Back to Abraham - Heading South

Torah study 1/29
Starting Genesis Chapter 20! Back to Abraham...

Abraham Sarah go South -

Resumes narrative from ch 18.
Close link to the. Previous story thematically
Boundaries
immorality
male handing over female to save his life

Source criticism. Narrative replicates Gen 12
Different source document
In verse 20 God is Elohim from the "e" source
In ch 12 :17. God is Adonai From the "j" source


Why does Abraham head south? Would go to the Negev for their flocks.
He is a Ger Change of status he is a foreigner at this point.


Rashi reflects on why he leaves.
1. Saw cities destroyed there are no more passers by. He lives for guests so when no more guests it is too isolated for him.
2. He needs to get away from Lot because he now has a bad reputation due to sexual relations with daughter. Also idea that the looked alike so didn't want to be confused with Lot.

Eli Munk.
His need to give hospitality. Needed to proclaim monotheism to others. So moved to where he could continue his "missionary" work.

Abraham is the model of the man who never gives up even in the face of a failure. Never gives up his mission.
Or maybe it was an economic motive. He needs to be where people are to make his living.

R David Kimkee. A goes walk though the land to claim the land. Political motive.

a Kabbalisitic interpretation of the patriarchs:

Abraham exemplifies the characteristic of "chesed" kindness to others. Selfless giving
Isaac. Gevurah. Restraint - inner directive to succeed
Jacob. Tiferet- Truth Compassion. Middle ground.

Possible to have too much chesid. Need boundaries. Need to have a balance.
Keeping close vs pushing away

SRH. Explains. Started in Negev and moves north and now moves again south. But he needs to be near the city.
Some say it relates to the birth of Isaac. Need to be closer to cities to learn of different cultures he will see near the city. T
hus his temp residence is the capital of a Philistine prince. Need to balance education between Torah and the secular world.

Argue against the education philosophy of those who try to isolate children from the secular world. (haradim)
Abraham said to or about Sarah. "She is my sister"
Troubling behavior. How people apologize for this.
Art scroll interpretation. A feared for his life. People would befriend the sister of a man but if married he would be in danger
Rashi. Says this was against her will. Say Abraham was wrong.

Mystic explains. Eli Munk. Zohar. Sarah represents the Shahinah. A is trying to show he is closer to God. Sister is a more permanent relationship

Sarah Is Abraham's sister. Another fact?