EXTRA on Lech Lecha 14:17

EXTRA · Rashi on Genesis 14:17, citing Bereshit Rabbah 43:5 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Passuk 14:17

Complete Passuk

וַיֵּצֵ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹם֮ לִקְרָאתוֹ֒ אַחֲרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֵֽהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֔מֶר וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ אֶל־עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

When he returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Valley of the King.

Source

Rashi on Genesis 14:17, citing Bereshit Rabbah 43:5 for the midrashic explanation of “עמק המלך.”

Core Text of Rashi

Core Text
וּמִדְרַשׁ אַגָּדָה עֵמֶק, שֶׁהֻשְׁווּ שָׁם כָּל הָאֻמּוֹת וְהִמְלִיכוּ אֶת אַבְרָהָם עֲלֵיהֶם לִנְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים וּלְקָצִין.

English: Valley of Shaveh — where all the nations were of one accord and appointed Avraham prince of God over them.

On the daf / in context: Rashi first gives the plain explanation of “עמק שוה” and “עמק המלך,” then adds the midrashic reading that this was the place where the nations agreed to appoint Avraham as their prince and leader.
Type of Learning: Rashi’s midrashic interpretation
What Is Learned: Before Malki-Tzedek’s bread and wine, the nations have already recognized Avraham; the subsequent refusal of Sodom’s goods is the refusal of a man already acknowledged as “prince of God.”

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