The String and the Shoe-Strap

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Date:
October 25 2017
Length:
29min 49s
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47
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453
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Parsha:
Lech Lecha 

Description

The enigmatic description of the meeting of kings in the aftermath of the war described in Beresheet 14 contains numerous unusual phrases. One of well-known opaque declarations is Avraham's unwillingness to take "from a string to a shoe-strap" from the king of Sodom. We examine this odd phrase, both in light of the various approaches of the Rishonim as well as Ancient Near East parallels and suggest a surprising significance to this oath and what it reflects about Avraham's stature.

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    Learning on the Marcos and Adina Katz YUTorah site is sponsored today by Leon & Rhea Landau in memory of Emanuel & Leah Landau and Jacob & Selma Frost and in memory of Hindu & Pinchas Chaimovitz, Batya Gitel bat Moshe Aaron, Yosef Malachi Geudalia HY"D, Ben Zussman HY"D, and Oma Els z"l and by the Spira family l'ilui nishmat Chanoch ben Moshe Chaim, Dr. Thomas Spira and in loving memory of Dr. Felix Glaubach, אפרים פישל בן ברוך, to mark his first yahrtzeit, by Miriam, his children, grandchildren & great grandchildren