Midrash sobre Gênesis 18:11

And the Lord appeared unto him in the grove of Mamre… . in the heat of the day (Gen. 18, 11). What does in the heat of the day, mean? R. Chama b. Chanina said: "This day was the third after Abraham's circumcision, and the Holy One, praised be He! came to inquire after Abraham's [health]; and to prevent Abraham from troubling himself with guests, the Lord caused the day to be intensely hot, so that no one should go out. Abraham, however, sent out his servant, Eliezer, to search for guests; and he went out but found none. Abraham said: 'I do not trust you.' That is what people say: 'There is no trust in slaves.' He then went out himself, when he met the Holy One, praised be He, standing by the door. Thus it is written. Pass not away, I pray thee, from Thy servant (Ib). For when He saw that, he tied up [his wound] and untied it, He said: 'It is not the proper custom to stop here' and was about to leave Abraham. For that reason it is written, And he lifted up his eyes and looked, etc. — i.e., in the beginning they stopped, but when they observed his suffering they said, 'It is not customary to stop here.' Then, he ran to meet them." Who were these three men? Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Michael came to give the message to Sarah, Raphael to cure Abraham, and Gabriel to destroy Sodom. But is it not written (Ib. 19, 1) And two angels came to Sodom? Michael accompanied Gabriel, in order to rescue Lot, and there is also evidence from the passage (Ib.) And he overthrew, etc. And it is not written "they have overthrown." What is the reason that concerning Abraham it is written: So do as thou hast spoken. And concerning Lot it is written (Fol. 87) And he pressed upon them? (Ib. 19, 3) R. Elazar said: "Infer from this that one may decline an offer from a person inferior to himself, but not from a superior one."

The nations shall know refers to the women who taunted Sarah by calling her a barren woman. I, the Lord, have builded the stricken places indicates that she was stricken with old age, as it is said: And Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken with age (Gen. 18:11). Have planted that which is desolate refers to her remark: After I am waxed old, shall I have pleasure? (ibid., v. 12). And I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it is stated because it is said: And God remembered Sarah as He has said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as He had spoken (ibid. 21:1).

Abraham was first with aging,⁶⁶BM 87a; Gen. R. 65:9; 97 (Vatican MS) on Gen. 48:1 (= pp. 1241—1243 in the Theodor-Albeck edition); Tanh., Gen. 5:1; PRE 52. See also above, 5:5. with trials, with an inn,⁶⁷Gk.: pandokeion. and with a legatum.⁶⁸The Latin word means “bequest.”
• With aging: When the father and the son would enter a city, no one knew whom to honor. The Holy One said: By your life, I am beginning < the aging process > with you, as stated (in Gen. 24:1): NOW ABRAHAM WAS AGED.⁶⁹Heb.: zaqen. In Scripture (Gen. 18:11) Abraham and Sarah are the first persons to whom this word is applied.
• With trials: Where is it shown? Abraham said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the World, if you had not given contentment to the generation of the flood, they would not have provoked you to anger. But, if you had brought trials upon them, they would not have rebelled against you. The Holy One said to him: With you I am beginning to have one suffer trials through his child. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 21:8.): SO THE CHILD (Isaac) GREW AND WAS WEANED.⁷⁰The passage goes on to show how the weaning led in vs. 11 to Abraham being distressed. {R. Joshua} [R. Osha'ya] and R. Abbin differed.⁷¹Gen. R. 53:10. The one said that he was weaned from trials. The other said that he was weaned from the evil drive to the good drive.
• With an inn, according to what is written (in Gen. 21:33): AND AT BEER-SHEBA HE PLANTED AN ESHEL, i.e., an inn.⁷²Eshel, which is commonly translated here as “tamarisk tree,” can also mean “inn.” Gen. R. 54:6; Sot. 10a.
• With a legatum {i.e., a gift}: Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Gen. 25:6): BUT TO ABRAHAM'S SONS BY CONCUBINES ABRAHAM GAVE GIFTS.

