But the roots go way back, further than you might think, to the patriarch Isaac himself.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, after Isaac's interactions with King Abimelech, he was invited to settle in the king's lands. Abimelech offered him prime fields and vineyards. But Isaac wasn't just looking to enrich himself. He understood the importance of sharing his blessings. He took a tenth—a tithe—of everything he earned and gave it to the poor of Gerar.
So, Isaac, the son of Abraham, was actually the first to institute the law of tithing for the poor, just as his father, Abraham, had been the first to separate a portion of his wealth for the priests. Think about that for a moment. These weren't just random acts of kindness; they were establishing principles that would resonate for generations.
And how was Isaac rewarded for his generosity? Abundantly. The land yielded a hundredfold more than expected, even though the soil was poor and the year was unfavorable. Talk about a return on investment! He grew so rich that people quipped they'd rather have "the dung from Isaac's she-mules than Abimelech's gold and silver!" Can you imagine that level of prosperity?
But, as often happens, success breeds envy. The Philistines, seeing Isaac's wealth, became jealous. It's a sad truth, isn't it? That human tendency to begrudge others their good fortune. The text tells us it's "characteristic of the wicked that they begrudge their fellow-men the good, and rejoice when they see evil descend upon them."
Envy, of course, doesn't stay put. It festers and grows into hatred. So, the Philistines, consumed by their enmity, took a terrible step. They stopped up the wells that Abraham's servants had dug long ago. These wells weren't just sources of water; they were symbols of a covenant, a promise. By destroying them, the Philistines broke their agreement with Abraham.
And, as the story continues, this act of faithlessness would eventually lead to their own downfall at the hands of the Israelites. As Legends of the Jews points out, they "have only themselves to blame if they were exterminated later on by the Israelites."
So, what can we take away from this story? It's not just about wealth and prosperity. It’s about the importance of generosity, the dangers of envy, and the consequences of breaking promises. It's a reminder that how we treat others, how we share our blessings, ultimately shapes our own destiny. And it all started with Isaac, tithing his way into legend.