Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Tosefta for Nehemiah 9:7

אַתָּה־הוּא֙ יְהוָ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בָּחַ֙רְתָּ֙ בְּאַבְרָ֔ם וְהוֹצֵאת֖וֹ מֵא֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים וְשַׂ֥מְתָּ שְּׁמ֖וֹ אַבְרָהָֽם׃

Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

Tosefta Berakhot

Even though [the Tanach] goes back and calls Avraham [(Genesis 17:5)], Avram [again], [(Nehemiah 9:7) and (I Chronicles 1:27)] it is in his praise and not in his shame. To Yehoshua [(Numbers 13:16)], Hoshea [again], [(Deuteronomy 32:44)] it is in his praise and not in his shame. He is [the same] Avram before [God] spoke to him, he is [the same] Avram after [God] spoke to him. He is [the same] Hoshea before he became great , he is [the same] Hoshea after he became great. Moshe, Moshe [(Exodus 2:3)]; Avraham, Avraham [Genesis 22:11)]; Yakov, Yakov [(Genesis 46:2)]; Shmuel, Shmuel [(I Samuel 3:10)]; [all of these double expressions] are expressions of love and encouragement. They are [the same people] before [God] spoke to them and they are [the same people] after [God] spoke to them. They are [the same people] before they became great, they are [the same people] after they became great.
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