1) 18:8 What happened to the bread? See Rashi and Rashbam.
(ח) וַיִּקַּ֨ח חֶמְאָ֜ה וְחָלָ֗ב וּבֶן־הַבָּקָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהֽוּא־עֹמֵ֧ד עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם תַּ֥חַת הָעֵ֖ץ וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃
(8) He took curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree as they ate.
(א) ויקח חמאה וגו'. וְלֶחֶם לֹא הֵבִיא, לְפִי שֶׁפֵּרְסָה שָׂרָה נִדָּה, שֶׁחָזַר לָהּ אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, וְנִטְמֵאת הָעִסָּה (בבא מציעא שם):
(1) ויקח חמאה וגו AND HE TOOK חמאה, ETC. — but he did not bring bread, on account of Sarah becoming mentstruant; as the 'way of women' returned to her that day, and the dough became impure (Bava Metzia 87a).
(א) ויקח חמאה וחלב - לפי פשוטו של מקרא לא הוצרך לפרש שהביא את פת לחם על השלחן אלא התוספת שלא אמר להם הוצרך לומר שהביא. הבאת פת על השלחן אינו חידוש אבל החמאה והבשר שאינו מזומן לכל האורחים הוצרך לפרש.
(1) ויקח חמאה וחלב, according to the plain meaning of the text there was no need to report that Avraham supplied the bread which he had volunteered to serve these men. It was only necessary to list the additional items he served, seeing no mention had been made of them thus far.
2) 18:13 Did God cite Sarah accurately? See Rashi and Radak.
(יג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם לָ֣מָּה זֶּה֩ צָחֲקָ֨ה שָׂרָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר הַאַ֥ף אֻמְנָ֛ם אֵלֵ֖ד וַאֲנִ֥י זָקַֽנְתִּי׃
(13) Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I in truth bear a child, old as I am?’
(א) האף אמנם. הֲגַם אֱמֶת אֵלֵד? (ב) ואני זקנתי שִׁנָּה הַכָּתוּב מִפְּנֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁהֲרֵי הִיא אָמְרָה וַאדֹנִי זָקֵן:
(1) האף אמנם means SHALL I REALLY BEAR? (2) ואני זקנתי I BEING OLD — Scripture (God) in relating her words to her husband alters them for the sake of peace, for she had said (v. 12) “my lord is old” (Genesis Rabbah 48:18).
(ב) האף אמנם, הגם באמת יהיה זה הפלא שאלד ואני זקנתי, ואע"פ שלא השיב באלה המלות או התיבות שאמרה היא, השיב הענין שחשבה לאמר כי הכתוב שומר הטעמים ואינו שומר המלים, ולא חשש להשיב ואדני זקן, כי הפלא הגדול יהיה בה כי הזקנה לא תלד אחר שנפסקו דמיה ויש זקנים מילדים:
(2) ?האף אמנם אלד, will such a miracle indeed occur on my behalf even though I am that old? Even though the angel did not answer her point by point, he did answer her with an overall statement that there simply is nothing which is beyond G’d’s power to accomplish if he so desires. Our author uses a similar approach when examining the words Eliezer used in explaining his mission in Genesis 24,39. There too, the fact that he conveyed the content of what he had asked Avraham before undertaking his mission was important, the exact wording was not the issue. The angel did not even bother to reply to Sarah’s statement that her husband too was too old to impregnate her with semen. The reason he did not do so was that Sarah having had her menopause was the far greater natural impediment to her becoming pregnant. It is not altogether unknown for old men to father children even in their advanced old age.
3) 19:8 and Sefer Shoftim Chapter 19:15-25. What are the parallels between the Sodom story and Pilegesh b'Givah? What are the differences? See Ramban.
(ח) הִנֵּה־נָ֨א לִ֜י שְׁתֵּ֣י בָנ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יָדְעוּ֙ אִ֔ישׁ אוֹצִֽיאָה־נָּ֤א אֶתְהֶן֙ אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ן כַּטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם רַ֠ק לָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵל֙ אַל־תַּעֲשׂ֣וּ דָבָ֔ר כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן בָּ֖אוּ בְּצֵ֥ל קֹרָתִֽי׃
(8) Look, I have two daughters who have not known a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you please; but do not do anything to these men, since they have come under the shelter of my roof.”