Another explanation: "The fruit of a beautiful tree (ets hadar)" - this is [referring to] our father, Avraham, who the Holy One, blessed be He, graced (hider) with a good old age, as it is stated (Genesis 24:1), "And Avraham was old, had come along in days;" and it is written (Leviticus 19:32), "and you shall grace (hadarta) the old." "The branches (kappot) of a date palm" - this is [referring to] Yitschak, who was bound (kafut which is spelled with the same letters as kappot) and tied up on top of the altar. "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - this is [referring to] Yakov. Just like this myrtle bustles with leaves, so too was Yakov bustling with children. "And brook willows" - this is [referring to] Yosef. Just like this willow gets withered before these three [other] species, so too did Yosef die before his brothers. Another explanation: "The fruit of a beautiful tree (ets hadar)" - this is [referring to] Sarah, who the Holy One, blessed be He, graced (hider) with a good old age, as it is stated (Genesis 18:11), "And Avraham and Sarah were old." "The branches of a date palm" - this is [referring to] Rivka. Just like this date palm, it has food and it has thorns, so too Rivkah brought up a righteous one and an evildoer. "And a branch of a braided tree (a myrtle)" - this is [referring to] Leah. Just like this myrtle bustles with leaves, so too was Leah bustling with children. "And brook willows" - this is [referring to] Rachel. Just like this willow gets withered before these three [other] species, so too did Rachel die before her sister.

Rav said, "At the time that the spheres of the sun and the moon enter to get permission from in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, their eyes are dimmed from the radiance of the Divine Presence. Then they request to go out to give light to the world, but they do not see anything. So what does the Holy One, blessed be He, do for them? He shoots arrows in front of them and they go by their light." This is [the understanding of] that which is written (Habakkuk 3:11), "Sun [and] moon stand still on high as Your arrows fly in brightness, Your flashing spear in brilliance"; and it is written (Joel 2:10) "Sun and moon are darkened, and stars withdraw their brightness." Rabbi Hoshaya the son of Rabbi Simlai of Caesarea said in the name of Rabbi Yitschak bar Zeira, "The sun never sets until it becomes like a type of mustard seed of blood." What is the reason? "[The sun] is like a groom coming forth from the chamber, like a hero, eager to run his course (orach)." And a path is only that of women, like you would say (Genesis 18:11), "Sarah had stopped having the way (orach) of women." Rabbi Levi said, "Each and every day, the Holy One, blessed be He, sits in judgement over the spheres of the sun and the moon, as they request not to go out to give light to the world. What do they say? 'The creatures prosecute us, the creatures bow down to us.'" Rabbi Yosta bar Shunam said, "What does the Holy One, blessed be He, do to them? He sits over them in judgement and they always go out and give light against their will." This is [the understanding of] that which is written (Zephaniah 3:5) "He issues judgment every morning, as unfailing as the light." What is [the understanding of] unfailing? Not ceasing. "The wrongdoer knows no shame" (Zephaniah 3:5). They are not embarrassed, but rather bow down to them - they see them eclipsed and they are not embarrassed.This is [the understanding of] that which is written (Leviticus 24:2), "and they shall take olive oil to you."

