Why God Blessed Isaac After Abraham Died and Left Out Ishmael

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 25:11

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that [God] blessed," etc. (Genesis 25:11). And He left out Ishmael. And why? Because "in Isaac shall seed be called to you" (Genesis 21:12). And during his lifetime Abraham did not wish to bless Isaac, on account of Ishmael. He said: After my death the Holy One, blessed be He, will bless whomever He wishes. Even though Ishmael was the firstborn, He did not wish to bless him; rather, after his death the Holy One, blessed be He, blessed Isaac. "And Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi" (Genesis 25:11). He dwelt with Hagar, the widow of his father, who said "the well of the Living One who sees me" (Genesis 16:14) — to the Life of the worlds.

Themes

AbrahamPatriarchsBlessingDeathCreation

Biblical References

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