EXTRA on Lech Lecha 14:1

EXTRA · Bereishis Rabbah / classic aggadah (Amraphel–Nimrod) · Parashas Lech Lecha · Passuk 14:1

Complete Passuk

וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ אַמְרָפֶ֣ל מֶֽלֶךְ־שִׁנְעָ֔ר אַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֔ם וְתִדְעָ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ גּוֹיִֽם׃

Now, when King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim…

Source

Rashi on Genesis 14:1 — Amraphel is identified with Nimrod; Rashi cites Genesis Rabbah and Eruvin 53a.

Sefaria — Rashi on Genesis 14:1

Core Text

אַמְרָפֶל — הוּא נִמְרוֹד, שֶׁאָמַר וְהִפִּיל לְאַבְרָהָם בְּתוֹךְ כִּבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ.

English: Amraphel — he is Nimrod, who said [to cast] and cast Avraham into the fiery furnace.

On the daf / in context: Classic midrash identifies Amraphel of Shinar with Nimrod, linking the war narrative back to Avraham’s earlier trial in Ur Kasdim. The four kings thus open under the shadow of the one who already sought Avraham’s death.

Type of Learning: Custom (aggadic identification of biblical kings)

What Is Learned: The war of the kings is not a distant geopolitical episode; its lead king is midrashically the same antagonist who once tried to burn Avraham. The rescue of Lot unfolds against that background.

Supplementary classical material not listed by Torah Temimah under this exact passuk.

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