(טו) וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ שָׁ֔ם לָב֖וֹא לָל֣וּן בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֗א וַיֵּ֙שֶׁב֙ בִּרְח֣וֹב הָעִ֔יר וְאֵ֥ין אִ֛ישׁ מְאַסֵּֽף־אוֹתָ֥ם הַבַּ֖יְתָה לָלֽוּן׃ (טז) וְהִנֵּ֣ה ׀ אִ֣ישׁ זָקֵ֗ן בָּ֣א מִֽן־מַעֲשֵׂ֤הוּ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה֙ בָּעֶ֔רֶב וְהָאִישׁ֙ מֵהַ֣ר אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְהוּא־גָ֖ר בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וְאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמָּק֖וֹם בְּנֵ֥י יְמִינִֽי׃ (יז) וַיִּשָּׂ֣א עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֛רְא אֶת־הָאִ֥ישׁ הָאֹרֵ֖חַ בִּרְחֹ֣ב הָעִ֑יר וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִ֧ישׁ הַזָּקֵ֛ן אָ֥נָה תֵלֵ֖ךְ וּמֵאַ֥יִן תָּבֽוֹא׃ (יח) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו עֹבְרִ֨ים אֲנַ֜חְנוּ מִבֵּֽית־לֶ֣חֶם יְהוּדָה֮ עַד־יַרְכְּתֵ֣י הַר־אֶפְרַ֒יִם֒ מִשָּׁ֣ם אָנֹ֔כִי וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ עַד־בֵּ֥ית לֶ֖חֶם יְהוּדָ֑ה וְאֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהֹוָה֙ אֲנִ֣י הֹלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֣ין אִ֔ישׁ מְאַסֵּ֥ף אוֹתִ֖י הַבָּֽיְתָה׃ (יט) וְגַם־תֶּ֤בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּוֹא֙ יֵ֣שׁ לַחֲמוֹרֵ֔ינוּ וְ֠גַ֠ם לֶ֣חֶם וָיַ֤יִן יֶשׁ־לִי֙ וְלַאֲמָתֶ֔ךָ וְלַנַּ֖עַר עִם־עֲבָדֶ֑יךָ אֵ֥ין מַחְס֖וֹר כׇּל־דָּבָֽר׃ (כ) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הָאִ֤ישׁ הַזָּקֵן֙ שָׁל֣וֹם לָ֔ךְ רַ֥ק כׇּל־מַחְסוֹרְךָ֖ עָלָ֑י רַ֥ק בָּרְח֖וֹב אַל־תָּלַֽן׃ (כא) וַיְבִיאֵ֣הוּ לְבֵית֔וֹ (ויבול) [וַיָּ֖בׇל] לַחֲמוֹרִ֑ים וַֽיִּרְחֲצוּ֙ רַגְלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּאכְל֖וּ וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ׃ (כב) הֵ֘מָּה֮ מֵיטִיבִ֣ים אֶת־לִבָּם֒ וְהִנֵּה֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הָעִ֜יר אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־בְלִיַּ֗עַל נָסַ֙בּוּ֙ אֶת־הַבַּ֔יִת מִֽתְדַּפְּקִ֖ים עַל־הַדָּ֑לֶת וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אֶל־הָ֠אִ֠ישׁ בַּ֣עַל הַבַּ֤יִת הַזָּקֵן֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר הוֹצֵ֗א אֶת־הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א אֶל־בֵּיתְךָ֖ וְנֵדָעֶֽנּוּ׃ (כג) וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם הָאִישׁ֙ בַּ֣עַל הַבַּ֔יִת וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַל־אַחַ֖י אַל־תָּרֵ֣עוּ נָ֑א אַ֠חֲרֵי אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֞א הָאִ֤ישׁ הַזֶּה֙ אֶל־בֵּיתִ֔י אַֽל־תַּעֲשׂ֖וּ אֶת־הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ (כד) הִנֵּה֩ בִתִּ֨י הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה וּפִילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ אֽוֹצִיאָה־נָּ֤א אוֹתָם֙ וְעַנּ֣וּ אוֹתָ֔ם וַעֲשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם הַטּ֖וֹב בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם וְלָאִ֤ישׁ הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תַֽעֲשׂ֔וּ דְּבַ֖ר הַנְּבָלָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת׃ (כה) וְלֹֽא־אָב֤וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣עַֽ ל֔וֹ וַיַּחֲזֵ֤ק הָאִישׁ֙ בְּפִ֣ילַגְשׁ֔וֹ וַיֹּצֵ֥א אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם הַח֑וּץ וַיֵּדְע֣וּ א֠וֹתָ֠הּ וַיִּֽתְעַלְּלוּ־בָ֤הּ כׇּל־הַלַּ֙יְלָה֙ עַד־הַבֹּ֔קֶר וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֖וּהָ (בעלות) [כַּעֲל֥וֹת] הַשָּֽׁחַר׃
