In the Torah portion of Vayeira we read the story of Avraham’s brief stay in the land of the Philistines, how his wife was abducted and nearly abused, and how later he made a treaty with Avimelech, king of the Philistines. This article will discuss some of the details of the treaty and some of its long-term ramifications.
How Long for?
As is seen from the Chumash, Avraham and Avimelech swore not to harm each other’s children or grandchildren. Yitzchak reiterated the same vow with Avimelech, thus adding one more generation.
The Land of the Philistines Is Part of the Land of Israel
The land of the Philistines, which includes Gaza and nearby areas, was part of Biblical Israel which was promised by G-d to Avraham Avinu. This can be derived from the promise G-d gave to Yitzchak when he was in the land of the Philistines, “Reside in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; I will assign all these lands to you and to your heirs, fulfilling the oath that I swore to your father Avraham.” This land was conquered by the Jewish people in the time of Joshua, as the verse says, “from the Shichor, which is close to Egypt, to the territory of Ekron on the north, are accounted Canaanite, namely, those of the five lords of the Philistines—the Gazites, the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites—and those of the Avvim... Divide this territory into hereditary portions for the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
How Long Did the Treaty Last?
According to the Talmud, the Philistines who lived in the south of Israel were displaced by another nation (the Katorim), which is why Joshua and the Jewish people were allowed to conquer that territory despite the treaty that the patriarchs had made with Avimelech. This is the why the verse informs us that “the Avim [another name for the Philistines according to one opinion in the Talmud] who dwelt in villages in the vicinity of Gaza-- the Katorim, who came from Crete, wiped them out and settled in their place,” as this explains how the Jewish people were permitted to conquer them.
Some say the reason Yeshoshua was allowed to conquer that territory is because three generations had already passed since the treaty was made. The reason that the verse informs us about the capture by the Katorim is to explain why that area was considered the land of Canaan even though the Philistines were not Canaanites. This is because previously it had belonged to the Avim, otherwise known as the Hivites, one of the Canaanite nations whose land had been promised to the Jewish people.
The Philistines in Jerusalem
When Yehoshua conquered the land of Israel, he did not conquer Jerusalem, as the verse says, “But the tribe of Judah could not dispossess the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so they dwell with the Jebusites in Jerusalem to this day.” Rashi explains that the inhabitants of Jerusalem were Philistines who were called Jebusites because of a tower in Jerusalem called “Jebus.” As such, the verse means that the Judahites could not dispossess the Jebusites due to the oath of the patriarchs. Thus, we see that, although over 300 years had passed since the oath of Isaac, some of Avimelech’s grandchildren were still alive.
In addition, the Talmud says that Shimshon was permitted to attack the Philistines despite the above-mentioned oath because they had already broken their oath by persecuting the Jewish people. The Maharsha explains that Avimelech’s grandson was still alive at that time (over 600 years after the treaty), which is why Shimshon needed permission (a heter) to antagonize them.
How Can One Swear on Behalf of One’s Descendants?
By Jewish law, one does not have the power to make an oath that is binding upon one’s descendants. As such, the commentaries question how the oath of Avraham and Isaac with Avimelech was binding upon their descendants because of which they could not conquer Jerusalem until those descendants had passed away.
Rabbi Chaim Benveniste (Turkey, 1603 – 1673), author of the Knesset HaGedolah offers four answers to this question:
- Some say that the leaders of the generation (or of a city) can make an oath that is binding upon their descendants.
- It is possible that the patriarchs and Avimelech worded their oath rather as a cherem (ban of excommunication) which can indeed extend to further generations. The verse says that Avraham and Avimelech “made a covenant” in addition to the oath that they had already sworn. The covenant may have been a ban of excommunication on whoever would not follow the oath.
- An oath that is made for future descendants that benefits those descendants is considered binding upon them.
- An oath (or treaty) that is made between two kings (or governments) is binding upon future generations. Since Avraham and Avimelech were considered kings, their oath and treaty were binding.
The Seven Lambs
After the treaty was signed, Avraham set aside seven lambs as a sign that the well his servants had dug belonged to him and not to the Philistines. The Midrash says that G-d was not pleased with this sign and with the treaty as a whole. As such the Midrash lists several punishments that the Jewish people received as a result of this treaty, all of which are in the number seven.
- The conquering of the land of Israel was delayed for seven generations. (Moshe was the seventh generation after Avraham.)
- Seven righteous descendants of Avraham and Yitzchak were killed by the Philistines. They were; Chofni and Pinchos, the sons of Eily HaKohen; Samson; King Saul and his three sons.
- The Philistines (along with other pagan nations) destroyed seven holy sanctuaries: the Ohel Moed of Moshe, the Mishkan in Gilgal, in Shilo, in Nov, and in Givon as well as the two Batei Mikdash. Although the Ohel Moshe of Moshe and the ones in Gilgal and Givon were not destroyed, it seems that since components of them were destroyed in the later destructions, they too are considered to have been destroyed.
- The Holy Ark was captured by the Philistines who kept it for seven months before returning it to the Jewish people.
May G-d once again speedily return complete control of the land of the Philistines to the Jewish people!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom UMevorach!