(Gen. 6:5:) AND THE LORD SAW THAT HUMAN EVIL HAD BECOME GREAT ON THE EARTH. Let our master instruct us: How great is the judgment against the wicked in Gehinnom? Thus have our masters taught (in 'Eduy. 2:10): THE SENTENCE of the wicked in Gehinnom IS TWELVE MONTHS. These < words> are from the Mishnah.⁹⁷See ySanh. 10:3 (29b); PRK 10:4. Where is it shown from Scripture? Where it is written (in Is. 66:23): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS WHENEVER A MONTH < FALLS > IN ITS MONTH, i.e., from that month to the same month < in the following year >. Ergo: twelve months. Thus it is stated (in Esth. 3:7): FROM DAY TO DAY AND FROM MONTH TO MONTH < EQUALS > [TWELVE MONTHS]. How were they judged? By fire and by snow, since it is stated (in Prov. 31:21): SHE IS NOT AFRAID FOR HER HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE OF SNOW. This is Gehinnom.⁹⁸Perhaps because Mount Zalmon, a name which means “darkness” and can designate Gehinnom, is a place of snow in Ps. 68:15 [14]. Cf. M. Pss. 68:9. Now they take that < wicked one > out of the snow and cast him into the midst of the fire. David said (in Ps. 40:3 [2]): AND HE RAISED ME UP FROM THE PIT OF DESOLATION, FROM THE MIRY MUD. And why is it called by the name MIRY MUD (YWN)? Because when they take them and cast them into the fire, they cry: Vay (WY). Then after that they cast them into the snow, and they cry: Vay. Its name is therefore called MUD (YWN), a place where they say: Vay, vay (WY)! And where do they deliver their souls? Hezekiah the son of R. Hiyya said:⁹⁹See M. Prov. 21. In the midst of the snow, as stated (in Ps. 68:15 [14]): IT SNOWS IN ZALMON. And what basis is there for you to compare the sentencing of the wicked to Gehinnom with the sentencing of the generation of the flood?¹⁰⁰See Gen. R. 28:8; 33:7; Lam. R. 1:14 (40); Seder ‘Olam R. 4. < The basis is > that, just as the judgment of the former is to fire and to snow, [so the judgment of the latter was to fire and snow. Where is it shown that it was to fire?] Where it is stated (in Job 6:17): THROUGH ITS HEAT THEY ARE OBLITERATED FROM THEIR PLACE. And where is it shown that it was to snow? Where it is stated (in Gen. 7:12): AND THERE WAS RAIN UPON THE EARTH. And why so? Because by the measure with which a person measures one will measure out for him.¹⁰¹Sot. 1:7; TSot. 3:1; Matthew 7:2 // Luke 6:38; cf. Gal. 6:7. See what is written (in Gen. 6:2):¹⁰²See Gen. R. 26:5; Lev. R. 33:9. THE SONS OF GOD SAW THE HUMAN DAUGHTERS: These were the virgins. (Ibid., cont.:) THAT THEY WERE FAIR: These were the unmarried. (Ibid., cont.:) THEY TOOK WIVES FOR THEMSELVES: These were the married. (Ibid., cont.:) WHOMEVER THEY CHOSE, even including males and cattle. R. Huna said in the name of R. Idi: The verdict against the generation of the flood was not sealed until they wrote gamika¹⁰³The word is Greek. {i.e., marriage contracts} for males and cattle. For that reason the waters came over them in the form of a woman. Thus it is stated (in Job 6:18): THE WAYS OF THEIR COURSE¹⁰⁴These words may also denote ways of living. TURN ASIDE. Now TURN ASIDE must imply a woman, since it is stated (in Ruth 3:8): < NOW IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT > THAT THE MAN WAS STARTLED. SO TURNED HE ASIDE, AND HERE WAS A WOMAN. And WAYS < can > only < denote > {a woman} [women], since it is stated (in Gen. 18:11): THE WAY OF WOMEN < HAD CEASED FOR SARAH >. So also THEIR COURSE (derekh), since it is stated (in Gen. 31:35): FOR THE PERIOD (derekh) WOMEN IS UPON ME. Hence one may say: In the manner that they sinned retribution was exacted from them. You know yourself that it is so. See what is written (in Gen. 7:11): ON THAT DAY ALL THE SPRINGS OF THE GREAT ABYSS BURST FORTH. What is the meaning of GREAT? < That > the Holy One said: Just as they have sinned greatly, so I have exacted retribution from them greatly. Where is it shown? From what they read on the matter (in Gen. 6:5): AND THE LORD SAW THAT < HUMAN EVIL > HAD BECOME GREAT….

