פירוש על בראשית 21:17

את קול הנער THE VOICE OF THE LAD — From this we may infer that the prayer of a sick person is more effective than the prayer offered by others for him and that it is more readily accepted (Genesis Rabbah 53:14).

באשר הוא שם, seeing she could not see him from the place where she had sat down, the angel had to use this manner of referring to Ishmael. He would be provided with water at that location.

WHERE HE IS. He shall be judged according to his present deeds, and not according to those actions which he may do in the future. This was because the ministering angels laid charges, etc. Thus the words of Rashi quoting from the teachings of our Rabbis.³³⁶Ibid., 19.
The correct interpretation, in line with the simple meaning of Scripture, appears to me to be that the verse is stating that G-d heard the voice of the lad in the place in which he was. He informed her that she will not need to go from there to a fountain or well for in that very place he will quench his thirst immediately. He thus said to her, “Arise, lift up the lad³³⁷Verse 18 here. after you will have given him to drink, for I will make him a great nation.³³⁷Verse 18 here. Similarly, the word sham (there) in verses, Where he sunk, there he fell down dead;³³⁸Judges 5:27. Meaning, “‘in the place’ where he fell.” And where the slain are, there is she,³³⁹Job 39:30. Meaning “And ‘in the place’ where the slain are.” alludes to the place.