The Torah is a complicated book. Its origins are obscure, its contradictions are many, its stories range from heartwarming to confounding; some of its principles transcend generations while others are clearly of a different place and time. This week’s Torah portion provides an excellent opportunity for an exploration of the complex nature of our Torah text. The portion is called Chukat and you can find it here.
If you’ve ever traveled to Petra, Jordan, you’ve no doubt been struck by the red color of the natural stone formations (see pictures here). In the Bible, it is part of a region called Edom. Edom is related to the words adom, adam, adamah (red, human, earth). In this week’s Torah portion, the Edomites refuse to give the wandering Israelites safe harbor (you can read the portion here). The Torah holds that Jacob’s brother, the red haired Esau, is the progenitor of the Edomites. Given the fraught relationship portrayed between Jacob and Esau, it should come as no surprise that the Biblical stories about the Edomites are equivocal. At times, the Edomites are truly brethren; they join with Israel as allies in war. At other times, however, the two are bitter enemies. King Saul is said to wage war against them. And yet, when the story of Israelite wandering is retold in Deuteronomy, the Edomites grant the Israelites safe passage – they are even called the children of Esau and kinsman of the Israelites! (Read it here).
Medieval commentators were confounded by this on-again and off-again relationship with the Edomites. How could they be allies at certain times and foes at others? Why would the very same story in two different books portray two different perspectives? Even modern scholars have weighed in, suggesting that the two versions of the story were in some way responses to each other. One set in the early stages of the journey when an additional 38 years of wandering was still required, another at the end when it was time to enter the Promised Land.
Perhaps the historic theory is most meaningful for our time. At times, Edom and Israel saw themselves as bitter enemies; Esau (Edom) and Jacob (Israel) are brothers, one steals the other’s birthright, and the aggrieved brother threatens to kill the deceiver. At times they are kin and allies; the brothers meet as adults and tearfully and lovingly embrace. We only have to think of the bitter wars fought with Germany and Japan 75 years ago and the place they occupy as American allies today. Israel has peace treaties with former bitter enemies Egypt and Jordan, as well as working agreements with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Given the right circumstances, and committed leadership, enemies can indeed become allies. We can continue to hope.
-Rabbi Ron Stern