The key to understanding Gezer is in the Torah instruction – not to return to Egypt by the way we came. Israel appear in history as an alternative to Egypt, and the way to Egypt is – Derech Hayam. That is why it was so important for Egypt to control it, and therefore no Jewish leader wanted to conquer Gezer – in order to stay away from the way to Egypt. And perhaps King Solomon was wrong when he agreed to accept Gezer as a gift, as he was wrong when he married the daughter of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
Leave a Reply