Specifically, we're diving into Bereshit Rabbah 52, which unpacks a tricky moment in Abraham's story.
Remember when Abraham and Sarah are traveling, and Abraham introduces Sarah as his sister to protect himself? (Genesis 20:11). He says, "Because I said: Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me over the matter of my wife." Then he adds, "And also, indeed, she is my sister; the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife" (Genesis 20:12).
So, what's going on here? The text explains that Abraham answered them "in accordance with their practice." According to the Midrash, the people of that place permitted marrying a paternal sister—a sister who shares the same father—but not a maternal sister, one who shares the same mother. So, Abraham was essentially saying, "Hey, according to your rules, this is perfectly fine!" He's trying to make his marriage to Sarah seem valid within their cultural framework.
But the story doesn't end there. Abraham continues, "It was, when God caused me to wander [hitu] from my father's house, I said to her: This is your kindness that you shall perform for me; at every place that we will come, say of me: He is my brother” (Genesis 20:13).
Now, here's where it gets even more interesting. Rabbi Hanin jumps in and says something along the lines of: "If only we could explain this verse in three ways and thereby fulfill our obligation!" Why? Because the Hebrew word for "caused me to wander," hitu, is a bit problematic.
See, hitu is plural, which could imply that multiple gods commanded Abraham. That doesn't sit well with the idea of one God. Also, the root of hitu, ta’a, can mean either "to wander away" or "to become corrupt." So, it could be interpreted as God corrupting Abraham. Not ideal!
Rabbi Hanin offers three interpretations to smooth things out.
First, he suggests that the plural form, hitu, isn't about God at all! Instead, it refers to the nations of the world who sought to fight against Abraham while he was still in his father’s house. God, blessed be He, protected him. So, God is expressing a separate thought; that God saved me from them.
Second, when the nations of the world sought to lead me astray [lehatot], the Holy One blessed be He revealed Himself to me and said to me: “Go, you” (Genesis 12:1).
Third, when the nations of the world sought to stray [litot] from the ways of the Holy One blessed be He, He appointed for them two prominent leaders from my father’s family, Shem and Ever, who would give them warning [to repent]. This is a clever way to explain the verse while keeping God's image intact.
What does this all mean? It shows us how the rabbis grappled with the complexities of the biblical text. They weren't afraid to ask tough questions and offer multiple interpretations. It also highlights the importance of context. Abraham had to navigate a foreign culture, and his actions were shaped by the circumstances he found himself in. He wasn't simply lying; he was adapting to survive. The rabbis understood that.
So, next time you find yourself in a situation where you have to explain yourself or adapt to a different culture, remember Abraham. Remember that sometimes, the most important thing is to understand the context and act accordingly. And remember that even in the most difficult situations, there's always room for interpretation and understanding.