tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444302008319623182.post8985694722779892297..comments2022-11-13T03:56:54.744-05:00Comments on Daily Torah Thought: The motive of Shimon and Levi in ShechemThe Rebbetzin's Husbandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444302008319623182.post-77977410008580262272014-03-28T07:28:37.167-04:002014-03-28T07:28:37.167-04:00R' Micha-
Both points are fascinating; thank y...R' Micha-<br />Both points are fascinating; thank you. I must admit that I never thought about Sancherev in that light.<br />The Rebbetzin's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4444302008319623182.post-55781253889274627312014-03-26T05:44:06.497-04:002014-03-26T05:44:06.497-04:00In the past, I have suggested something similar ab...In the past, I have suggested something similar about some of the laws regarding Amaleiq. It's not just that we were supposed to eradicate a dangerous ideology and culture. The laws go beyond that (such as not taking booty, even for sacrificial purposed) because that would also turn them into an example that would prevent copycat attacks. And then, Hashem utilized Sanchereb to take the history of the area from barbarian tribes to countries and empires, choosing a man who eradicated most of tribal identity. And even the remaining tribes got somewhat reigned in, and the example wasn't necessary. But Sanchereb's eradicating old ties not only also made the halakhah unimplementable. The Author of both the Torah and History coordinated the effective end of the law as humanity moved beyond its need.<br /><br />But rather than viewing the obligation as cruel, one can then see it as a military necessity. In the Canaanite world and the First Temple period, making an example of Amaleiq would have saved us much of the wars and killing that were constant through that period. I would suggest that the law would have saved lives overall.<br /><br />--<br /><br />On a different note, notice how everyone lives in their own world of experience, and Hashem coordinates it all. Shimon and Levi, in their world, did something wrong. Yaaqov takes them to task for it -- for functional reasons at the time, but at the end of his life uses it as an example of a character flaw to watch out for. Meanwhile, we don't simply say that the city of Shechem were their victims. We ask a separate question of how Hashem allowed them to succeed.micha bergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11612144735431285113noreply@blogger.com