"And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Avraham built the altar there" (Gen. 22:9). And where was Itzchak? Said Rabbi Levi: he had taken and hidden him, saying, 'Lest he who sought to seduce him throw a stone at him and disqualify him from being a sacrifice.' "And Avraham built the altar there etc and bound Itzchak his son". Rabbi Hanina bar Itzchak said: As our father Avraham was binding his son Itzchak below, so the Holy One of Blessing was binding the [angel] princes of the heathens above. Yet they did not remain [bound]. For when Israel separated themselves in the days of Jeremiah the Holy One of Blessing said to them: ‘What do you think: that those fetters still exist?’ as it says, "For shall they be like tangled thorns (sirim)" (Nahum 1:10), which means: For are the Princes (sarim) to be tangled [i.e. bound] forever? No; for when they [the Israelites] are “drunken according to their drink” (Nahum 1:10), their fetters are broken, for it is written, "They shall be devoured as stubble fully dry" (Nahum 1:10). When our father Avraham stretched forth his hand to take the knife to slay his son, the angels wept, as it says, “Behold, their valiant ones [the angels] cry without — hutzah” (Isa. 33:7). What does ‘hutzah’ mean? R. ‘Azariah said: It is unnatural. It is unnatural that he should slay his son with his own hand. And what did they say? The highways lie wasted? (Isa. 33:8) — does not Avraham show hospitality to travelers? The wayfaring man ceased — shavat (Isa. 33:8) — as in the verse, It had ceased (hadal) for Sarah (Gen. 18:2). "He has broken the covenant" (Isa. 33:8), [similar to] “But My covenant will I establish with Itzchak” (Gen. 17:21). “He has despised the cities (Isa. 33:8), “And [Avraham] dwelt between Kadesh and Shur” (Gen. 20:1). He regards not man (Isa. 33:8) — has Avraham no merit in his favor? This is surprising! And who says that this verse does not refer to the angels? — Here it says, “Upon (MI-MA’AL) the wood”, while in another passage it says, “above (mi-ma’al) Him stood the seraphim” (Isa. 6:2).

And he came upon (vayifga') the place (Genesis 28:11) - Rav Huna says, in the name of Rabbi Ami: why do we substitute the name of the Holy Blessed One and use Place? Because God is the Place of the world, and the world is not the place of God. From what is written "Here there is a place with Me" (Exodus 33:21) the Holy Blessed One is the place of the world and the world is not the place of the Holy Blessed One. Said Rabbi Yitzchak: from "The ancient God is dwelling" (Deut. 33:27) we do not know if the Holy Blessed One is the dwelling of the world or if the world is the dwelling of the Holy One, but from what is written "Hashem, You are a dwelling" we see that the Holy Blessed One is the dwelling of the world and the the world is not the dwelling of the Holy One. Rabbi Aba bar Yudan said about a warrior who rides on a horse having plenty weapons on both his right and left: the horse depends on the rider, and the rider does not depend on the horse, as it is said: "when you ride on your horse" (Habakuk 3:8). Another explanation: what is "vayifga"? It is he prayed. He prayed on the place, the place of the Beit Hamikdash. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: the first ancestors fixed three Prayers. Avraham fixed the morning prayer, as it is written "Next morning, Abraham rose to the place where he had stood before " (Genesis 19:27), and the term stood can only be Prayer, as it is written "And Pinchas stood and prayed" (Psalms 106:30). Yitzchak fixed the afternoon prayer, as it is written "And Isaac went out to converse in the field toward evening" (Genesis 24:63) and the term converse can only be Prayer, as it is written "I pour out my conversation before God" (Ps. 142:3). Yaakov fixed the evening Prayer, as it is written "And he came upon the place" and the term vayifga' can only be Prayer, as it is written "As for you, do not pray for this people, do not raise a cry of prayer on their behalf, do not tifga' Me; for I will not listen to you." (Jer. 7:16), and the text also says: " If they are really prophets and the word of Hashem is with them, ifge'u Hashem of Hosts" (Jer. 27:18). Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: three times the day changes. At evening, a person needs to say "may it be Your will, Hashem my God, that you will bring me from darkness to light." At morning one needs to say "I thank you Hashem my God, that you brought me from darkness to light." In the afternoon a person needs to say "may it be Your will, Hashem my God, that just as I merited to see the sun rise, may I merit to see the sun set." Another explanation of vaiyfga' - the rabbis say the prayers were fixed according to the Tamid sacrifices. The morning prayer according to the morning Tamid offering. The afternoon prayer according to the Tamid of the late afternoon. The evening prayer has no set moment, it was established according to the limbs and fat pieces that were consumed by the fire of the altar.