(15) And they turned aside there to go in and to lodge in Giv῾a: and when he went in, he sat down in the open place of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge the night. (16) And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening, who was also of mount Efrayim; and he sojourned in Giv῾a: but the men of the place were Beneyamini. (17) And he lifted up his eyes, and saw a traveller in the open place of the city: and the old man said, Where dost thou go, and where hast thou come from? (18) And he said to him, We are passing from Bet-leĥem-yehuda and on to the far side of mount Efrayim; I am from there: and I went to Bet-leĥem-yehuda, but I am now going to the house of the Lord; and there is no man that receives me in his house. (19) Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man who is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing. (20) And the old man said, Peace be with thee; only let all thy wants lie upon me; but lodge not in the street. (21) So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink. (22) Now as they were gladdening their hearts, behold, the men of the city, worthless men, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring out the man that came into thy house, that we may have our desire of him. (23) And the man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brethren, no, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not carry out this vileness. (24) Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now; ravish them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man do not so vile a thing. (25) But the men would not hearken to him: so the man seized his concubine, and brought her out to them; and they had their desire of her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
(א) אוציאה נא אתהן אליכם מתוך שבחו של האיש הזה באנו לידי גנותו שהיה טורח מאד על אכסניא שלו להציל אותם מפני שבאו בצל קורתו אבל שיפייס אנשי העיר בהפקר בנותיו אין זה כי אם רוע לב שלא היה ענין הזמה בנשים מרוחק בעיניו ולא היה עושה לבנותיו חמס גדול כפי דעתו לכך אמרו רבותינו (תנחומא וירא יב) בנוהג שבעולם אדם מוסר עצמו על בנותיו ועל אשתו והורג או נהרג וזה מוסר בנותיו להתעולל בהן אמר לו הקב"ה לעצמך אתה משמרן והנה לוט היה מתירא עליהם כי היה חושב שהם אנשים אבל כאשר הכו בסנורים את אנשי העיר ואמרו לו כי משחיתים אנחנו את המקום הזה וישלחנו ה' לשחתה אז הכיר בהם והאמין לעשות כל אשר צוו ודע והבן כי ענין פילגש בגבעה (שופטים יט) אף על פי שהוא נדמה לענין הזה איננו כמוהו לרוע כי הרשעים ההם לא היה דעתם לכלות הרגל ממקומם אבל היו שטופי זמה ורצו גם במשכב האיש האורח וכאשר הוציאו אליהם פילגשו נתפייסו בה והאיש הזקן שאמר להם הנה בתי הבתולה ופילגשהו אוציאה נא אותם ועשו להם הטוב בעיניכם (שם יט כד) יודע היה שלא יחפצו בבתו ולא יעשו עמה רעה ועל כן לא אבו לשמוע לו וכאשר הוציא את פילגשו לבדה שתקו ממנו והאיש בעל הבית גם האורח כולם היו חפצים להציל את האיש בפילגשו כי פילגש היתה לא אשת איש וכבר זנתה עליו ובפרץ ההוא עוד לא היו בו כל אנשי העיר כאשר בסדום שנאמר בו "מנער ועד זקן כל העם מקצה" אבל בגבעה נאמר והנה אנשי העיר "אנשי בני בליעל" (שם יט כב) מקצתם שהיו שרים ותקיפים בעיר כמו שאמר האיש (שם כ ה) ויקומו עלי בעלי הגבעה ועל כן לא מיחו האחרים בידם והנה פנות כל העם מכל שבטי ישראל רצו לעשות גדר גדול בדבר להמית אותם שנאמר (שם כ יג) ועתה תנו את האנשים בני בליעל אשר בגבעה ונמיתם ודבר ברור הוא שלא היו חייבין מיתה בדין תורה שלא עשו מעשה זולתי ענוי הפילגש הזונה ולא נתכוונו למיתה שלה וגם לא מתה בידם וישלחוה מאתם כעלות השחר והלכה מאתם לבית אדוניה ואחר כך מתה אולי נחלשה מרוב הביאות ונתקררה בפתח עד האור ומתה שם אבל מפני שהיו חפצים ואומרים לעשות נבלה כאנשי סדום ראו השבטים לעשות סייג לתורה שלא יעשה ולא יאמר כן בישראל כמו שאמרו ונבערה רעה מישראל (שם) וזה הדין הוא ממה שאמרו רבותינו (סנהדרין מו) בית דין מכין ועונשין שלא מן התורה ולא לעבור על דברי תורה אלא לעשות סייג לתורה ושבט בנימין לא הסכימו בדבר זה שלא היה בהם חיוב מיתה בענוי הפלגש ואולי הקפידו עוד בני בנימין על אשר לא שלחו להם מתחילה ועשו ההסכמה שלא מדעתם ולפי דעתי שזה ענשם של ישראל להנגף בתחילה מפני שלא היתה המלחמה נעשית