La Genèse 20:15 Midrash : Midrash Tehillim, Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Aggadat Bereshit & Bereshit Rabbah

Another interpretation of “Blessed is the person” (Psalms 1:1) — this is Abraham, as it is said, “And now, return the wife of this person, since he is a prophet” (Genesis 20:7) [Abraham is described by God as a person, using the word האיש, which the Psalm uses to describe the blessed person]; “who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked” (ibid.) — this refers to the generation of the dispersion, as it is said, “Come let us build a city for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4), and the word “come” always alludes to [people taking] counsel, as it is said, “you should take counsel and devise a plan” (Judges 20:7). And the word “city” always alludes to God, as it is written, “[In the vision of my mind in bed, I looked and saw] a holy Watcher [coming down from heaven]” (Daniel 4:10 [see also Daniel 4:20 – and the Aramaic word that’s used for the “Watcher” is a homonym with the Hebrew word for city –עיר ; such that their desire to build an עיר might allude to some sort of idolatry, or an attack on God.] [The generation of the dispersion] were divided into three sects. One said, “Let us ascend [the tower] and live there.” One said, “Let us make war with [God, atop the tower].” And one said, “Let us ascend and practice idolatry there.” And all three were struck. One [sect] was transformed into monkeys, spirits, and demons. Of one [sect], God swallowed their tongues and divided their language [see Psalms 55:10]. And one [sect] God dispersed [over the face of the earth], [in conformity with] that which is written, “An evildoer’s plans backfire” (Proverbs 10:24). [Returning to our Psalm, and our reading it in conjunction with the life of Abraham:] “And in the path of the sinners he doesn’t stand” (Psalms 1:1) — these are the people of Sodom [with whom Abraham didn’t stand], as it is said “And the people of Sodom were wicked and sinful” (Genesis 13:13); “the company of scoffers” (Psalms 1:1) — this refers to Avimelech, as it is said, “Behold my land lies before you, [settle wherever you please]” (Genesis 20:15), and [Abraham] didn’t accept [the offer; he refused to sit in the company of scoffers]; “but his delight is in the Torah of God” (Psalms 1:2) – this refers to Abraham, as it is said, “For I have singled him out, that he may instruct [his children and his posterity to keep the way of God by doing what is just and right, in order that God may bring about for Abraham what has been promised to him” (Genesis 18:19); “and on His law he meditates [day and night]” (Pslams 1:2) – Rabbi Shmuel son of Nachmani said, “Abraham didn’t have a father that would teach him Torah. From where did he learn it?” Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai taught that this teaches us that the Holy One, blessed be He, appointed [Abraham’s] two kidneys for him, as two rabbis, and [Torah would] flow [from them] and they would teach him wisdom all night, in conformity with that which is written, “I bless God who has guided me; my conscience [literally: my kidneys] admonish me at night” (Psalms 16:7). And Rabbi Shmuel son of Nachmani said in the name of Rabi Yonatan, that Abraham our father observed [all of Jewish law], even the laws of eiruv tavshilin [a Rabbinic device that allows for a person to prepare food for Shabbat during a festival that precedes Shabbat] and eiruv chatzerot [another Rabbinic device that allows a person to carry items between properties on Shabbat], as it is said, “Because Abraham heeded by voice, observed my charge, my commandments, my statues, and my teachings [literally: my Torahs – alluding, in the Midrashic imagination to both the Written and the Oral Torahs]” (Genesis 26:5). “He shall be like a tree planted besides streams of water” (Psalms 1:3), since the Holy One, blessed be He, took [Abraham] and planted him in the land of Israel. Alternatively, the Holy One, blessed be He, took [Abraham] and planted him in the Garden of Eden; “which yields its fruit in its season” (ibid.) — this refers to Isaac; “whose foliage never fades” (ibid.) — this refers to Ishmael; “and all that it produces thrives” (ibid.) — this refers to the children of Ketura. “Therefore, the wicked will not survive judgement” (Psalms 1:5) — this refers to Nimrod and his fellows.

What is the meaning (of Prov. 27:10): A CLOSE NEIGHBOR IS BETTER THAN A DISTANT BROTHER? The Holy One said to Abimelech ben Jerubbaal (of Jud. 9): King Abimelech of the Philistines is better than you because he gave a lot of honor to Abraham, as stated (in Gen. 20:15): THEN ABIMELECH SAID: HERE BEFORE YOU IS MY LAND. Why did he say this? It is simply that he saw all the honor with which the Holy One had honored him, as stated (in Gen. 20:3): BUT GOD CAME UNTO ABIMELECH IN A DREAM AT NIGHT. He said to him (ibid.): You fool! HERE YOU ARE TO DIE BECAUSE OF THE WOMAN WHOM YOU HAVE TAKEN. You have all this happiness at hand, and you are dying on account of a woman! Did you not consider that (in ibid., cont.) SHE IS A MARRIED WOMAN (lit.: A HUSBAND'S WIFE)? What is the meaning of this HUSBAND'S (ba'al, rt.: B'L) WIFE (be'ulah, rt.: B'L)? {Is it not} [simply that] she is the mistress (ba'alah, rt.: B'L) of a {mistress} [husband] (ba'al, rt.: B'L)?

Chapter 26: Prophets [1] And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years (Judges 9:22). "Your friend and your father's friend do not forsake" (Proverbs 27:10). "Your friend and your father's friend" refers to Hanun son of Nahash, king of Ammon. David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash" (2 Samuel 10:2). What did Hanun do? "Hanun took David's servants and shaved off half of their beards" (2 Samuel 10:4). Hanun said, "My god has failed me, but my people have not" (2 Samuel 10:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity for all time" (Deuteronomy 23:7), yet David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash." Immediately, they cut off David's messengers' garments (2 Samuel 10:4), and that was "your friend and your father's friend." "And do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Jehoram, king of Judah, as he rose and killed all his brothers, as it says, "And Jehoram arose over the kingdom of his father and strengthened himself and killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the officers of Israel" (2 Chronicles 21:4). "A near neighbor is better than a distant brother" (Proverbs 27:10). This refers to Abimelech son of Gideon, who killed his brothers. (Legends of the Jews 4:2:54) The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "The wickedness of the world would have been better off without you, Abimelech, son of your father's maidservant," because his father's kinship was with Abraham, and he was more honored than he. "And he said, 'Behold my land'" (Genesis 20:15). Furthermore, he said to Sarah, "Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver" (ibid. 16). This refers to Doron. What did he do for Sarah? He made her a carriage and adorned her with royal garments, as it says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes" (Genesis 20:16). Why did he not still want to claim her? Rather, he hears that she is a queen and is afraid to say, "Who can sue a queen?" Therefore, he says, "Behold, it is for you a covering of the eyes." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the son of Gideon, "See how your father's kinsman, Abraham, honored him, yet you stood and killed your brother." As it says, "And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone" (Judges 9:5). Therefore, I will shorten your days, as it is said, "And Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years" (Judges 9:22). Why? The fear of the Lord will add days and years to your life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short (Proverbs 10:27).