Diwrej ha-jamim II 21:4 Midrasz: Otzar Midrashim, Midrash Tanchuma Buber & Aggadat Bereshit

Another interpretation: This is what the verse says: "Behold how good and how pleasant etc." (Psalms 133:1). And so you find that never were there brothers who loved each other like Moses and Aaron, as it says "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses etc." It teaches that most brothers hate each other: Cain hated Abel, as it says "And Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him" (Genesis 4:8). And Ishmael hated Isaac, as it says "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian laughing etc." (Genesis 21:9). And Esau hated Jacob, as it says "And Esau said in his heart: 'The days of mourning for my father will draw near, and I will kill Jacob my brother'" (Genesis 27:41). And similarly Abimelech killed his brothers, as it says "And he came to his father's house, to Ophrah, and killed his brothers" (Judges 9:5). And similarly Jehoram killed his brothers, as it says "And Jehoram rose up...and killed all his brothers by the sword" (II Chronicles 21:4). [It teaches that] brothers hate each other, but Moses and Aaron loved each other and cherished each other, and both were great and equal, as we read regarding "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses."

(Gen. 20:1:) THEN ABRAHAM JOURNEYED FROM THERE. It is written (in Prov. 27:10): < DO NOT FORSAKE > YOUR FRIEND AND YOUR FATHER'S FRIEND … < A CLOSE NEIGHBOR IS BETTER THAN A DISTANT BROTHER >. This < verse refers to > Hanun ben Nahash, king of the children of Ammon, as mentioned (in II Sam. 10:1f.): AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THAT THAT {NAHASH} THE KING OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, DIED; < AND HIS SON HANUN REIGNED IN HIS STEAD. > THEN DAVID SAID: I WILL DEAL FAITHFULLY WITH HANUN BEN NAHASH. R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Eleazar ben Pedat: And how did Nahash deal faithfully with David, since he had said (ibid., cont.), AS HIS FATHER DEALT FAITHFULLY WITH ME? Simply < like this >: When David fled from Saul, David and all his father's house went to Moab. He said to them: Receive my father, as stated (in I Sam. 22:4): SO HE BROUGHT < HIS PARENTS > BEFORE THE KING OF MOAB. (I Sam. 22:3:) AND HE SAID [UNTO THE KING OF MOAB]: PLEASE LET MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER {DWELL} [GO AWAY] < WITH YOU >. So he received them. When David went away, the king of Moab arose and killed the father, mother, and brothers of David. Only one of them survived, as < only one > is mentioned < in David's census > (in I Chron. 27:18): BELONGING TO JUDAH < THERE WAS > ELIHU, ONE OF DAVID'S BROTHERS. R.Levi bar Halafta the Priest said that only one of them survived. And how was Elihu saved? He simply fled from the king of Moab and came to Nahash, king of Ammon, who received him. The king of Moab sent and said to Nahash: Did, perhaps, one of David's brothers come to you? He said to him: No; and he kept him until David came. For that reason David said (in II Sam. 10:2): I WILL DEAL FAITHFULLY WITH HANUN BEN NAHASH. When David's representatives⁹⁹The word here is sheluah, the Hebrew equivalent of “apostle.” came to Hanun, the princes of the children of Ammon said to him (in I Sam. 10:3): What is this? DO YOU THINK THAT DAVID IS HONORING YOUR FATHER < JUST > BECAUSE DAVID SENT COMFORTERS TO YOU? Do not trust David. Why? Because the Holy One has warned him about us. It is written {for him} in his Law (in Deut. 23:4): NO AMMONITE OR MOABITE SHALL COME INTO THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LORD. It is also written (in Deut. 23:7): YOU SHALL NOT SEEK THEIR WELFARE AND BENEFIT. Thus the Holy One has warned him. So will he despise the words of his God, and say (in II Sam. 10:2): I WILL DEAL FAITHFULLY WITH HANUN BEN NAHASH? (Ibid., vs. 3:) IS IT NOT IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE CITY? Immediately (in vs. 4) HANUN TOOK THE SERVANTS OF DAVID AND SHAVED OFF < HALF OF THEIR BEARDS >…. The Holy Spirit cries out (in Prov. 27:10): < DO NOT FORSAKE > YOUR FRIEND AND YOUR FATHER'S FRIEND…. And so it was with Jehoram ben Jehoshaphat. When he became king, he killed all his brothers, as stated (in II Chron. 21:4): WHEN JEHORAM HAD RISEN UP OVER THE KINGDOM OF HIS FATHER, HE CONSOLIDATED HIS POWER AND KILLED ALL HIS BROTHERS {AND HIS FATHER'S HOUSE}.

Chapter 26: Prophets [1] And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years (Judges 9:22). "Your friend and your father's friend do not forsake" (Proverbs 27:10). "Your friend and your father's friend" refers to Hanun son of Nahash, king of Ammon. David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash" (2 Samuel 10:2). What did Hanun do? "Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half of their beards" (2 Samuel 10:4). Hanun said, "My god has failed me, but my people have not" (2 Samuel 10:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity for all time" (Deuteronomy 23:7), yet David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash." Immediately, they cut off David's messengers' garments (2 Samuel 10:4), and that was "your friend and your father's friend." "And do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Jehoram, king of Judah, as he rose and killed all his brothers, as it says, "And Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the officers of Israel" (2 Chronicles 21:4). "A near neighbor is better than a distant brother" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Abimelech son of Gideon, who killed his brothers. (Legends of the Jews 4:2:54) The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "The wickedness of the world would have been better off without you, Abimelech, son of your father's maidservant," because his father's kinship was with Abraham, and he was more honored than he. "And he said, 'Behold my land'" (Genesis 20:15). Furthermore, he said to Sarah, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver" (ibid. 16). This refers to Doron. What did he do for Sarah? He made her a carriage and adorned her with royal garments, as it says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes" (Genesis 20:16). Why did he not still want to claim her? Rather, he hears that she is a queen and is afraid to say, "Who can sue a queen?" Therefore, he says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the son of Gideon, "See how your father's kinsman, Abraham, honored him, yet you stood and killed your brother." As it says, "And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone" (Judges 9:5). Therefore, I will shorten your days, as it is said, "And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Why? The fear of the Lord will add days and years to your life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short (Proverbs 10:27).