Comparing non-aggression pacts entered into by Avraham and Yitzchak with the king of Gerar.
In R. Amnon Bazak’s fifth essay for Parashat Toldot, “Shenai Heskeimim Im Melech Echad” (Nekudat Peticha: Iyunim Ketzarim BePeshuta Shel Parashat HaShavua, Yediot Achronot, Sifrei Chemed, Yeshivat Har Etzion, Rishon LeTziyon, 2018 [new, expanded edition], pp. 66-7), he contrasts the two agreements involving Avimelech, King of Gerar, and first Avraham and then Yitzchak:
(While the king named in each instance is called “Avimelech” [lit. “my father, king] it is possible that this was merely the title of the king of Gerar, similar to Pharoah (Beraishit 12:15 ff.; Shemot 1:11 ff.) and Malkitzedeck [lit. “my king, righteousness”] (Beraishit 14:18) where the title of the head of government was descriptive and therefore an honorific, rather than a formal, individual name. On the other hand, it is also possible that Avimelech in both instances is the same individual, someone who was very young when he dealt with Avraham and Sara, and much older when Yitzchak and Rivka temporarily relocated to his land in the face of an oppressive famine.)
Beraishit 21:22-32
22 And it came to pass at that time, that a) Avimelech and Fichol the captain of his host spoke unto Avraham, saying: God Is with thee in all that thou doest. 23 Now therefore g) swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son; but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. 24 And Avraham said: f) I will swear. 25 And Avraham reproved Avimelech b) because of the well of water, which Avimelech’s servants had violently taken away. 26 And Avimelech said: I know not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but today. 27 And Avraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Avimelech; and they two made a g) covenant. 28 And Avraham set h) seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 And Avimelech said unto Avraham: What mean these seven ewe-lambs which thou hast set by themselves? 30 And he said: Verily, these seven ewe-lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well. 31 Wherefore that place was called d) Be’er Sheva; because d) there they swore both of them. 32 c) So they made a covenant at Be’er Sheva; and Avimelech rose up, and Fichol the captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
Ibid. 26:26-33
26 Then a) Avimelech went to him from Gerar, and Achuzat his friend, and Fichol the captain of his host. 27 And Yitzchak said unto them: Wherefore are ye come unto me, b) seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you (see Ibid. 26:15-21)? 28 And they said: We saw plainly a) that the LORD Was with thee; and we said: Let there now be an g) oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make g) a covenant with thee; 29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace; thou art now the blessed of the LORD. 30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. (An argument from silence, i.e., no mention of anything comparable to the seven lambs that Avraham included in the feast.) 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning and c) f) g) swore one to another; and Yitzchak sent them away, and e) they departed from him in peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Yitzchak ‘s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him: We have found water. 33 And he called it Shiva. Therefore, d) the name of the city is Be’er Sheva unto this day.
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