<b>The Lord saw that Leah was hated (Gen. 29:17).</b> Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: <i>For He knoweth base men; and when He seeketh iniquity, will He not then consider it?</i> (Job 11:11). This verse refers to what happened to Ishmael at the time that Sarah told Abraham: <i>Cast out this bondwoman and her son</i> (Gen. 21:10). This entire matter is described in the verse <i>And Abraham rose up early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it to her</i>, etc. (ibid., v. 14).
When the water in the flask was consumed, and Ishmael was about to die of thirst, she placed the child beneath one of the bushes (<i>sikhim</i>). R. Meir stated: This is the name of one of the large shrubs that grow in the desert. R. Yosé the son of Halafta maintained: It was the place at which an angel had spoken (<i>suakh</i>) to her previously. R. Berechiah declared: It indicates that she reproached the Omnipotent One there harshly, saying: “Is it possible, Master of the Universe, that you are like an ordinary human being, who gives a gift and then withdraws it? Did you not tell me: Your seed will multiply exceedingly? Yet now my son is about to perish from thirst.” The Holy One, blessed be He, thereupon commanded the angel to disclose the well to her. The angel responded: Master of the Universe, why do you bring forth a well for this wicked person who will ultimately waylay travelers and wayfarers? The Holy One, blessed be He, retorted: Is he not righteous now? I judge a man only on his state at the time he stands in judgment before Me. Therefore it is written: <i>And God heard the voice of the lad there where he is</i> (Gen. 21:17). And hence Scripture says: <i>For he knoweth base men</i>, etc.
Another comment on <i>He knoweth base men</i>: This alludes to Leah. After the Holy One, blessed be He, decided to give her sons, the guardian angels said to the Holy One, blessed be He: Will you give sons to such a woman? Twenty-four thousand people will perish because of Zimri, one of her descendants.<sup class="footnote-marker">6</sup><i class="footnote">Because of Zimri’s relations with Cozbi the Moabitess, twenty-four thousand were slain (Num. 25:6–8, 14–15). See Ginzberg, <i>Legends of the Jews</i> 3:220.</i> She is a virtuous woman, replied the Holy One, blessed be He, and I will not deprive her of her sons (because of future generations). Hence Scripture states: <i>For He knoweth base men</i>. And therefore, it is said: <i>And the Lord saw that Leah was hated</i>.