מן הדין והגדר עצמו על שבט בנימין היה מוטל לעשותו ולא עליהם שמצוה על השבט לדון את שבטו (ספרי קמד) והנה שתי הכתות ראויות להענש כי בנימין מרשיע שאינו חושש ליסר הרעים ולא לגעור בהם כלל וישראל עושין מלחמה שלא מן הדין וגם את פי ה' לא שאלו בזה אבל אמרו מי יעלה לנו בתחלה למלחמה על בני בנימין (שופטים כ יח) כי מעצמם הסכימו למלחמה על כל פנים וכן לא שאלו בענין הנצוח "אם תתנם בידי" כי בטחו בזרוע בשר שהיו רבים מאד כי עתה כמוהם עשרה פעמים ויותר ולא שאלו אלא "מי יעלה לנו בתחלה" והוא כמו גורל ביניהם אולי היה כל שבט אומר "לא אעלה אני תחלה" או אומר "אני ראשון" והקב"ה השיב כפי שאלתם יהודה בתחלה לאמור כי יהודה הוא בראש לעולם כי ביהודה בחר ה' לנגיד (דהי"א כח ד) ולכך לא אמר "יהודה יעלה" כשאר המקומות (עיין שופטים א ב) כי לא הרשה אותם אבל לא מנעם ולא אמר להם "לא תעלו ולא תלחמו" מפני ענשו של בנימין והנה הלך השם עם שניהם בקרי והניחם למקרים ובני בנימין היו גבורים ועריהם בצורות והשחיתו בישראל הבוטחים בזרוע בשר והוסיפו עונש על ענשם כי די היה להם להבריח ישראל מן הגבעה והם הכו בהם למשחית איבת עולם והפילו מהם עם רב ועצום כ"ב אלפים והנה ישראל כאשר הכו מכה רבה נודעה להם שגגתם כי עשו מלחמה עם אחיהם שלא ברשות גבוה ושלא כדין תורה ועל כן שאלו ביום השני האוסיף לגשת למלחמה עם בני בנימין אחי (שם כ כג) והזכירו עתה האחוה לשאול אם הוא אוסר עליהם המלחמה והשם הרשה אותם עתה ביום השני ואמר עלו אליו כי עתה מותר להם לדרוש דם אחיהם השפוך והם לא שאלו הנצוח כי עדיין היו בוטחים ברובם לנצח על כל פנים והשם לא באר להם רק כי המלחמה מותרת להם ומפני שעדיין לא נתכפר ענשם הראשון נפלו מהם גם ביום השני י"ח אלפים וביום השלישי גזרו תענית ויצומו ויבכו לפני ה' והקריבו עולות לכפר על הרהורי הלב אשר בטחו בזרועם והקריבו שלמים והם שלמי תודה כי ראו עצמם כאלו כלם פלטים מחרב בנימין וזה משפט כל הנמלטים להקריב תודה כענין שנאמר (תהלים קז כב) ויזבחו זבחי תודה ויספרו מעשיו ברנה וכתוב (שם כז ו) ועתה ירום ראשי על אויבי סביבותי ואזבחה באהלו זבחי תרועה אשירה ואזמרה לה' והנה היו בשני הימים המתים מישראל ארבעים אלף ומבנימן נפלו בסוף כ"ה אלפים אנשי חיל (שופטים כ לה) ומעיר מתום עד כל הנמצא (שם כ מח) רבים ויתכן שיהיו ט"ו אלפים בין אנשים ונשים והטף והיה עונש שתי הכתות בשוה ומה נכבדו דברי רבותינו (סנהדרין קג) שהיה הקצף בפסלו של מיכה אמר הקב"ה בכבודי לא מחיתם בכבוד בשר ודם מחיתם לומר בכבודי לא מחיתם במחוייבי מיתה ופושטים ידיהם בעיקר בכבוד בשר ודם מחיתם יותר משורת הדין ועל כן סכל עצת שתי הכתות ואמץ את לבבם ולא זכרו ברית אחים ואחר המעשה נתחרטו כמו שנאמר (שופטים כא ב) ויבא העם בית אל וישבו שם עד הערב לפני האלהים ויבכו בכי גדול ויאמרו למה ה' אלהי ישראל היתה זאת בישראל להפקד היום מישראל שבט אחד כי הכירו טעותם וענשם והנה בדרך גררא פירשנו ענין מהותם ואינו מבואר והזכרנו סיבותיו:
(1) LET ME, I PRAY YOU, BRING THEM OUT UNTO YOU. From the praise of this man Lot we have come to his disgrace: he made every effort on behalf of his guests in order to save them because they came under the shadow of his roof, but he is ready to appease the men of the city by abandoning his daughters to prostitution! This bespeaks nothing but an evil heart for it shows that the matter of prostitution of women was not repugnant to him, and that in his opinion he would not be doing such great injustice to his daughters. It is for this reason that our Rabbis have said, “It is the custom of the world that a man fights to the death for the honor of his daughters and his wife, to slay or to be slain, but this man hands over his daughters for dishonor. Said the Holy One, blessed be He, to him, ‘It is for yourself that you keep them.’”
Now Lot was fearful [for the welfare of the angels] as he thought that they were men, but when they smote the men of the city with blindness and they said to him, For we will destroy this place… and the Eternal hath sent us, then he recognized them and believed in doing whatever they commanded him.
