tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35813316.post641196592888788326..comments2023-09-20T06:03:55.555-04:00Comments on Storahtelling: Storahtellinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06816175845981189855noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35813316.post-53527639121584573772010-01-29T15:49:27.610-05:002010-01-29T15:49:27.610-05:00I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to your blog a...I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to your blog although a year late and was pleased to see you entertain a discussion on the meaning of “armed” in our history. Let me add a few other thoughts as well:<br /><br />As we departed from Egypt, we see the verse translated by the King James version of the Bible as “The Israelites were well prepared when they left Egypt.” But, perhaps a better translation based on Rashi, Mekhilta, Rashbam and Ramban is “they were well armed.” Rashi only indicates that this was to explain where the weapons came from when they fought Amelek. But Ibn Ezra explains, “They went out with weapons of war and not like fleeing slaves.” Ramban makes this even more explicit, “They did not go out looking like fleeing slaves, but went out as an independent people that could be armed.” The Children of Israel were now free men, and only free men carried weapons. <br /><br />The prior verse is also revealing. “For G-d did not lead them along the Philistine highway so as to avoid armed conflict, so they would not lose heart.” This illustrates perfectly the dynamic tension; we must seek to avoid armed conflict when we reasonably can do so, but, as free men who heard the word of the Almighty at Sinai, we must also be well prepared with arms to defend ourselves as the children of Israel would soon have to do against the evil of Amelek.<br /><br />Meam Loez (the Sephardic commentary circa 1700s) in the Moznaim edition, vol 4, pages 17-18, from classic midrashim, discusses the subterfuge of the Egyptians that was employed to deprive the Israelites of their weapons so as to be able to enslave them.<br /><br />By the way, we (Sephardim from Turkey) do have a tradition of being prepared with a weapon during the Seder – never on the table – but nearby (a lance [alternative translation for hamushim], bow, or sword). See “He teaches my hands to war; and trains my arms to bend a bow of bronze.” (Samuel II 22:35), “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand” (Psalms 149:6). And Abraham “armed his servants” (Genesis 14:4) And Jacob granted the portion “which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.” (Genesis 48:22)<br />Bob AltabetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35813316.post-85081762009080404612009-02-08T23:35:00.000-05:002009-02-08T23:35:00.000-05:00It would seem that the Israelites left Egypt with ...It would seem that the Israelites left Egypt with some weapons. Remember, shortly after crossing the Sea of Reeds they fought and defeated Amalek.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35813316.post-73789303717476183752009-02-06T09:48:00.000-05:002009-02-06T09:48:00.000-05:00HaMakom yenachem etchem betoch shaar avelei tzion ...HaMakom yenachem etchem betoch shaar avelei tzion v'yersushalayim.<BR/><BR/>So sorry for your loss.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35813316.post-47842219727934655392009-02-05T21:26:00.000-05:002009-02-05T21:26:00.000-05:00Dearest AmichaiWhat a beautiful book you are writi...Dearest Amichai<BR/>What a beautiful book you are writing. I look forward to every word. Shabbat shalom and very much love!<BR/>ChristineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com