Rava on Consumed Stolen Goods and How David Learned From Abraham

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 76:5

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

(Genesis 14:24) Rava said: stolen property that has been eaten is hard [to remedy], for even wholly righteous men cannot restore it, as it is said, "except only what the young men have eaten" (Genesis 14:24) (Chullin 89a). This is what is written: "and every wicked and worthless man among the men who had gone with David answered... and David said, You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us, He who has protected us... and who will listen to you in this matter?... And it was from that day and onward [vama'alah] that he made it a statute" (1 Samuel 30:22-25). It does not say "and onward [vahal'ah]" here, but rather "and upward [vama'alah]" — from whom did he learn it? From Abraham his ancestor, who said, "except only what the young men have eaten" (Genesis 14:24).

Themes

EthicsDivine JusticeDavid

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