Know and understand that the matter of the concubine of Gibeah, even though it resembles this affair, does not attain the degree of evil of the inhabitants of Sodom. Those wicked ones of Gibeah had no intention of stopping people from coming among them. Rather, they were steeped in immorality and desired sexual relations with the wayfarer, and when he brought his concubine out to them, they were satisfied with her. The old man [who had invited the wayfarer to his house] and who said to the men of Gibeah, Behold, here is my daughter, a virgin, and his concubine; I will bring them out now… and do with them what seemeth good unto you, knew that they would not want his daughter and that they would not harm her. This was why they refused to listen to him. And when he finally turned his concubine alone outdoors to them, they ceased molesting him. Now the master of the house, as well as the guest, both wanted to save the man through his concubine, as a concubine does not have the status of a man’s wife. Besides, she had already played the harlot against him. In that breach, too, not all of the men of the city were involved as they were in Sodom, concerning which it is said, Both young and old, all the people from every quarter, while of Gibeah it is said, Behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows — only some of them, those who were the rulers and strong men of the city, even as the man said in relating the incident, And the masters of Gibeah rose against me. This was why the others did not protest against them. Now the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel wanted to erect a great guard in the matter of immorality by slaying them, as it is said, Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death. It is clear that according to the law of the Torah they were not guilty of the death-penalty as they had done no deed exclusive of the torture of the concubine — harlot. They did not intend her death, nor did she die at their hands for they let her go at the approach of dawn, and she walked from them to her master’s house and after that she died, weakened perhaps by her numerous violations, and chilled while lying at the door until it was light, and there she died. But because the men of Gibeah had wanted to do a shameful deed just as the men of Sodom, the tribes saw fit “to make a fence unto the Torah” so that this should never again happen or be contemplated in Israel, even as they said, And that we may put away evil from Israel. This judgment has its origin in the principle which our Rabbis have stated: “The Court may administer stripes and the death penalty which are not authorized by the Torah. However, they may not do this [with the intent of instituting a law which] transgresses the words of the Torah but only for the purpose of erecting a fence around the Torah.” The tribe of Benjamin, however, did not consent to this as they were not guilty of the death-penalty for violating the concubine. Perhaps the Benjamites were also provoked by the fact that the tribes did not communicate with them first and reached a consensus without asking for their opinion.
In my opinion, this [failure to consult Benjamin] caused Israel’s punishment which resulted in their being routed at first since the war was done not in accordance with the law. The obligation of making “the fence” lay upon the tribe of Benjamin, and not upon them, as it is the tribe itself that is obligated to judge its constituents.
Thus both parties were deserving of punishment. Benjamin sinned by not bothering to punish the wicked ones or even rebuke them. Israel sinned by making war not in accordance with the law, and they asked not counsel at the mouth of the Eternal on this matter. Instead they questioned G-d and said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? They themselves had decided to do battle in any case. Similarly, they did not inquire concerning the outcome of the battle, “If Thou wilt give them into my hand,” since they relied on their man-power which was exceedingly great as they were now more than ten times [as numerous as the Benjamites]. All they asked was, Who shall go up for us first, this being like casting lots among them. Perhaps each tribe was saying, “I will not go up first,” or each tribe was saying, “I will be first.” And the Holy One, blessed be He, answered in accordance with their question: Judah first, meaning Judah is always first, For He hath chosen Judah to be prince. This was why He did not say, “Judah shall go up,” as in other places, for He did not give them permission. However, He did not stop them, and neither did he tell them, Go not up, neither fight, because of the merited punishment of the Benjamites. Thus did G-d walk with both of them by chance, leaving them to natural circumstances. Accordingly, the Benjamites, who were valiant men and whose cities were well fortified, destroyed the Israelites who had “made flesh their arm of strength.” But now the Benjamites compounded their merited punishment. It would have been sufficient for them to drive the Israelites away from Gibeah. Instead, they killed them, seeking to destroy them by a perpetual hatred, and they slew the mighty number of twenty-two thousand of their people. Now when the Israelites suffered such a great defeat they became aware of their error, namely, that they did battle with their brethren without receiving Divine permission and engaged in a battle which was not in accordance with the law of the Torah. Therefore, on the second day they asked, shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? Now they mentioned the brotherhood among them, asking whether He forbids them to do battle. But now on the second day, G-d permitted them, saying, Go up against him, as it was now permissible for them to avenge the spilled blood of their brethren. However, they did not ask whether they will be victorious because they were still relying upon their superior numbers to bring victory under all circumstances. But since G-d had explained to them only that the battle was permissible to them, and since their first sin had not yet been atoned for, there fell among them also on the second day eighteen thousand. On the third day they decreed a fast, and they fasted and they wept… before the Eternal, and they offered burnt-offerings to atone for their sinful thoughts through which they relied upon the strength of their arm. They also offered peace-offerings, which were Thanksgiving peace-offerings, since they considered themselves as if they had all escaped from the sword of Benjamin. This indeed is the law of all who are delivered from danger: they are to bring a thanks-offering, just as it is said, And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with singing, and it is further written, And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Eternal.
