nothing, and his only remaining concern was
providing his son with a suitable spouse.
Rashbam suggests that the mention of Avrahams abundant wealth was a
necessary preface to the ensuing narrative. If anyone would suggest that Avraham
sent his servant to Aram Naharayim to find a bride for
That wealth played a large factor in convincing Rivkas family in allowing her to join the servant, the Rabbis already see in the first description of Lavan in the Torah:
Rivka had a brother whose name was Lavan. Lavan ran outside to the man by the spring.
And upon seeing the rings and bracelets on his sisters arm, and upon hearing Rivka his sisters words, So spoke the man to me, he approached the man still standing by the camels and said, Come, Blessed One of Hashem! Why should you stand outside when I have cleared the house and made space for the camels? (29-30)
Rashi, commenting on the juxtaposition that Lavan saw the jewelry, and only afterwards heard his sisters words, comments that Lavans generous behavior was motivated by greed and avarice. In contrast to Avraham earlier, and Rivka at the well, only once Lavan realized the wealthy nature of his guest did he exert himself to be hospitable.
D. Gifts for the Children
Avrahams
life concludes quietly. After
A. Avraham receives gifts for Sara
(
B. Avrahams wealth drives
Lot away from the family (
C. Avraham refuses to accept gifts from the King of Sedom
(
D. Avraham accepts gifts after rationalizing (and also) his
deception of Avimelekh (
D1. Avimelekh acknowledges Avrahams integrity and independence
after rationalizing (and also) his servants behavior
(
C1. Avraham refuses to accept gifts from the children of Chet, and
pays full money for a burial place
for Sara (
B1. Avrahams wealth
draws Rivka into the family (
A1. Avraham divests himself of the gifts he
received for Sara (
Finally, money has not only become a source of blessing to Avraham, but he is finally able to divest himself of the gifts he unwillingly received at the expense of Sara. Fittingly, he is able give over these presents to Hagars (Ketura) children[2]; as descendants of one of the people Avraham first received in the compensation from Pharaoh, they were the most worthy recipients of these gifts.
E. Conclusion
On the verse mentioned above, that Hashem blessed Avraham with everything, Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch suggests a philosophical understanding of Avrahams affluence in the narrative:
If Avraham had been poor, or even if he had possessed merely modest means, he himself would surely have been no less happy and contented but he would have gone unnoticed by the world in general. And if people had believed that he extraordinary good fortune was the result of his high standards of morality, the would have gaped in admiration at him, but would have let him go forward in his isolated way, for people do not exert themselves to become moral. But his contemporaries believed that Avraham owed his success to some secret knowledge and magic, and that drew great ones from all corners of the world to come to him and consult with him.
Without wealth, Avrahams mission to spread his unique moral brand of monotheism in the world would have gone unnoticed. Ultimately, through his wealth and prestige, Avraham is able to not only attract the worlds attention, but also ensure the survival and continuity of his own unique mission.
[1] Ramban (21:32) tries to find a middle ground between the two opinions mentioned above. He suggests that while declining Avimelekhs offer to dwell near the capital city of Gerar, Avraham did decide to dwell near what would late be called Beer Sheva, which the Ramban suggests was then under the domain of the Philistines.
[2] Assuming that Hagar was most likely included in the original gift of
maidservants that Pharaoh gave over to Avraham (