“Abram and Naḥor took wives for themselves; the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai and the name of Naḥor’s wife was Milka, daughter of Haran, father of Milka, and the father of Yiska” (Genesis 11:29). “Abram and Naḥor took wives for themselves” – Abram was one year older than Naḥor and Naḥor was one year older than Haran. Consequently, Abraham was two years older than Haran. Allow one year for the pregnancy of Milka and one year for the pregnancy of Yiska, Haran begot children at the age of six years,34Abraham was two years older than Haran and ten years older than Sarah, who is Yiska.
Yiska, Haran’s younger daughter, was born when he was eight. Milka, the elder, was born when Haran was seven, meaning that the pregnancy occurred when he was six. and Abraham did not beget. This is astonishing. “Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30).
“Sarai was barren…[she had no [ein la] child]” – Rabbi Levi said: Every place that ein la is stated, ultimately she did have. “Sarai was barren; she had no [ein la] child” – she eventually had: “The Lord remembered Sarah” (Genesis 21:1). “Penina had children but Hannah had no [ein] children” (I Samuel 1:2) – and she eventually had: “For the Lord remembered Hannah, and she conceived and bore” (I Samuel 2:21).
“It is Zion, it has no [ein la] seekers” (Jeremiah 30:17) – and it eventually had: “A redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59:20); “Sing, barren one, who did not give birth; burst into song and rejoice, [for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the Lord]” (Isaiah 54:1).