📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 28

Chapter 28 of Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

Verses: 10

Verses

Verse 1

הַנִּסָּיוֹן הַשְּׁבִיעִי, ״אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הָיָה דְבַר ה' אֶל אַבְרָם בַּמַּחֲזֶה לֵאמֹר אַל תִּירָא אַבְרָם״ (בראשית טו, א). לְכָל הַנְּבִיאִים נִגְלָה בְּחָזוֹן וּלְאַבְרָהָם נִגְלָה בְּחָזוֹן וּבְמַרְאֶה. בְּמַרְאֶה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו ה' בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא״. בְּחָזוֹן מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה הָיָה דְבַר ה' אֶל אַבְרָם בַּמַּחֲזֶה לֵאמֹר״. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם: דַּע כִּי יְמִינִי מְגִנָּה לְךָ בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ, כִּתְרִיס לִפְנֵי הַפּוּרְעָנוּת, וְנָתַתִּי שָׂכָר טוֹב לְךָ וּלְבָנֶיךָ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּבָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שְׂכָרְךָ הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד״.

THE TRIALS OF ABRAHAM (continued)THE seventh trial (was as follows): "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying" (Gen. 15:1). To all the prophets He was revealed in a vision, but to Abraham He was revealed in a revelation and in a vision. Whence do we know of the revelation? Because it is said, "And the Lord appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre" (Gen. 18:1). Whence do we know of the vision? Because it is said, "After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision" (Gen. 15:1). He said to him: Abraham ! Do not fear, for My right hand is shielding thee in every place where thou goest; it is like a shield against misfortunes, and it gives thee a good reward, (even) to thee and to thy children, || in this world and in the world to come, as it is said, "Thy exceeding great reward" (ibid.).

Verse 2

רַבִּי אוֹמֵר: הוֹצִיא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם הַחוּצָה בְּלֵילֵי יוֹם טוֹב הַפֶּסַח. אָמַר לוֹ: ״אַבְרָהָם, יֵשׁ לְךָ כֹּחַ לִסְפֹּר כָּל צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם?״ אָמַר לְפָנָיו: ״רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, וְכִי יֵשׁ מִסְפָּר לִגְדוּדֶיךָ?״ אָמַר לוֹ: ״כָּךְ לֹא יִסָּפֵר זַרְעֲךָ מֵרֹב״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ כֹּה יִהְיֶה זַרְעֶךָ״.

Rabbi said: The Holy One, blessed be He, brought Abraham outside (his house) on the night of Passover, and He said to him: Abraham ! Hast thou the ability to count all the host of heaven? He said before Him: Sovereign of all worlds ! Is there then a limit to Thy troops (of angels)? He said to him: Likewise thy seed shall not be counted owing to their great number, as it is said, "And he said unto him, So shall thy seed be" (Gen. 15:5).

Verse 3

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: הֶרְאָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת, מוֹשְׁלָן וְאָבְדָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו קְחָה לִי עֶגְלָה מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת״ וְכוּ'. ״עֶגְלָה מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת אֱדוֹם שֶׁהִיא כְּעֶגְלָה דָּשָׁא. ״עֵז מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת יָוָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּצְפִיר הָעִזִּים הִגְדִּיל עַד מְאֹד״. ״וְאַיִל מְשֻׁלָּשׁ״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת מָדַי וּפָרַס, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הָאַיִל בַּעַל הַקְּרָנַיִם אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ – מַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרָס״. ״וְתֹר״ – אֵלּוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. אֵין הַלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה לְשׁוֹן תּוֹר, אֶלָּא בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּית ״תּוֹר״ זֶה שׁוֹר. אֵין לָאָרֶץ כְּשֶׁיִּצָּמֵד שׁוֹר זָכָר עִם נְקֵבָה יִפְתְּחוּ וִיסַדְּרוּ אֶת כָּל הַמַּעֲמַקִּים, כְּדֵין אָמַר: ״חֵיוְתָא רְבִיעָתָא״. ״וְגוֹזָל״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלוּ כְּגוֹזָל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע״, כִּי קוֹלֵךְ עָרֵב בִּתְפִלָּה וּמַרְאֵךְ נָאוֶה בְּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. ״וְגוֹזָל״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלוּ בְּגוֹזָל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַחַת הִיא יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי״.