Now the number of dead among the Israelites during the two days was forty thousand, and in the end twenty-five thousand of Benjamin’s warriors fell, besides those that were put to the sword from the whole city and all that they found. It is possible that among the men, women and children they totalled fifteen thousand additional casualties, thus making the punishment of the two groups equal.
And how significant are the words of our Rabbis who said that the anger of G-d at that time was due to the idol of Micah! “Said the Holy One, blessed be He, ‘Concerning My honor, which was violated by those guilty of death and those who raised their hand against the principle of religion, namely, the unity of G-d, you did not protest; but for the honor of a mortal you did protest, to an extent which exceeded the limits of justice!”
Therefore He confounded the counsel of the two groups and made their hearts stubborn, and they remembered not the brotherly covenant. But after the affair they had regrets, just as it is said, And the people came to Beth-eland sat there till evening before G-d, and lifted up their voice, and wept bitterly. And they said: O Eternal, G-d of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe missing from Israel? For now they realized their mistakes and punishment.
We have thus incidentally explained a concealed matter which is not clear [with a cursory reading of the text], and we have mentioned the cause thereof.
Now Lot was fearful [for the welfare of the angels] as he thought that they were men, but when they smote the men of the city with blindness and they said to him, For we will destroy this place… and the Eternal hath sent us, then he recognized them and believed in doing whatever they commanded him.
Know and understand that the matter of the concubine of Gibeah, even though it resembles this affair, does not attain the degree of evil of the inhabitants of Sodom. Those wicked ones of Gibeah had no intention of stopping people from coming among them. Rather, they were steeped in immorality and desired sexual relations with the wayfarer, and when he brought his concubine out to them, they were satisfied with her. The old man [who had invited the wayfarer to his house] and who said to the men of Gibeah, Behold, here is my daughter, a virgin, and his concubine; I will bring them out now… and do with them what seemeth good unto you, knew that they would not want his daughter and that they would not harm her. This was why they refused to listen to him. And when he finally turned his concubine alone outdoors to them, they ceased molesting him. Now the master of the house, as well as the guest, both wanted to save the man through his concubine, as a concubine does not have the status of a man’s wife. Besides, she had already played the harlot against him. In that breach, too, not all of the men of the city were involved as they were in Sodom, concerning which it is said, Both young and old, all the people from every quarter, while of Gibeah it is said, Behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows — only some of them, those who were the rulers and strong men of the city, even as the man said in relating the incident, And the masters of Gibeah rose against me. This was why the others did not protest against them. Now the chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel wanted to erect a great guard in the matter of immorality by slaying them, as it is said, Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death. It is clear that according to the law of the Torah they were not guilty of the death-penalty as they had done no deed exclusive of the torture of the concubine — harlot. They did not intend her death, nor did she die at their hands for they let her go at the approach of dawn, and she walked from them to her master’s house and after that she died, weakened perhaps by her numerous violations, and chilled while lying at the door until it was light, and there she died. But because the men of Gibeah had wanted to do a shameful deed just as the men of Sodom, the tribes saw fit “to make a fence unto the Torah” so that this should never again happen or be contemplated in Israel, even as they said, And that we may put away evil from Israel. This judgment has its origin in the principle which our Rabbis have stated: “The Court may administer stripes and the death penalty which are not authorized by the Torah. However, they may not do this [with the intent of instituting a law which] transgresses the words of the Torah but only for the purpose of erecting a fence around the Torah.” The tribe of Benjamin, however, did not consent to this as they were not guilty of the death-penalty for violating the concubine. Perhaps the Benjamites were also provoked by the fact that the tribes did not communicate with them first and reached a consensus without asking for their opinion.
In my opinion, this [failure to consult Benjamin] caused Israel’s punishment which resulted in their being routed at first since the war was done not in accordance with the law. The obligation of making “the fence” lay upon the tribe of Benjamin, and not upon them, as it is the tribe itself that is obligated to judge its constituents.
