Why the Near Road Was Closed and Abraham's Oath to Abimelech

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 226:6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Another interpretation: "for it was near" (Exodus 13:17). Near was the oath that Abraham our father swore to Abimelech, "now therefore swear to me here by God" (Genesis 21:23) and so forth, and his grandson was still alive. [Therefore Israel could not yet pass through the land of the Philistines, since the oath of nonaggression had not yet expired.]

Themes

PatriarchsCovenantHoly Land

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