Derasha 1 on Lech Lecha 14:15

TT #1 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Fourth Aliyah · Passuk 14:15

Complete Passuk

וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ לַ֛יְלָה ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וַיַּכֵּ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ עַד־חוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃

He divided against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them as far as Chovah, which is to the left of Damascus.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to R. Yochanan: the angel that met Avraham was named “Night.”

Core Text

Core Text אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אוֹתוֹ מַלְאָךְ שֶׁנִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ לְאַבְרָהָם — לַיְלָה שְׁמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (אִיּוֹב) וְהַלַּיְלָה אָמַר הוֹרָה גָבֶר.
English of Core Text: R. Yochanan said: that angel which met Avraham — “Night” is his name, as it is said (Iyov) “and the night said, A man-child is conceived.”
On the daf / in context: The word לַיְלָה in the verse is read not only as the time of the attack but as the name of the assisting angel.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

The night of the battle is personified as an angelic ally named Night.