“And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech
and Phicol, his field marshal spoke to Abraham saying: God is with you in all
that you do. And now swear to me here, that you will not deal falsely with me,
nor with my son, nor with my grandson .... “
Genesis
21: 22 - 23
After
Abraham chased Hagar and Ishmael out of his home, Abimelech, king of the
Philistines came to Abraham to demand that he grant him a treaty. The timing
requires understanding why Abimelech, who had known Abraham for years, was
moved to request a treaty specifically “at that time”?
Professor
Eliezer Berkovits wrote that Jewish history cannot be understood in the same
terms as world history. World history is “power history”. Whoever has had power
has succeeded. The definition of power changes, but the principle that the
nation which has the power succeeds remains a constant.
Jewish
history cannot be understood in terms of power history. On the contrary, by the
rules of power history, Jews should have disappeared many generations ago.
Rather, Jewish history can be explained and understood only in terms of “faith
history”. It is the Jews’ faith which has allowed them to escape the fate which
should be theirs based upon the rules of
power history.
For as
long as Abimelech saw Abraham as some sort of weirdo who lives in his own world
of faith history, he could ignore Abraham. However, now Abraham has done
something seemingly cruel and heartless: chasing his own son out of his home
into the desert. Such behavior is associated with power history, where any
means is considered legitimate in order to preserve power.
When Abimelech
saw that Abraham was capable of playing the game of power history in order to
preserve his life style which is based upon faith history, Abimelech realized
that he could no longer ignore Abraham. Abraham had become a force which must
be reckoned with. Therefore,
specifically “at that time” Abimelech came to Abraham to demand a treaty.
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