That feeling, that sense of wonder and a connection to something vast, is at the heart of this story about Abraham, our patriarch.
According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of stories and interpretations, on the night of Pesach (Passover), God took Abraham outside. “Abraham!” God asks, “Hast thou the ability to count all the host of heaven?”
Imagine being asked that. Could you even begin? Abraham, wisely, responds: “Sovereign of all worlds! Is there then a limit to Thy troops (of angels)?” A good question, right? Then God replies, "Likewise thy seed shall not be counted owing to their great number,” echoing the promise in Genesis 15:5.
It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? From one man, a nation as countless as the stars. But the story doesn’t end there.
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer then delves into the brit bein ha-betarim, the "covenant between the pieces," described in Genesis 15. This wasn’t just a promise; it was a profound vision. Rabbi Eliezer explains that God showed Abraham the future – the rise and fall of empires.
How? Through symbolic animals.
"Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old" (Genesis 15:9), God commands. Each animal represents a kingdom. The heifer? That's Edom. The she-goat? Greece, as Daniel 8:8 says, "And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly." Then comes the ram, representing Media and Persia, directly tied to Daniel 8:20: "And the ram which thou sawest that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia."
But what about the turtle-dove and the young pigeon? This is where it gets really interesting.
The turtle-dove, or Tôr, isn't just a bird. Here, it symbolizes the sons of Ishmael. The text emphasizes that we shouldn't take Tôr literally; in Aramaic, Tôr means "ox." Think of a powerful ox, breaking through valleys – a fitting image for a powerful force. The text even connects it to "the fourth beast" described in Daniel 7:19.
And the young pigeon? Ah, that's us, the Israelites. We're compared to a young pigeon hiding "in the clefts of the rock" (Song of Songs 2:14). Why? Because our voice is pleasant in prayer, and our appearance beautiful in good deeds. We are also described as a dove who is "My dove, my perfect one, is but one" (Song of Songs 6:9).
So, what does it all mean? It's more than just a history lesson. It’s a reminder that even amidst empires and grand narratives, there's a place for hope, for prayer, for good deeds. Even a small pigeon can have a beautiful voice. It is also a reminder that God has a plan, even when we can’t see the whole picture. And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.