וְה֤וּא יִהְיֶה֙ פֶּ֣רֶא אָדָ֔ם יָד֣וֹ בַכֹּ֔ל וְיַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בּ֑וֹ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו יִשְׁכֹּֽן׃
“Ia akan menjadi manusia yang liar seperti keledai hutan. Tangannya akan melawan semua orang, dan tangan semua orang akan melawan dia. Ia akan tinggal di hadapan semua saudaranya.”
Kedushat Levi
Genesis 16,12,” “his hand raised against all, and everyone’s hand raised against him;” (normal translation)
Our author, basing himself on Zohar II 32, understands the word כל in this verse as ברית, covenant. This has been expounded upon in שערי אורה, [a book authored by Rabbi Joseph ben Avraham G’iktiliyah, a disciple of the famed Rabbi Avraham Abulafia. Ed.] The word ידו refers to the power and authority enjoyed by Ishmael. To the question why Ishmael had been endowed by G’d with such greatness, the answer is that this was the reward for his agreeing to have himself circumcised at an age when this is extremely painful. There is, however, a minor difference between the type of circumcision performed on Ishmaelites and that performed on Jews, i.e. an extra thin membrane around the glans being removed in a halachic circumcision. This is hinted at in the word יד. The last word כל, hints that the other nation with whom G’d has a covenant based on circumcision, Israel, will eventually overcome Ishmael.
Our author, basing himself on Zohar II 32, understands the word כל in this verse as ברית, covenant. This has been expounded upon in שערי אורה, [a book authored by Rabbi Joseph ben Avraham G’iktiliyah, a disciple of the famed Rabbi Avraham Abulafia. Ed.] The word ידו refers to the power and authority enjoyed by Ishmael. To the question why Ishmael had been endowed by G’d with such greatness, the answer is that this was the reward for his agreeing to have himself circumcised at an age when this is extremely painful. There is, however, a minor difference between the type of circumcision performed on Ishmaelites and that performed on Jews, i.e. an extra thin membrane around the glans being removed in a halachic circumcision. This is hinted at in the word יד. The last word כל, hints that the other nation with whom G’d has a covenant based on circumcision, Israel, will eventually overcome Ishmael.