“He divided up against them at night, he and his servants, and he smote them and pursued them until Ḥova, which is north of Damascus” (Genesis 14:15). “He divided up against them at night”12This can also be translated: “The night was divided before them.” – Rabbi Binyamin bar Yefet in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: The night became divided on its own.13Abraham’s pursuit ended at midnight, when he vanquished his enemies.
The Rabbis say: Its Maker divided it.14God intentionally arranged it that the battle should conclude at midnight. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Their father took action for Me at midnight, I, too, will take action for his descendants at midnight.’ When? In Egypt, as it is stated: “It was at midnight, and the Lord smote every firstborn …” (Exodus 12:29).
Rabbi Tanḥuma said: There are those who express it in a different formulation: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Their father went out at midnight; I will go out for his sons at midnight,’ as it is stated: “Moses said: So said the Lord: About midnight, I shall go out in the midst of Egypt” (Exodus 11:4). “And he smote them and pursued them” – is there a person who pursues the slain? Rabbi Pinḥas said: The pursuers of Abraham our patriarch were [as if] slain [from the start], as it is stated: “The one You have smitten, they have pursued” (Psalms 69:27).15Once God has decreed that someone is to be smitten, it is as if he is already dead.
That is what is written: “Who awakens [he’ir] from the east, righteousness attending his footstep?” (Isaiah 41:2). Who is the one who roused the heart of the easterners16Kedorlaomer and his three allies in this battle came from the east. so they would come and fall into Abraham’s hand? “Righteousness [tzedek] attends his footstep” – [The righteous One,] He whose life is everlasting, who would illuminate17The Midrash interprets he’ir, written with ayin, as if it were written with alef, meaning illuminated. for him every place he would go.
Rabbi Berekhya said: The star Jupiter [tzedek] would illuminate [the way] for him. Rabbi Reuven said: Righteousness itself called out18The word yikra’ehu, translated earlier as “attends,” literally means “calls out.” before him, saying: ‘If not for Abraham, there would be no one to implement me.’ That is what is written: “He subdued nations before him and subjugated kings; [He made his sword like dust, his bow as driven stubble]” (Isaiah 41:2) – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: Abraham would cast dust at them and it became swords, straw and it became arrows.
Rabbi Neḥamya said: “He made [his sword] dust” is not stated,19If it had said: “He made [his sword] dust” the Hebrew could also be rendered “He made dust his sword,” as Rabbi Yehuda said. but rather, “[He made his sword] like dust” (Isaiah 41:2) – they20Abraham’s enemies. would cast swords on Abraham and they became dust, arrows, and they became straw. That is what is written: “He pursued them and passed peacefully; [he did not tread on the road]” (Isaiah 41:3).
Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Yosei bar Zimra: Each of the strides of Abraham our forefather was three miles.21This is what is meant by “he did not tread on the road.” His pursuit of his enemies was achieved by miraculous means, not by traveling on the road in the normal manner. Rabbi Yudan bar Rabbi Simon said: One mil, as it is stated: “he did not tread on the road” (Isaiah 41:3). Rabbi Neḥemya said in the name of Rabbi Abahu: Their feet did not become soiled,22As would normally occur when walking long distances on a road. but rather, like one who walks from his house to the [nearby] synagogue.