Beraishis 14B – מעשה אבות סימן לבנים – The Events of the Forefathers were Analogous to What Would Occur to the Descendants

מעשה אבות סימן לבנים

Our Sages commented on the verses of this chapter (Beraishis Rabbah 42:2) that what took place in this chapter foretells what will take place later in history.

Four kings, all regional kings with their intent to dominate the land of Canaan and its inhabitants, succeed for a period of time. In the end, Avraham in victorious.

So too, much later on in history, four world powers will do the same. Ultimately they are destined to fall into the hands of מלך המשיח. (RSRH notes that two of the kings are clearly recognized as world powers who did so in our history; Bavel (Shin’ar) and Madai (Eilam).

Beraishis 14:1 etc.
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