Barak and Abraham Who Made Themselves Secondary

Yalkut Shimoni on Nach 43:2

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And Barak said to her: If you go with me, I will go" (Judges 4:8). Rabbi Pinchas in the name of Rabbi Reuven said: two men were primary, yet they made themselves secondary, and so they became secondary. They were Abraham and Barak. Abraham was primary: "And Abram took Sarai his wife" (Genesis 12:5); yet he made himself secondary, as it is said, "Please say you are my sister" (Genesis 12:13), and it is written, "And he treated Abram well for her sake" (Genesis 12:16). Barak, as it is written, "If you go with me, I will go." Rabbi Yehuda says: "If you go with me" to Kedesh, "I will go" with you to Hazor; and if you will not go with me to Kedesh, I will not go with you to Hazor. Rabbi Nechemyah says: if you go with me to the song, I will go with you to the war; and if you do not go with me to the song, I will not go with you to the war. "And she said: I will surely go with you, but the glory will not be yours" (Judges 4:9). Rabbi Reuven said: she said to him, what do you suppose, that the glory of the song was handed to you alone? And he was made secondary, as it is said, "Then sang Deborah and Barak" (Judges 5:1).

Themes

HumilityWomenAbraham

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