בראשית רבה מ״גBereshit Rabbah 43

Section 1א׳

וַיִּשְׁמַע אַבְרָם כִּי נִשְׁבָּה אָחִיו (בראשית יד, יד), (תהלים קיב, ז ח): מִשְׁמוּעָה רָעָה לֹא יִירָא נָכוֹן לִבּוֹ בָּטֻחַ בַּה', סָמוּךְ לִבּוֹ לֹא יִירָא עַד אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה בְצָרָיו. מִשְׁמוּעָה רָעָה לֹא יִירָא, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, (בראשית כב, יב): כִּי עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה. נָכוֹן לִבּוֹ בָּטוּחַ בַּה', (נחמיה ט, ח): וּמָצָאתָ אֶת לְבָבוֹ נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶיךָ. סָמוּךְ לִבּוֹ לֹא יִירָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית טו, א): אַל תִּירָא אַבְרָם. עַד אֲשֶׁר יִרְאֶה בְצָרָיו, (בראשית יד, טו): וַיֵּחָלֵק עֲלֵיהֶם לַיְּלָה.

“Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive, and he marshaled his disciples, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and he gave chase until Dan” (Genesis 14:14). “Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive” – “He fears no evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure. He will not fear, until he beholds the fall of his foes” (Psalms 112:7–8). “He fears no evil tidings” – this refers to Abraham. “For now I know that you are God-fearing” (Genesis 22:12). “His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord” – “You found his heart faithful before You” (Nehemiah 9:8). “His heart is secure. He will not fear” – as it is stated: “Do not fear, Abram” (Genesis 15:1). “Until he beholds the fall of his foes” – “he divided up against them at night” (Genesis 14:15).

Section 2ב׳

וַיִּשְׁמַע אַבְרָם כִּי נִשְׁבָּה אָחִיו, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה לג, טו): אֹטֵם אָזְנוֹ מִשְׁמֹעַ דָּמִים. (בראשית יד, יד): וַיָּרֶק אֶת חֲנִיכָיו, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר הֵן הוֹרִיקוּ פָּנִים כְּנֶגֶד אַבְרָהָם, אָמְרוּ חֲמִשָּׁה מְלָכִים לֹא יָכְלוּ לַעֲמֹד בָּהֶם וְאָנוּ יְכוֹלִים לַעֲמֹד בָּהֶם. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר אַבְרָהָם הוֹרִיק פָּנִים כְּנֶגְדָן, אָמַר אֵצֵא וְאֶפֹּל עַל קִדּוּשׁ שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם. אַבָּא בַּר זַבְדָא אָמַר בִּכְלֵי זַיִן הוֹרִיקָן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים לה, ג): וְהָרֵק חֲנִית וּסְגֹר לִקְרַאת רֹדְפָי. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ בַּאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת הוֹרִיקָן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים סח, יד): וְאֶבְרוֹתֶיהָ בִּירַקְרַק חָרוּץ. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר בְּפָרָשַׁת שׁוֹטְרִים הוֹרִיקָן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (דברים כ, ח): מִי הָאִישׁ הַיָּרֵא וְרַךְ הַלֵּבָב יֵלֵךְ וְיָשֹׁב לְבֵיתוֹ. חֲנִיכָיו, בַּעֲלֵי חֲנִיכָתוֹ, שְׁמָם אַבְרָם כִּשְׁמוֹ. שְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂר וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת, רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ בְּשֵׁם בַּר קַפָּרָא, אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְבַדּוֹ הָיָה, מִנְיַן אֱלִיעֶזֶר שְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂר וּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת. וַיִּרְדֹּף עַד דָּן, שֵׁם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים הִיא, וּמַכָּה מִלְּפָנֶיהָ וּמֵאַחֲרֶיהָ, מַכָּה מִלְּפָנֶיהָ, וַיִּרְדֹּף עַד דָּן, וּמַכָּה מֵאַחֲרֶיהָ (ירמיה ח, טז): מִדָּן נִשְׁמַע נַחְרַת סוּסָיו.

“Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive” – that is what is written: “He seals his ears from hearing of bloodshed” (Isaiah 33:15). “He marshaled [vayarek] his disciples” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: Their faces turned pale [horiku] towards Abraham. They said: ‘Five kings could not overcome them, and [you think] we will be able to overcome them?’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: Abraham turned pale [horik] towards them. He said: ‘Shall I go and fall [in battle] in sanctification of the name of the Omnipresent?’ Abba bar Zavda said: He armed them with weapons, just as it says: “Unsheathe [harek] a spear to block my pursuers” (Psalms 35:3). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: He showered them with jewels and gems, as it says: “Its pinions with shimmering [yerakrak] gold” (Psalms 68:14). Rabbi Levi said: He emptied [horikan] their ranks through the passage about the officers, as it says: “[Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say:] Who is the man who is fearful and faint hearted? Let him go and return to his house” (Deuteronomy 20:8). “His disciples [ḥanikhav]” – they bore his name [ḥanikhato].Their name was Abram, like his name. “Three hundred and eighteen” – Reish Lakish in the name of bar Kappara: It was Eliezer alone. The numerical value of Eliezer is three hundred and eighteen. “And he gave chase until Dan” – that is the name of an idol. It was preceded and followed by a blow. It was preceded by a blow: “And he gave chase until Dan.” And it is followed by a blow: “The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan” (Jeremiah 8:16).

