Why does the Torah describe Hashem as 'Keil Gadol ve'Nora', and omit 'Gibor', which it did insert later, in 10:17?
Ba'al ha'Turim: Because "Gadol" corresponds to Avraham, 1 who fought the four kings, and "Nora", to Ya'akov, 2 who fought against Lavan and Eisav, 3 whereas "Gibor" corresponds to Yitzchak, who did not fight any battles - and 'battles' is the context of the current Pesukim.
Oznayim la'Torah: Because the true meaning of 'Gibor' one who qashes his Yeitzer ('ha'Kovesh es Yitzro') 4 - which is equivalent to the Midah of 'Erech Apayim' - which Hashem aplies to give a chance to sinners to do Teshuvah - is not aplicable to the Cana'anim (the subject of the current Pasuk), who had broken all boundaries and whose Teshuvah was no longer acceptable. 5
Ba'al ha'Turim: See Yehoshua, 14:15.
Ba'al ha'Turim: See Bereishis 28:17.
Lavan and Eisav prepared to fight Ya'akov, but they did not! Rashi (Bereishis 18:23) compares Avraham's forceful prayer for S'dom to war; all the more so, the heated dialogue between Lavan and Ya'akov (Bereishis 31:26-43). Some say that "Asher Lakachti mi'Yad ha'Emori b'Charbi uv'Kashti" means 'from Eisav', and some say that "b'Charbi uv'Kashti" literally means with a sword and bow (refer to Bereishis 48:22:4:1,3,4,5 & 6), but no one explains that Ya'akov physically fought Eisav! Some say that when Eisav kissed him, he bit his neck (refer to Bereishis 33:4:2:3). Or, the Torah tells us not to fear the Cana'anim, and hints to two Avos, whom Hashem protected in or from war (PF). After Ya'akov's prepararions for war, they fought a battle of wits - when Eisav tried to join forces with Ya'akov, and Ya'akov talked him out of it.
Avos, 1:4.
Perhaps we can go further and confine the Midah of Erech Apayim to Yisrael - whom the Pasuk in 10:17 is referring to - but not to Nochrim.
