The ancient rabbis certainly thought about that, and they found a fascinating example in the book of Genesis.

We're diving into Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're looking at a passage dealing with the death of Bela, an early king of Edom. Genesis 36:33 simply states, "Bela died, and Yovav, son of Zerah, of Botzra, reigned in his stead." Simple enough. But the rabbis saw so much more in those few words.

Rabbi Abahu, a prominent sage of the 3rd century, offers a powerful analogy. Imagine a prince locked in a legal battle. His opponent is running out of resources, struggling to stay in the fight. Then, someone steps in and provides that opponent with what they need. Now, the king, seeing this, declares, "I will contend only with the one who provided him with sustenance!"

That's a pretty dramatic shift, isn't it?

So, how does this relate to Bela's death and the rise of Yovav from Botzra? Well, according to Rabbi Abahu, God, blessed be He, saw it the same way. Kingdom, the rabbis say, had already been uprooted from Edom. Edom was weakened, vulnerable. And then Botzra stepped in, providing them with kings, giving them renewed strength.

God essentially says, "Kingdom had already been uprooted from Edom, and Botzra came and provided them with kings? That is why I will contend only with Botzra." This idea, that providing sustenance to an adversary makes you a target, is both intriguing and a little unsettling.

The connection doesn't end there. The rabbis point to Isaiah 34:6: "For there is a sacrifice to the Lord in Botzra..." This verse, they argue, is direct evidence of God's focus on Botzra because of their support for Edom. The Tanakh is nothing if not a network of interconnected ideas, prophecies, and narratives.

But here’s a twist! Rabbi Berekhya adds another layer. Even though God's anger is primarily directed at Botzra, the verse continues, "…and a great slaughter in the land of Edom." So, while Botzra might be the primary target, Edom doesn't escape unscathed. As it were, Edom is not blameless in its reliance on Botzra.

It's a fascinating glimpse into the rabbinic mind. They weren’t content with a simple reading of the text. They saw layers of meaning, connections between seemingly disparate verses, and moral lessons woven into the historical narrative.

What does this all mean for us? Maybe it's a reminder that our actions have consequences, not just for ourselves, but for those we support. Or perhaps it's a cautionary tale about getting involved in other people's battles. Either way, it's a story that makes you think – and isn't that what the best stories do?