Rabbi Eliezer said: The Holy One, blessed be He, showed to our father Abraham (at the covenant) between the pieces the four kingdoms, their dominion and their downfall, as it is said, "And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old" (Gen. 15:9). "An heifer of three years old" (ibid.) refers to the kingdom of Edom, which is like the heifer of a sheep. "And a she-goat of three years old" (ibid.) refers to the kingdom of Greece, as it is said, "And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly" (Dan. 8:8). "And a ram of three years old" (Gen. 15:9); this is the kingdom of Media and Persia, as it is said, "And the ram which thou sawest that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia" (Dan. 8:20). "And a turtle-dove" (Gen. 15:9); this refers to the sons of Ishmael. This expression is not to be understood in the literal meaning of Tôr (turtle-dove), but in the Aramaic language, in which Tôr means Ox, for when the male ox is harnessed to the female, they will open and break all the valleys, even as it says (about) "the fourth beast" (Dan. 7:19). "And a young pigeon" (Gen. 15:9); this refers to the Israelites, who are compared || to a young pigeon, as it is said, "O my dove, thou art in the clefts of the rock" (Cant. 2:14). For thy voice is pleasant in prayer, and thy appearance is beautiful in good deeds. "And a young pigeon" (Gen. 15:9); this refers to the Israelites, who are compared to a young pigeon: "My dove, my perfect (one), is (but) one" (Cant. 6:9).

Verse 4

רַבִּי אַחָא בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: לֹא נֶאֱמַר לָשׁוֹן זֶה ״מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת״ אֶלָּא גִּבּוֹרֵי כֹּחַ, כְּמָה דְאָמַר ״וְהַחוּט הַמְשֻׁלָּשׁ לֹא בִמְהֵרָה יִנָּתֵק״.

Rabbi Acha ben Jacob said: This expression, "three years old" (Gen. 15:9), is said only with reference to the mighty in power, as it is said, "And a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Eccles. 4:12).

Verse 5

רַבִּי מְיָאשָׁא אוֹמֵר: ״מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת״ — מְשֻׁלָּשִׁים יִהְיוּ. שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים עֲתִידִין יִהְיוּ לִמְשֹׁל בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, פַּעַם רִאשׁוֹנָה כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ, פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה בִּשְׁנַיִם, פַּעַם שְׁלִישִׁית כֻּלָּם כְּאֶחָד לְהִלָּחֵם עַל בֵּית דָּוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יִתְיַצְּבוּ מַלְכֵי אֶרֶץ״.

Rabbi Mesharshyah said: (Three years old) refers to a threefold (dominion) which they would exercise three times in the future in the land of Israel. At the first time each one would rule by himself; at the second time two together (would rule); on the third occasion (all) altogether to fight against the house of David, as it is said, "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed" (Ps. 2:2).

Verse 6

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: לָקַח אַבְרָהָם חַרְבּוֹ וְכָתַר אוֹתָם אֶחָד לִשְׁנַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּקַּח לוֹ אֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה וַיְבַתֵּר אֹתָם בַּתָּוֶךְ״. וְאִלּוּ לֹא בָתַר אוֹתָם, לֹא הָיָה הָעוֹלָם יָכוֹל לַעֲמֹד. אֶלָּא הוֹאִיל וּבָתַר אוֹתָם, תָּשַׁשׁ כֹּחָם, וְהִקְרִיב כָּל בֶּתֶר וּבֶתֶר לִקְרַאת רֵעֵהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתֵּן אִישׁ בִּתְרוֹ לִקְרַאת רֵעֵהוּ״. וְגוֹזָל בֶּן יוֹנָה הִנִּיחַ בַּחַיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֶת הַצִּפֹּר לֹא בָתָר״. מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה שָׁם גּוֹזָל אַחֵר אֶלָּא בֶּן יוֹנָה בִּלְבַד. יָרַד עֲלֵיהֶם הָעַיִט לְפַזְּרָן וּלְאַבְּדָן, וְאֵין הָעַיִט זֶה אֶלָּא בֶּן דָּוִד בֶּן יִשַׁי, שֶׁנִּמְשַׁל כְּעַיִט, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַעַיִט צָבוּעַ נַחֲלָתִי לִי״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi Joshua said: Abraham took his sword and divided them, each one into two parts, as it is said, "And he took him all these, and he divided them in the midst" (Gen. 15:10). Were it not for the fact that he divided them, the world would not have been able to exist, but because he divided them, he weakened their strength, and he brought each part against its corresponding part, as it is said, "And he laid each half over against the other" (ibid.). And the young pigeon he left alive, as it is said, "But the bird he divided not" (ibid.). Hence thou mayest learn that there was not any other bird there except a young pigeon. The bird of prey came down upon them || to scatter them and to destroy them. "The bird of prey" is nought else but David, the son of Jesse, who is compared to a "speckled bird of prey," as it is said, "Is mine heritage unto me as a speckled bird of prey?" (Jer. 12:9).

Verse 7

כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ מִן הַמִּזְרָח, הָיָה אַבְרָהָם יוֹשֵׁב וּמֵנִיף עֲלֵיהֶם בְּסוּדָרוֹ, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִמְשֹׁל בָּם הָעַיִט עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא הָעוֹרֵב.

When the sun was about to rise in the east, Abraham sat down and waved his scarf over them, so that the bird of prey should not prevail over them until the raven came.

