מִדָּ֤ן נִשְׁמַע֙ נַחְרַ֣ת סוּסָ֗יו מִקּוֹל֙ מִצְהֲל֣וֹת אַבִּירָ֔יו רָעֲשָׁ֖ה כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּב֗וֹאוּ וַיֹּֽאכְלוּ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ וּמְלוֹאָ֔הּ עִ֖יר וְיֹ֥שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ (ס)
Mula sa Dan ay naririnig ang singhal ng kanyang mga kabayo; sa ingay ng halinghing ng kanyang malalakas na kabayo ay nayanig ang buong lupain. Dumating sila at nilamon ang lupain at ang lahat ng naroroon, ang lungsod at ang mga naninirahan dito.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Gen. 14, 15) And he divided himself against them, he and his servants by night (Lyelah) and smote them. R. Jochanan said: "The name of the angel who came to assist Abraham was Lyelah (night) as it is said (Job 3, 3) And the night when it was said, There hath been a male child conceived, etc." R. Isaac of Nafha said: "This means a thing concerning the night was wrought for him, as it is said (Jud. 5, 20) From heaven they fought — the stars in their courses fought against Sissera." Resh Lakish remarked: "The explanation of Nafcha is better than that of bar Nafcha's" (Jochanan, who was called bar Nafcha). R. Jochanan said: "When that righteous man (Abraham) reached the city of Dan, his strength began to fail, for [he saw that] in the future his children would worship idols in Dan, it it is said (I Kin. 12, 29) And the other he put in Dan. And also this wicked one Sennacherib did not feel himself strong until he reached Dan, as it is said (Jer. 8, 16) From Dan was heard the snorting of his horses."
Bereshit Rabbah
“It was in the days of Amrafel” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat began: “This too is a grave evil; just as one came, so will he go” (Ecclesiastes 5:15). Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilat said: Just as one comes with seizing, so he goes with seizing.6If someone seizes property unjustly, it will ultimately be seized from him. Rabbi Avon said: Just as he started off with four kingdoms,7Abraham’s travails began with these four kingdoms. so will he conclude with four kingdoms.8The travails of Abraham’s descendants throughout history will end with four kingdoms. [He started off with four kingdoms] – “with Kedorlaomer king of Eilam, Tidal king of Goyim, and Amrafel king of Shinar, and Aryokh king of Elasar” (Genesis 14:9). So will he conclude with four kingdoms: The kingdom of Babylon, the kingdom of Media, the kingdom of Greece, and the kingdom of Edom.9These are the four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel up to Messianic times, as foretold in Daniel chapter 2.
Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Aivu began: “They do not know the thoughts of the Lord, and they do not understand His counsel, that He has gathered them together like sheaves brought to the threshing floor” (Micah 4:12).10The enemies of Israel who band together to attack Israel do not realize that God has brought them together only to destroy them. Why? “All these joined forces at the valley of Sidim” (Genesis 14:3) – so that they should come and fall into the hand of Abraham. That is what is written: “It was in the days of Amrafel…”
Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Aivu began: “They do not know the thoughts of the Lord, and they do not understand His counsel, that He has gathered them together like sheaves brought to the threshing floor” (Micah 4:12).10The enemies of Israel who band together to attack Israel do not realize that God has brought them together only to destroy them. Why? “All these joined forces at the valley of Sidim” (Genesis 14:3) – so that they should come and fall into the hand of Abraham. That is what is written: “It was in the days of Amrafel…”
Bereshit Rabbah
“Abram heard that his brother had been taken captive” – that is what is written: “He seals his ears from hearing of bloodshed” (Isaiah 33:15).5The righteous will not accept the prospect of bloodshed, so they take action against that eventuality.
“He marshaled [vayarek] his disciples” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: Their faces turned pale [horiku] towards Abraham. They said: ‘Five kings could not overcome them, and [you think] we will be able to overcome them?’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: Abraham turned pale [horik] towards them. He said: ‘Shall I go and fall [in battle] in sanctification of the name of the Omnipresent?’
Abba bar Zavda said: He armed them with weapons, just as it says: “Unsheathe [harek] a spear to block my pursuers” (Psalms 35:3).
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: He showered them with jewels and gems, as it says: “Its pinions with shimmering [yerakrak] gold” (Psalms 68:14).
Rabbi Levi said: He emptied [horikan] their ranks through the passage about the officers, as it says: “[Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say:] Who is the man who is fearful and faint hearted? Let him go and return to his house” (Deuteronomy 20:8).6The assembled force of three hundred and eighteen men was depleted due to this warning, until only Eliezer remained.
“His disciples [ḥanikhav]” – they bore his name [ḥanikhato].Their name was Abram, like his name.7Upon their conversion, they took his name as their own, or they referred to themselves as “sons of Abram,” as all converts do.
“Three hundred and eighteen” – Reish Lakish in the name of bar Kappara: It was Eliezer alone. The numerical value of Eliezer is three hundred and eighteen.
“And he gave chase until Dan” – that is the name of an idol.8See I Kings 12:28–29. It was preceded and followed by a blow.9It was always a place of misfortune, from beginning to end. It was preceded by a blow: “And he gave chase until Dan.”10He had to stop his pursuit when he reached Dan, due to its ill-fated status. And it is followed by a blow: “The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan” (Jeremiah 8:16).11The Babylonians, on their way to destroy Jerusalem, were referred to as approaching from Dan.
“He marshaled [vayarek] his disciples” – Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: Their faces turned pale [horiku] towards Abraham. They said: ‘Five kings could not overcome them, and [you think] we will be able to overcome them?’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: Abraham turned pale [horik] towards them. He said: ‘Shall I go and fall [in battle] in sanctification of the name of the Omnipresent?’
Abba bar Zavda said: He armed them with weapons, just as it says: “Unsheathe [harek] a spear to block my pursuers” (Psalms 35:3).
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: He showered them with jewels and gems, as it says: “Its pinions with shimmering [yerakrak] gold” (Psalms 68:14).
Rabbi Levi said: He emptied [horikan] their ranks through the passage about the officers, as it says: “[Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say:] Who is the man who is fearful and faint hearted? Let him go and return to his house” (Deuteronomy 20:8).6The assembled force of three hundred and eighteen men was depleted due to this warning, until only Eliezer remained.
“His disciples [ḥanikhav]” – they bore his name [ḥanikhato].Their name was Abram, like his name.7Upon their conversion, they took his name as their own, or they referred to themselves as “sons of Abram,” as all converts do.
“Three hundred and eighteen” – Reish Lakish in the name of bar Kappara: It was Eliezer alone. The numerical value of Eliezer is three hundred and eighteen.
“And he gave chase until Dan” – that is the name of an idol.8See I Kings 12:28–29. It was preceded and followed by a blow.9It was always a place of misfortune, from beginning to end. It was preceded by a blow: “And he gave chase until Dan.”10He had to stop his pursuit when he reached Dan, due to its ill-fated status. And it is followed by a blow: “The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan” (Jeremiah 8:16).11The Babylonians, on their way to destroy Jerusalem, were referred to as approaching from Dan.