“Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive” – that is what is written: “He seals his ears from hearing of bloodshed” (Isaiah 33:15).5The righteous will not accept the prospect of bloodshed, so they take action against that eventuality. “He marshaled [vayarek] his disciples” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: Their faces turned pale [horiku] towards Abraham. They said: ‘Five kings could not overcome them, and [you think] we will be able to overcome them?’
Rabbi Neḥemya said: Abraham turned pale [horik] towards them. He said: ‘Shall I go and fall [in battle] in sanctification of the name of the Omnipresent?’ Abba bar Zavda said: He armed them with weapons, just as it says: “Unsheathe [harek] a spear to block my pursuers” (Psalms 35:3). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: He showered them with jewels and gems, as it says: “Its pinions with shimmering [yerakrak] gold” (Psalms 68:14).
Rabbi Levi said: He emptied [horikan] their ranks through the passage about the officers, as it says: “[Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say:] Who is the man who is fearful and faint hearted? Let him go and return to his house” (Deuteronomy 20:8).6The assembled force of three hundred and eighteen men was depleted due to this warning, until only Eliezer remained. “His disciples [ḥanikhav]” – they bore his name [ḥanikhato].Their name was Abram, like his name.7Upon their conversion, they took his name as their own, or they referred to themselves as “sons of Abram,” as all converts do.
“Three hundred and eighteen” – Reish Lakish in the name of bar Kappara: It was Eliezer alone. The numerical value of Eliezer is three hundred and eighteen. “And he gave chase until Dan” – that is the name of an idol.8See I Kings 12:28–29. It was preceded and followed by a blow.9It was always a place of misfortune, from beginning to end.
It was preceded by a blow: “And he gave chase until Dan.”10He had to stop his pursuit when he reached Dan, due to its ill-fated status. And it is followed by a blow: “The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan” (Jeremiah 8:16).11The Babylonians, on their way to destroy Jerusalem, were referred to as approaching from Dan.