(see the book Ethiopia the classic case pg.47). Let us know. It is available as both book and ebook. Rashi, ibid. This notion is based on 25:6: But to Abrahams sons by concubines Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac; and this expulsion is both in this world and in the world to come (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. > Hagar soon bore Ishmael, who was the first son of Abraham. Genealogies elsewhere in the Bible are similarly symbolic. She was perfumed (mekuteret) with commandments and good deeds (Gen. Rabbah 61:4); she was (through her good deeds) more savory (mekuteret) than all manner of spices (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer [ed. Placing the Keturah account after the birth of Isaac but before Sarahs death would not have worked either. Ask the Rabbi Of course this wasnt unheard of in that era, while human lifespans had not yet shrunk down to their present levels. Salem Media Group. The view that was widely accepted by the Rabbis is the one which identifies Keturah with Hagar, and it appears in various A type of non-halakhic literary activitiy of the Rabbis for interpreting non-legal material according to special principles of interpretation (hermeneutical rules).midrashim. Second, in our Torah texts (and in the Samaritan Pentateuch) the spelling is, in fact, plene, as is pointed out by Chizkuni (ad loc.) I have several frustrating issues going on in life today, as well Im wondering what happened to the House of David. Good! tr:Kantura. Our Stepmother, Keturah - TheTorah.com Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? God tells Abraham to do as Sarah wishes, so he sends Hagar and Ishmael into the desert with only meager food and water. Genesis 17:19. cousins. First, whether the spelling is defective or plene should make no difference in meaning. Rabbi David D. Steinberg is the co-founder and director of TheTorah.com - Project TABS. I or The Complete Works of Biblical . Her sons were the ancestors of many Arabian tribes. The Lord commanded Sarah to give Hagar to Abraham for his wife and commanded Abraham to take Hagar as his wife (see D&C 132:3435). As the editor decided where to place this account, he faced a narrative problem. Ishmael was born and brought up in Abrahams household. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. First Chronicles 1:32 refers to Keturah as Abraham's concubine, so there is some debate as to the exact nature of their relationship. [5][6][7] This interpretation is set forth in the Midrash[8] and is supported by Rashi, Gur Aryeh, Keli Yakar, and Obadiah of Bertinoro. Though the Torah describes them separately, the rabbis often identify Keturah with Hagar, who they state came back to remarry Abraham after Sarahs death. were not from Ishmaels line at all, but existed prior to Abraham, much less his Higger], chap. This school of thought is further bolstered by the fact that this wife also had a different name (Keturah); in addition, the plural wording of Gen. 25:6 (to Abrahams sons by concubines) conveys that Abraham had at least two wives in addition to Sarah. Perhaps they took some of the spiritual heritage they gained from Abraham and later discovered their own paths.