Verse 8

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה אוֹמֵר: מִכָּאן אַתָּה לָמֵד שֶׁאֵין מָשְׁלָן שֶׁל אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֶלָּא יוֹם אֶחָד מִיּוֹמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲרָךְ: בְּוַדַּאי כִּדְבָרֶיךָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״נְתָנַנִי שׁוֹמֵמָה כָּל הַיּוֹם דָּוָה״, חוּץ מִשְּׁתֵּי יָדוֹת שָׁעָה. תֵּדַע לְךָ שֶׁהוּא כֵּן, בֹּא וּרְאֵה: כְּשֶׁהַחַמָּה נוֹטָה בַמַּעֲרָב שְׁתֵּי יָדוֹת, תָּשַׁשׁ אוֹרוֹ וְאֵין נֹגַהּ לוֹ. וְכֵן, עַד שֶׁלֹּא יָבֹא הָעֶרֶב, יִשְׂמַח אוֹרָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְהָיָה לְעֵת עֶרֶב יִהְיֶה אוֹר״.

Rabbi Elazar ben 'Azariah said: From this incident thou mayest learn that the rule of these four kingdoms will only last one day according to the day of the Holy One, blessed be He. Rabbi Elazar ben 'Arakh said unto him: Verily it is so, according to thy word, as it is said, "He hath made me desolate and faint all the day" (Lam. 1:13), except for two-thirds of an hour (of God). Know that it is so. Come and see, for when the sun turns to set in the west, (during) two hours its power is weakened, and it has no light, likewise whilst the evening has not yet come, the light of Israel shall arise, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light" (Zech. 14:7).

Verse 9

עָמַד אַבְרָהָם וְהָיָה מִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּעְבְּדוּ בָּנָיו בְּאַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ, וְנָפְלָה עָלָיו שְׁנַת תַּרְדֵּמָה וַיִּישַׁן לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְתַרְדֵּמָה נָפְלָה עַל אַבְרָם״. וְכִי יֵשׁ לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁהוּא יוֹשֵׁב וְיָשֵׁן וְיוּכַל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל? אֶלָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהָיָה אַבְרָם שׁוֹכֵב וְיָשֵׁן מִכֹּחַ תְּפִלָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּעְבְּדוּ אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִנֵּה אֵימָה חֲשֵׁכָה גְדֹלָה נֹפֶלֶת עָלָיו״. ״אֵימָה״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת אֱדוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״דְּחִילָא וְאֵימְתָנִי וְתַקִּיפָא״. ״חֲשֵׁכָה״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת יָוָן שֶׁהֶחְשִׁיכָה עֵינֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל מִצְווֹת הַתּוֹרָה. ״גְּדוֹלָה״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת פָּרַס וּמָדַי שֶׁגָּדְלָה לִמְכֹּר אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל חִנָּם. ״נֹפֶלֶת״ – זוֹ מַלְכוּת בָּבֶל שֶׁנָּפְלָה בְּיָדָם יִשְׂרָאֵל. ״עָלָיו״ – אֵלּוּ יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם בֶּן דָּוִד יִצְמַח, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אוֹיְבָיו אַלְבִּישׁ בֹּשֶׁת״.

Abraham arose and prayed before the Holy One, blessed be He, that his children should not be enslaved by these four kingdoms. A deep sleep fell upon him, and he slept, as it is said, "A deep sleep fell upon Abram" (Gen. 15:12). Does then a man lie down and sleep, and yet be able to pray? But this teaches thee that Abraham was lying down and sleeping because of the intensity of his prayer that his children might enslave || these four kingdoms, as it is said, "And, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him" (ibid.). "Horror" refers to the kingdom of Edom, as it is written, "And behold a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly" (Dan. 7:7). "Darkness" is the kingdom of those who darken the eyes of Israel (by preventing the observance of) all the precepts which are in the Torah. "Great" (Gen. 15:12) refers to the kingdom of Media and Persia, which was great (enough to be able to afford) to sell Israel for nought. "Fell" (ibid.) refers to the kingdom of Babylon, because in their hand fell the crown of Israel, as it is said, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen" (Isa. 21:9). "Upon him" (Gen. 15:12) refers to the Ishmaelites, upon whom the Son of David will flourish, as it is said, "His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon him shall his crown flourish" (Ps. 132:18).

Verse 10

רַבִּי זְעֵירָא אוֹמֵר: לֹא נִבְרְאוּ מַלְכֻיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֶלָּא עֵצִים לַגֵּיהִנֹּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְהִנֵּה תַנּוּר עָשָׁן וְלַפִּיד אֵשׁ״. וְאֵין תַּנּוּר אֶלָּא גֵּיהִנֹּם שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלָה כְּתַנּוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו לא, ט): ״נְאֻם ה' אֲשֶׁר אוּר לוֹ בְּצִיּוֹן וְתַנּוּר לוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם״.

Rabbi Ẓe'era said: These kingdoms were created only as fuel for Gehinnom, as it is said, "Behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed" (Gen. 15:17). Here the word "furnace" signifies only Gehinnom, which is compared to a furnace, as it is said, "Saith the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem" (Isa. 31:9).