Thus both parties were deserving of punishment. Benjamin sinned by not bothering to punish the wicked ones or even rebuke them. Israel sinned by making war not in accordance with the law, and they asked not counsel at the mouth of the Eternal on this matter. Instead they questioned G-d and said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? They themselves had decided to do battle in any case. Similarly, they did not inquire concerning the outcome of the battle, “If Thou wilt give them into my hand,” since they relied on their man-power which was exceedingly great as they were now more than ten times [as numerous as the Benjamites]. All they asked was, Who shall go up for us first, this being like casting lots among them. Perhaps each tribe was saying, “I will not go up first,” or each tribe was saying, “I will be first.” And the Holy One, blessed be He, answered in accordance with their question: Judah first, meaning Judah is always first, For He hath chosen Judah to be prince. This was why He did not say, “Judah shall go up,” as in other places, for He did not give them permission. However, He did not stop them, and neither did he tell them, Go not up, neither fight, because of the merited punishment of the Benjamites. Thus did G-d walk with both of them by chance, leaving them to natural circumstances. Accordingly, the Benjamites, who were valiant men and whose cities were well fortified, destroyed the Israelites who had “made flesh their arm of strength.” But now the Benjamites compounded their merited punishment. It would have been sufficient for them to drive the Israelites away from Gibeah. Instead, they killed them, seeking to destroy them by a perpetual hatred, and they slew the mighty number of twenty-two thousand of their people. Now when the Israelites suffered such a great defeat they became aware of their error, namely, that they did battle with their brethren without receiving Divine permission and engaged in a battle which was not in accordance with the law of the Torah. Therefore, on the second day they asked, shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? Now they mentioned the brotherhood among them, asking whether He forbids them to do battle. But now on the second day, G-d permitted them, saying, Go up against him, as it was now permissible for them to avenge the spilled blood of their brethren. However, they did not ask whether they will be victorious because they were still relying upon their superior numbers to bring victory under all circumstances. But since G-d had explained to them only that the battle was permissible to them, and since their first sin had not yet been atoned for, there fell among them also on the second day eighteen thousand. On the third day they decreed a fast, and they fasted and they wept… before the Eternal, and they offered burnt-offerings to atone for their sinful thoughts through which they relied upon the strength of their arm. They also offered peace-offerings, which were Thanksgiving peace-offerings, since they considered themselves as if they had all escaped from the sword of Benjamin. This indeed is the law of all who are delivered from danger: they are to bring a thanks-offering, just as it is said, And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with singing, and it is further written, And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me; and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices with trumpet-sound; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Eternal.
Now the number of dead among the Israelites during the two days was forty thousand, and in the end twenty-five thousand of Benjamin’s warriors fell, besides those that were put to the sword from the whole city and all that they found. It is possible that among the men, women and children they totalled fifteen thousand additional casualties, thus making the punishment of the two groups equal.
And how significant are the words of our Rabbis who said that the anger of G-d at that time was due to the idol of Micah! “Said the Holy One, blessed be He, ‘Concerning My honor, which was violated by those guilty of death and those who raised their hand against the principle of religion, namely, the unity of G-d, you did not protest; but for the honor of a mortal you did protest, to an extent which exceeded the limits of justice!”
Therefore He confounded the counsel of the two groups and made their hearts stubborn, and they remembered not the brotherly covenant. But after the affair they had regrets, just as it is said, And the people came to Beth-eland sat there till evening before G-d, and lifted up their voice, and wept bitterly. And they said: O Eternal, G-d of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe missing from Israel? For now they realized their mistakes and punishment.
We have thus incidentally explained a concealed matter which is not clear [with a cursory reading of the text], and we have mentioned the cause thereof.
4) 19:31 Why did Lot's daughters think they had no prospects for marriage? See Rashi and Radak.
(לא) וַתֹּ֧אמֶר הַבְּכִירָ֛ה אֶל־הַצְּעִירָ֖ה אָבִ֣ינוּ זָקֵ֑ן וְאִ֨ישׁ אֵ֤ין בָּאָ֙רֶץ֙ לָב֣וֹא עָלֵ֔ינוּ כְּדֶ֖רֶךְ כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(31) And the older one said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to consort with us in the way of all the world.
(א) אבינו זקן. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁו אֵימָתַי? שֶׁמָּא יָמוּת אוֹ יִפְסֹק מֵהוֹלִיד: (ב) ואיש אין בארץ. סְבוּרוֹת הָיוּ שֶׁכָּל הָעוֹלָם נֶחֱרַב כְּמוֹ בְּדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל: (בראשית רבה):
(1) אבינו זקן OUR FATHER IS OLD — And if not now, when? He may die or may cease to beget children. (2) ואיש אין בארץ AND THERE IS NOT A MAN IN THE EARTH — They thought that the whole world had been destroyed as in the time of the generation of the Flood. (Genesis Rabbah 51:8).
(א) ותאמר אבינו זקן, ואין תקוה עוד שיקח אשה ויהיו לו בנים ואם אנחנו נמות בלא זרע הנה לא ישאיר זכר מאבינו, ואם תאמרי נקח לנו בעלים ויהיה לנו זרע לא נמצא, (ב) כי ואיש אין בארץ לבוא עלינו, רוב המפרשים פירשו, כי חשבו כי כל הארץ כסדום ועמורה שלא נשאר איש ואשה בארץ וזהו רחוק שהרי יצאו הם מצוער שלא נהפכה וכן יש להם לחשוב כי שאר הארץ גם כן לא נהפכה, גם שמעו מאביהן כי סדום ועמורה מרעת יושביה נהפכה; וטוב הוא מה ששמעתי בשם יוסף קרא כי אמרה הבכירה לא נמצא באדם שירצה לקחת אותנו לנשים כי יאמרו מאנשי ההפכה הן ואין ראוי להתחבר עמהן.
