Abraham Pursues the Kings and the Night Divides for Him

"And Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive" (Genesis 14:14-15). "He shall not fear an evil report" (Psalms 112:7) refers to Abraham, as it is said, "For now I know that you fear God" (Genesis 22:12). "His heart is firm, secure in the LORD" (Psalms 112:7); "and You found his heart faithful before You" (Nehemiah 9:8). "His heart is steadfast, he shall not fear" (Psalms 112:8); "Fear not, Abram, I am a shield to you" (Genesis 15:1). "Until he sees his desire upon his foes" (Psalms 112:8); "and he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them" (Genesis 14:15). "That his kinsman had been taken captive" (Genesis 14:14): was Lot truly his kinsman? Rather, his facial features resembled Abraham's (see Genesis Rabbah 41:6). "And he armed his trained men" [the Hebrew vayyareq, "he armed," is read against its root meanings]. Rabbi Yehudah says: they turned pale in the face against Abraham, saying, "Five kings could not stand against them, and we can stand against them?" Rabbi Nehemiah says: it was Abraham who turned pale in the face against them. He said, "I will go out and fall in sanctification of the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He." Rabbi Abba bar Zavda said: he equipped them with weapons, as you say, "Draw out [vehareq] the spear, and bar the way against my pursuers" (Psalms 35:3). Resh Lakish said: he equipped them with precious stones and pearls, as you say, "and her pinions with shimmering gold" (Psalms 68:14). Rabbi Levi says: he equipped them through the passage of the officers, as you say, "Who is the man that is fearful and faint of heart?" (Deuteronomy 20:8) [and such men were sent home, leaving only the steadfast]. "His trained men, born in his house": these were people initiated into his discipline, named Abraham like himself. "Three hundred and eighteen": Resh Lakish in the name of Bar Kappara said it was Eliezer alone, for the numerical value of the name Eliezer comes to that sum. "And he pursued as far as Dan": Dan is the name of a place of idolatry. The plague struck before it, and he pursued as far as Dan, where a plague would strike after it, as it is said, "From Dan was heard the snorting of his horses" (Jeremiah 8:16). "And he divided himself against them by night" (Genesis 14:15): the night divided of itself. The Rabbis say: its Maker divided it. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Abraham labored with Me at midnight; I too will labor with his children at midnight." And when? In Egypt, as it is said, "And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD smote every firstborn" (Exodus 12:29). Some say in another version: the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Abraham went out at midnight; I too go out at midnight," as it is said, "Thus says the LORD: About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt" (Exodus 11:4). "And he smote them and pursued them": is there such a thing as a man pursuing the slain? Yet Abraham our father's pursuers were already as good as slain, as it is said, "For they pursue those whom You have smitten" (Psalms 69:27). This is what is written, "Who has roused one from the east, calling him to his foot in righteousness?" (Isaiah 41:2). The Life of the worlds gave light to Abraham from every place he went. Rabbi Berekhiah said: the constellation Tzedek [Jupiter] shone for him. Righteousness cried out and said, "If Abraham does not perform me, who will?"