Section 3ג׳

וַיֵּחָלֵק עֲלֵיהֶם לַיְלָה (בראשית יד, טו), רַבִּי בִּנְיָמִין בַּר יֶפֶת מִשֵּׁם רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן הַלַּיְלָה נֶחְלַק מֵאֵלָיו. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי יוֹצְרוֹ חִלְּקוֹ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲבִיהֶם פָּעַל עִמִּי בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה, אַף אֲנִי פּוֹעֵל עִם בָּנָיו בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה. וְאֵימָתַי בְּמִצְרַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יב, כט): וַיְהִי בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה וַה' הִכָּה כָל בְּכוֹר וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אִית דְּמַפְקִין לִישְׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲבִיהֶם יָצָא בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה אַף אֲנִי אֵצֵא עִם בָּנָיו בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יא, ד): כֹּה אָמַר ה' כַּחֲצֹת הַלַּיְלָה אֲנִי יוֹצֵא. (בראשית יד, טו): וַיַּכֵּם וַיִּרְדְּפֵם, וְכִי יֵשׁ אָדָם רוֹדֵף הֲרוּגִים, אָמַר רַבִּי פִּינְחָס רוֹדְפָיו שֶׁל אָבִינוּ אַבְרָהָם הֲרוּגִים הָיוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים סט, כז): כִּי אַתָּה אֲשֶׁר הִכִּיתָ רָדָפוּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מא, ב): מִי הֵעִיר מִמִּזְרָח צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ, מִי הוּא זֶה שֶׁהֵעִיר לִבָּם שֶׁל מִזְרָחִיִּים שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ וְיִפְּלוּ בְּיַד אַבְרָהָם, צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ. חַי הָעוֹלָמִים, שֶׁהָיָה מֵאִיר לוֹ בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה מַזָּל צֶדֶק הָיָה מֵאִיר לוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי רְאוּבֵן צְדָקָה הָיְתָה צוֹוַחַת וְאוֹמֶרֶת, אִם אֵין אַבְרָהָם אֵין מִי יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתִי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מא, ב): יִתֵּן לְפָנָיו גּוֹיִם וּמְלָכִים יַרְדְּ, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר אַבְרָהָם הָיָה מַשְׁלִיךְ עֲלֵיהֶם עָפָר וְהוּא נַעֲשָׂה חֲרָבוֹת, קַשׁ וְנַעֲשָׂה חִצִּים. וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר יִתֵּן עָפָר לֹא נֶאֱמַר אֶלָּא (ישעיה מא, ב): כְּעָפָר, הֵן הָיוּ מַשְּׁלִיכִים חֲרָבוֹת עַל אַבְרָהָם וְנַעֲשִׂין עָפָר, חִצִּים וְהֵן נַעֲשִׂים קַשׁ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ישעיה מא, ג): יִרְדְּפֵם יַעֲבוֹר שָׁלוֹם. רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר זִמְרָא פְּסִיעוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָבִינוּ אַבְרָהָם הָיוּ שָׁלשׁ מִילִין. רַבִּי יוּדָן בַּר רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מִיל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מא, ג): אֹרַח בְּרַגְלָיו לֹא יָבוֹא. רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ לֹא נִתְאַבְּקוּ רַגְלֵיהֶן אֶלָּא כָּזֶה שֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ מִבֵּיתוֹ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת.

“He divided up against them at night, he and his servants, and he smote them and pursued them until Ḥova, which is north of Damascus” (Genesis 14:15). “He divided up against them at night” – Rabbi Binyamin bar Yefet in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: The night became divided on its own. The Rabbis say: Its Maker divided it. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Their father took action for Me at midnight, I, too, will take action for his descendants at midnight.’ When? In Egypt, as it is stated: “It was at midnight, and the Lord smote every firstborn …” (Exodus 12:29). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: There are those who express it in a different formulation: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Their father went out at midnight; I will go out for his sons at midnight,’ as it is stated: “Moses said: So said the Lord: About midnight, I shall go out in the midst of Egypt” (Exodus 11:4). “And he smote them and pursued them” – is there a person who pursues the slain? Rabbi Pinḥas said: The pursuers of Abraham our patriarch were [as if] slain [from the start], as it is stated: “The one You have smitten, they have pursued” (Psalms 69:27). That is what is written: “Who awakens [he’ir] from the east, righteousness attending his footstep?” (Isaiah 41:2). Who is the one who roused the heart of the easterners so they would come and fall into Abraham’s hand? “Righteousness [tzedek] attends his footstep” – [The righteous One,] He whose life is everlasting, who would illuminate for him every place he would go. Rabbi Berekhya said: The star Jupiter [tzedek] would illuminate [the way] for him. Rabbi Reuven said: Righteousness itself called out before him, saying: ‘If not for Abraham, there would be no one to implement me.’ That is what is written: “He subdued nations before him and subjugated kings; [He made his sword like dust, his bow as driven stubble]” (Isaiah 41:2) – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: Abraham would cast dust at them and it became swords, straw and it became arrows. Rabbi Neḥamya said: “He made [his sword] dust” is not stated, but rather, “[He made his sword] like dust” (Isaiah 41:2) – they would cast swords on Abraham and they became dust, arrows, and they became straw. That is what is written: “He pursued them and passed peacefully; [he did not tread on the road]” (Isaiah 41:3). Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Yosei bar Zimra: Each of the strides of Abraham our forefather was three miles. Rabbi Yudan bar Rabbi Simon said: One mil, as it is stated: “he did not tread on the road” (Isaiah 41:3). Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Abahu: Their feet did not become soiled, but rather, like one who walks from his house to the [nearby] synagogue.