“It was when he drew near to come to Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife: Behold, I know now that you are a woman of fair appearance” (Genesis 12:11). “It will be, when the Egyptians will see you, they will say: This is his wife, and they will kill me, and keep you alive” (Genesis 12:12). “Please, say you are my sister, so that it may be well with me because of you, and my soul shall live because of you” (Genesis 12:13).
“It was when he drew near to come to Egypt” – he was together with her all those years, and only now he says to her: “Behold, I know now that you are a woman of fair appearance”? The explanation is that due to travel a person [usually] becomes unsightly, but this one [Sarai] retained her beauty.11And this fact became known to Abraham only now. Rabbi Ze’eira said in the name of Rabbi Simon: [Abraham told her:] ‘We traveled through Aram Naharayim and Aram Naḥor and we did not encounter a woman as fair as you.
Now that we are entering a place of ugly and swarthy people, “please, say you are my sister….”’12It was only now that her beauty could potentially cause problems. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Avun: There were two people who were the principal party, but subordinated themselves, and then actually became subordinate: Abraham and Barak. Barak – “She [Deborah] sent and summoned Barak son of Avinoam from Kedesh Naphtali, and said to him: Behold, the Lord, God of Israel, has commanded, saying: Go and draw toward Mount Tavor and take with you ten thousand…” (Judges 4:6).13This shows that Barak was originally the principal figure, as he was appointed to lead an army of ten thousand against Yavin, king of Ḥatzor, and his general Sisera.
“Barak said to her: If you go with me, I will go, but if you do not go with me, I will not go” (Judges 4:8).14He thereby subordinated himself to Deborah. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: [Barak said:] ‘If you go with me to Kedesh, I will go with you to Ḥatzor.15There was a preliminary battle at Kedesh, followed by the decisive battle at Ḥatzor. For the Kedesh battle, Barak sought the company of Deborah, who, as a prophetess, would inspire the soldiers to fight valiantly.
In return, he undertook to bring her along for the decisive battle of Ḥatzor. If you do not go with me to Kedesh, I will not go with you to Ḥatzor.’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: [Barak said:] ‘If you accompany me in song,16The song of praise that was to be sung after Israel’s victory (Judges 5). Barak requested the assistance of Deborah, the prophetess, to infuse his song with the prophetic spirit.
I will go with you to war.17In return for your help in composing the song, I will allow you to join me in battle. If you do not accompany me in song, I will not go with you to war. “She said: I will go with you; however [efes], it will not be your glory [on the path that you take, for it is by the hand of a woman that the Lord will deliver Sisera]” (Judges 4:9). Rabbi Reuven said: Efes is a Greek expression.18It means: Stop, it is not yours.
She said to him: ‘What do you think, that the glory of the song was assigned to you specifically?’ That was a rhetorical question. He then became subordinate [to her]: “Deborah and Barak son of Avinoam sang” (Judges 5:1).19The song is ascribed first and foremost to Deborah. Abraham was the principal party: “Abram took his wife Sarah” (Genesis 12:5).
He subordinated himself: “Please, say you are my sister [so that it may be well with me because of you]” (Genesis 12:13). And he became subordinate to her: “He benefitted Abram for her sake” (Genesis 12:16).