Banishment of Hagar and Yishmael/2

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Banishment of Hagar and Yishmael

Exegetical Approaches

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Yishmael's Negative Behavior

Sarah's actions were motivated by the problematic behavior of Yishmael and the desire to protect Yitzchak from his repugnant deeds and influence.

Sources:ToseftaSotah 5:7About the Tosefta, R. Akiva, R. Elazar b. R. Yosi HaGelili, R. Yishmael, and R. Levi in ToseftaSotah 6:3About the Tosefta, Sifre Devarim6:4About Sifre Devarim, and Bereshit Rabbah53:11About Bereshit Rabbah, Shemot Rabbah1:1About Shemot Rabbah,  Targum Pseudo-JonathanBereshit 21:9-17About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer30About Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, RashiBereshit 21:9-11,14-15,17About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, R. Avraham b. HaRambamBereshit 21:9-12Bereshit 21:14Bereshit 21:20About R. Avraham Maimonides, RambanBereshit 21:9-11Bereshit 21:15About R. Moshe b. Nachman, R. Yosef ibn KaspiTirat Kesef pp. 98-99Bereshit 21:9About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi,
"מְצַחֵק" – Though all these sources assume that Yishmael's behavior was reprehensible, they disagree regarding what action is referred to by the term "מְצַחֵק":
  • Cardinal sins – According to most of these commentators, the word refers either to idolatry,1 murder,2 or illicit relations,3 the three cardinal sins in Judaism.
  • Sin of speech – Ramban asserts that Yishmael was mocking Yitzchak and the party, while Ibn Kaspi posits that he was poking fun at Sarah.  In contrast, R. Avraham b. HaRambam maintains that Yishmael was more generally fooling around and speaking with a foul mouth.
  • Gambling – Ibn Kaspi also raises the possibility that Yishmael was gambling (משחק בקוביא)‎.
Banishment – According to this approach, the decision to banish Yishmael stemmed from his behavior and "‎צחוק":‎4 
  • Spiritual protection – According to many of these sources,5 Sarah believed that Yishmael needed to be expelled to ensure that Yitzchak did not learn from his negative ways.  R. Avraham b. HaRambam adds that Sarah feared that she and Avraham might die while Yitzchak was still young, leaving him to grow up under the sole influence of Yishmael, with no counter role models.
  • Physical protection – R. Levi, Rashi, and Pirkei deRabbi Eliezer all maintain that Yishmael had attempted to kill Yitzchak.  As such, Yishmael's banishment was necessary to physically protect Yitzchak.
  • Punishment – In contrast to the above, Ramban views the banishment as a punishment to Yishmael.  He asserts, though, that this was in fact a lighter punishment than was warranted, since a servant who mocks their master really deserves death.
Disinheritance
  • Most of these commentators would likely suggest that the disinheritance was simply a by-product of Yishmael's expulsion.
  • R. Avraham b. HaRambam, in contrast, equates the banishment and disinheritance.  He maintains that Sarah was not referring to a monetary inheritance but to a spiritual one.  While Yitzchak was to be educated to religious perfection, Yishmael was not to join in such an upbringing.  Thus, Sarah's words "לֹא יִירַשׁ" are another way of saying that Yishmael should not to live with and be raised by the family, and is equivalent to the term "גָּרֵשׁ".
Why is Avraham "upset about his son"? Shemot Rabbah, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, and one opinion in Rashi suggest that Avraham was upset that Yishmael had veered from the right path. 
Ramban
Why is Hagar also expelled?
"לֶחֶם וְחֵמַת מַיִם" – were there sufficient provisions?
Why does Hashem save Yishmael?
Hagar's status
When does the story take place?
Gifts to sons of concubines

Ensuring Yitzchak's Inheritance

Jealousy

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