Take Psalm 60:8, for instance: "Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; shout, Philistia, because of me.” Beautiful poetry. But what does it all mean?
That's where texts like Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer come in. This fascinating work, a kind of midrashic retelling of biblical narratives, dives deep into scripture, offering interpretations and connections that might otherwise remain hidden. And in chapter 17, it gives us a truly unexpected reading of this particular verse.
Ready for it?
"Gilead is mine," according to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, refers to Ahab, the infamous king of Israel, who met his end in Ramoth-Gilead. "And Manasseh is mine," well, that one’s pretty straightforward – it's taken literally as the tribe of Manasseh. "Ephraim also is the strength of mine head," now that points to Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel after the split. Remember him? He was a pretty big deal… and not always in a good way. "Judah is my lawgiver," refers to Ahithophel. "Moab is my washbasin" (or "washpot" as some translations have it), now this is where it gets really interesting: that's none other than Gehazi! Remember him? The servant of the prophet Elisha who was struck with leprosy for his greed (2 Kings 5:20-27)? "Upon Edom I cast my shoe," that refers to Doeg. And finally, "shout, Philistia, because of me."
Okay, so what's the big takeaway? Why these specific figures?
The text doesn’t spell it out completely, but the implication is profound. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer isn't just offering a name-dropping exercise. It's suggesting that even in the actions of flawed, even wicked, individuals, God’s plan unfolds. Each figure mentioned – Ahab, Jeroboam, Ahithophel, Gehazi, Doeg – represents a moment of crisis, a moral failing, a challenge to the divine order. Yet, they are all encompassed within God's declaration: "Mine."
It’s a powerful statement about divine providence. Even in the midst of human imperfection, God is at work. As Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer concludes, "The Holy One, blessed be He, said: It is for Me to search for merit on their behalf, and to make them friendly towards one another." Even for those who seem furthest from grace, God seeks out redeeming qualities, strives to bring harmony. It's a radical idea, isn't it? That divine love and purpose extend even to those we might consider the "bad guys" of the Bible. Maybe, just maybe, there's a piece of God in all of us, waiting to be discovered.