Abraham Asks the Shekhinah Not to Leave Him Yet

Midrash Aggadah Targum Pseudo-Jonathan on Genesis 18:3 View source

Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team · Published January 14, 2025

The Hebrew of Genesis 18:3 is famously ambiguous. Is Abraham speaking to the angels, or to God? Targum Pseudo-Jonathan answers with a confident rearrangement. Abraham addresses the Lord directly, asking that the Shekhinah itself not depart while he runs to bring food for the guests.

The paraphrast's logic is beautiful. Abraham has the Shekhinah present at his tent. Abraham also has three travelers standing in the afternoon heat. He refuses to choose. He asks the Lord to remain in place while he tends to the three men, so that he can honor both heavenly Presence and human hospitality without dishonoring either.

The rabbis built one of their best-known teachings out of this verse. Greater is the welcoming of guests than receiving the Shekhinah, they said — and they pointed here. Abraham does not leave the Shekhinah waiting so he can be rude to guests. He asks permission from the Shekhinah so he can be generous to guests. Heaven agrees.

The Maggid hears the whole scene as a lesson in ordering loves. Abraham loves God and he loves strangers. Both loves deserve to be honored. The way he honors them is by asking the higher love to wait, confident that such a request will not be refused (Genesis 18:3). Hospitality, in the covenant of Abraham, is not a distraction from prayer. Done right, it is prayer.

Themes

Patriarchs Prayer Ethics Mysticism

Biblical References

Genesis 18:3

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