Abraham Calls Himself Dust and Ashes Before God

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 18:27

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"Behold now, I have taken upon myself" (Genesis 18:27) — like that which is said, "we have done foolishly" (Numbers 12:11). "And I am dust and ashes" — had the kings with whom I fought killed me, I would have been dust; and had Nimrod burned me, I would have been ashes; but You saved me from both of them, [so] I consider myself dust and ashes before You. And in the merit of his having said "I am dust and ashes," his children merited two commandments: the dust of the sotah and the ashes of the [red] heifer.

Themes

HumilityAbrahamMerit Of The AncestorsDust And AshesDivine Rescue

Biblical References

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Pesikta de-Rav KahanaTwo Rememberings the Ashes of Abraham or the Clay of EgyptRabbi Tanhum opened with a verse from Job that turns on a single word for ashes, and he heard in it a choice laid before Israel. The Holy One reminds His childrYalkut Shimoni on TorahAbraham and Barak Who Made Themselves SecondaryThe midrash gathers two giants who chose to stand in another's shadow. Barak, summoned by Deborah to fight Sisera, refused to march unless she came with him. ThYalkut Shimoni on TorahAbraham Calls Himself Dust and Ashes and Earns Two CommandmentsStanding before God to argue Sodom's case, Abraham measures himself honestly. He is presuming to negotiate with the Master of the world, and he names what he isYalkut Shimoni on NachBarak and Abraham Who Made Themselves SecondarySome men are made smaller by the very thing they hoped would make them great. Rabbi Reuven names two who were meant to lead but stepped behind a woman, and so wBen SiraNothing Is Greater Than Fearing the LordHe starts with a seemingly straightforward observation: "A noble, ruler, judge shall be glorified, but nothing is greater than fearing the Lord." Acknowledge thBen SiraBen Sira on the Humble Being Lifted UpThe ancient sage Ben Sira, writing over two thousand years ago, wrestled with these very same questions. He saw the world around him, and he wasn't always thril