(1) ותאמר...אבינו זקן, there is no chance that he will marry again and have children from such a woman. If we will die without having children there will not be a memory of our father at all. If you were to say that we should take husbands and have children, where would we find such husbands? (2) איש אין בארץ לבא עלינו. Most interpreters assume that these daughters thought that that just as there was no survivor left from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, so there were none in the rest of the world. It is very difficult to accept such an interpretation, seeing that they had just left Tzoar which had not been destroyed, so that they had every reason to believe that other regions of the earth had also not been affected. Not only that, but their father had told them that the reason why Sodom and Gomorrah had been destroyed was due to their inhabitants’ wickedness. I therefore prefer an explanation which I have heard in the name of Rabbi Yoseph Karo (the elder) that the elder sister told her younger sister that none of the remaining men of the world would want to marry them, seeing they had lived in the wicked city of Sodom. People would not want to associate with anyone who had only narrowly escaped the fate of the Sodomites.
5) 21:9 Why does the verse not refer to Yishmael by name? What does it mean that he was מצחק? See Rashi and Sforno.
(ט) וַתֵּ֨רֶא שָׂרָ֜ה אֶֽת־בֶּן־הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָ֥ה לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם מְצַחֵֽק׃
(9) Sarah saw the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham playing.
(א) מצחק. לְשׁוֹן עֲ"זָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיָּקֻמוּ לְצַחֵק (שמות ל"ב), דָּ"אַ לְשׁוֹן גִּלּוּי עֲרָיוֹת, כְּמָה דְּתֵימָא לְצַחֶק בִּי (בראשית ל"ט), דָּ"אַ לְשׁוֹן רְצִיחָה, כְּמוֹ יָקוּמוּ נָא הַנְּעָרִים וִישַׂחֲקוּ לְפָנֵינוּ וְגוֹ' (שמואל ב ב'), שֶׁהָיָה מֵרִיב עִם יִצְחָק עַל הַיְרֻשָּׁה וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי בְּכוֹר וְנוֹטֵל פִּי שְׁנַיִם, וְיוֹצְאִים בַּשָּׂדֶה וְנוֹטֵל קַשְׁתּוֹ וְיוֹרֶה בוֹ חִצִּים, כְּמָה דְּתֵימָא כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶה זִקִּים וְגוֹ' וְאָמַר הֲלֹא מְשַׂחֵק אָנִי (משלי כ"ו):
(1) מצחק MAKING SPORT — This means worshipping idols, as it is said in reference of the Golden Calf, (Exodus 32:6) “And they rose up to make merry (לצחק).” Another explanation is that it refers to immoral conduct, just as you say in reference to Potiphar’s wife, (Genesis 39:17) “To mock (לצחק) at me.” Another explanation is that it refers to murder, as (2 Samuel 2:14) “Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and make sport (וישחקו) before us” (where they fought with and killed one another) From Sarah’s reply — “for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son״ — you may infer that he (Ishmael) was quarrelling with Isaac about the inheritance, saying, “I am the first-born and will, therefore, take a double portion”. They went into the field and he (Ishmael) took his bow and shot arrows at him (Isaac), just as you say (Proverbs 26:18-19) “As a madman who casteth firebrands, [arrows and death] and says: I am only מצחק mocking” (Genesis Rabbah 53:11).
(א) את בן הגר המצרית חשבה שהתעורר לזה הלעג מפני ששמע כך מאמו כאמרם ז''ל שותא דינוקא בשוקא או דאבוהי או דאימיה: (ב) מצחק מלעיג על המשתה שנעשה בבית אברהם כאמרו שנתעברה מאבימלך והטעם שלא קרה זה בעת לידת יצחק כי ישמעאל שמע כזאת אחר כך מליצני הדור ואם באולי בעת הלידה היה מצחק לא הרגישה בו שרה שהיתה אז טרודה:
(1) את בן הגר המצרית, she assumed that the reason Ishmael had made disparaging remarks about Yitzchok was due to his mother putting him up to it, or to the Egyptian genes of his mother coming into play here. We have a saying in Sukkah 56 that the prattle of children in public reflects either what they picked up from their father or what they picked up from their mother. In the case of Ishmael, he certainly did not overhear his father make such disparaging remarks. (2) מצחק, making fun of the big party Avraham had given to mark the weaning of Yitzchok, He claimed that surely Sarah must have become pregnant from Avimelech. The reason he had not made such remarks already at the time when Yitzchok had been born, was because he had only overheard wicked gossip about this at a later stage, and now he repeated what he had heard.