[Avodah] A few Notes on Parshas Vaychi

[Zev Sero]

SBA wrote:

> Rashi dh: 'Becharbi ubekashti' - writes that Yaakov had to battle Shechem's
> neighbours after Shimon and Levi wiped out the population there.
> This seems to contradict the posuk in Vayishlach 35:5 "Vayhi chitas Elokim
> al ha'orim asher sevivoseihem - velo rodfu achrei Bnei Yaakov"  ??

Rashi doesn't say he had to fight them, he says "vechagar klei milchama
negdam", he girded himself for war.  This is consistent with the earlier
story, where it says he was afraid of what the neighbours would do, so
he would have prepared for a fight which proved unnecessary.  As to why
it proved unnecessary, we know it was because of "chitat Elokim", but
is there a reason why Yaacov must have know that?  Perhaps he thought
it was his preparations for war that made his neighbours think better
of attacking him.  "Ein baal hanes makir beniso."

-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas