Devar/5770/Toldot
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< Devar | 5770
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And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household; and the Philistines envied him (Gen 26:14)
Solomon in his wisdom stated: That which hath been is that which shall be, and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is nothing new under the sun (Ecc 1:9). What did the Philistines envy him for? For his success. He descended to dwell in Gerar because of great hardship -- just he, his men and his household. And with the passage of time, the man waxed great (Gen 26:13). Not only did he succeed in his business endeavors, but his wife was fair to look upon, and Avimelech was unable to take her away.
And so through the generations. When the Jews started returning to their inheritance somewhat more than a hundred years ago, the Land was desolate and deserted. The American author Mark Twain wrote about it in 1867: a desolation… we never saw a human being on the whole route. Not one Muslim ruler made Jerusalem his capital. And the Holy Land remained in the hands of the hard-hearted Gentiles, who did not desire her nor pay her any attention. But when her sons began slowly to return to their borders, she blossomed and grew -- and she once more became a desirable Land, even to the enemies of the Jews.
It is important for every Jew to know and to understand that the jealousy and hatred of a substantial portion of the Gentiles towards us does not only derive from our success and from their evil hearts. Rather God in His mercy upon us gave them that job. This, in order that we not stray after their erroneous ways, and in order that we remain a nation which dwells alone. For the more they oppress us, the more stiff-necked we become towards them; and the more we return to Him may He be blessed, and plead for mercy from Him.
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