“Abraham took another wife, and her name was Ketura” (Genesis 25:1). “Abraham took another wife, and her name was Ketura.” It is written: “Happy is the man who has not walked…” (Psalms 1:1). “Who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalms 1:1) – this [“the wicked”] refers to the generation of the Dispersion.
“Has not stood in the path of sinners” (Psalms 1:1) – these are the people of Sodom, as it is stated: “The people of Sodom were extremely wicked and sinful to the Lord” (Genesis 13:13). “And has not sat [yashav] in the company of the insolent one” (Psalms 1:1) – this refers to Avimelekh,1He is considered insolent because after expelling Abraham he said to him: “In accordance with the kindness that I have shown you” (Genesis 21:23). as it is stated: “Behold my land is before you, [dwell [shev] wherever it suits you]…” (Genesis 20:15).2Abraham did not accept Avimelekh’s offer to dwell near him.
“But whose desire is the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2) – “For I love him, so that he will command [his children and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord]…” (Genesis 18:19). “And he meditates on His Torah” (Psalms 1:2) – Rabbi Shimon said: He [Abraham] had no father to teach him, and he did not have a teacher. From where, then, did he learn Torah? The answer is that the Holy One blessed be He set his two kidneys [kilyotav]3The kidneys were considered the seat of thought in the body. as two teachers of a sort, and they would flow forth and teach him Torah and wisdom.
That is what is written: “I bless the Lord who counsels me, even on nights when my thoughts [khilyotai] are anguished” (Psalms 16:7). “He will be like a tree planted” (Psalms 1:3) – the Holy One blessed be He planted him in the Land of Israel. “Which brings forth its fruit in season” (Psalms 1:3) – this refers to Ishmael. “And whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3) – this refers to Isaac.
“And whatever he does will prosper” (Psalms 1:3) – this refers to the sons of Ketura, as it is stated: “Abraham took another wife, and her name was Ketura.”