“Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2). “Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” That is what is written: “He took them out with silver and gold…” (Psalms 105:37).22All the details of this incident with Abraham foreshadowed the events of the Exodus, as the Midrash explained earlier (40:6). “He went on his journeys from the Negev to Beit El, to the place where his tent had been initially, between Beit El and Ai” (Genesis 13:3).
“He went on his journeys” – on the same journeys [routes] that he went [to Egypt], he returned. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Menaḥem said: He went to pay his credit debts.23He had been granted credit at various inns on the way to Egypt, and he now went to repay those debts. “Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, cattle, and tents” (Genesis 13:5). “Lot, who went with Abram, also…” – Lot derived four benefits due to Abram: “Abram went…and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:4); “Lot, who went with Abram, also [had flocks, cattle…]”; “He returned all the possessions, and also his brother Lot” (Genesis 14:16); “It was when God destroyed…God remembered Abraham, and He sent out Lot from the midst [of the upheaval]…” (Genesis 19:29).
Corresponding to them, his descendants24The nations of Ammon and Moav (Genesis 19:37-38). should have repaid us with favors. But not only did they not repay us with favors, but [they paid us] with [four] troubles. That is what is written: “He25Balak, king of Moav. sent messengers to Bilam son of Beor…now, please come curse this people for me” (Numbers 22:5–6); “He gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and smote Israel, and they took possession of the city of the date palms” (Judges 3:13); “It was thereafter that the children of Moav, [the children of Ammon], and some Ammonites with them, came against Yehoshafat” (II Chronicles 20:1).
Moreover, it is written: “The foe26Referring to Ammon and Moav (Eikha Rabba 1:38). spread its hand over all its delights” (Lamentations 1:10). And their sin is recorded in four places: “An Ammonite or a Moavite shall not enter [into the congregation…] because they did not greet you with bread and with water…[and because they hired…Bilam…to curse you]” (Deuteronomy 23:4–5); and it is written: “My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav counseled, and what [Bilam son of Beor] answered him” (Micah 6:5); “Because they [Ammon and Moav] did not greet the children of Israel with bread and with water, and hired Bilam against them, to curse them” (Nehemiah 13:2); “Balak son of Tzipor, king of Moav…summoned Bilam son of Beor to curse you” (Joshua 24:9). [Consequently,] four prophets arose and sealed their sentence.
They are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel. Isaiah said: “A prophecy of Moav: For on the night that Ar of Moav was plundered, it was ruined; for on the night that Kir of Moav was plundered, it was ruined” (Isaiah 15:1). Jeremiah said: “Therefore, behold, days are coming, the utterance of the Lord, and I will sound to Raba of the Ammonites an alarm of war, and it will become a mound of desolation, and its environs will be burned in fire, and Israel will dispossess its dispossessors, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 49:2).
Ezekiel said: “To the children of the east, against the children of Ammon, I will give it as a heritage, so that the children of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. I will administer punishments to Moav, and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 25:10–11). Zephaniah said: “Therefore, as I live – the utterance of the Lord of hosts, God of Israel – Moav will be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah” (Zephaniah 2:9).