Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 21/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 21

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Overview

This index is meant to help the reader explore Biblical parallels, be they two accounts of the same event, stories with similar motifs and themes, or units of text which are linguistically similar and perhaps alluding one to the other. The page includes links to tools that aid in comparison, primary sources that touch upon the parallels, and summaries of and links to articles which analyze them in depth.

The Two Banishments of Hagar

It is difficult to understand the story of the banishment of Hagar and Yishmael in Bereshit 21 without comparing it to the parallel narrative about Hagar in Bereshit 16.

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the two stories. There are not as many linguistic parallels as one might have expected given the similar content of the stories. One surprising parallel is the repeated motif of "eyes" in both narratives.

Articles

• See Sarah's Treatment of Hagar for an analysis of the morality of Sarah’s actions in Bereshit 16. The article notes that while most commentators believe that Sarah’s behavior was appropriate (finding support in the angel’s instructions to Hagar to return to Sarah), some suggest that Sarah behaved too harshly toward Hagar and even that her descendants were punished as a result.  
• See Banishment of Hagar and Yishmael for analysis of the motivation and morality of Sarah’s actions in Bereshit 21. The article examines various commentators' evaluations of Sarah's deed.  Most commentators believe that Yishmael behaved immorally and Sarah’s banishment of him was therefore justified.  Ralbag and Abarbanel suggest that Sarah was motivated by the need to protect Yitzchak’s place as Avraham’s heir, while R. Avraham Saba is unique in finding fault with Sarah’s actions.  

Akeidat Yitzchak and Yishmael

There are many points of comparison and contrast between the stories of the expulsion of Yishmael and Akeidat Yitzchak. In fact, Tanakh Lab¹ reveals that one of the chapters which is most linguistically similar to Bereshit 21 is Bereshit 22. 

Tools

• Use the Tanakh Lab to compare the two stories and find linguistic similarities here.

Articles

• See עקדת ישמעאל : חוויה מכוננת אחת, by Prof. Uriel Simon, for a discussion of how the banishment of Yishmael was in essence also an "Akeidah", with Avraham being asked to sacrifice both of his sons.² Prof. Simon suggests that the fact that Yishmael and Yitzchak ultimately come together to bury Avraham indicates that they found peace in their relationship, perhaps through their shared experience of their own "Akeidot". 
• For further exploration of the parallels and differences between the stories, see Vayera: Akedat Yishmael by R. Michael Hattin. The major differences between the narratives include Hagar’s apparently aimless wandering versus Avraham’s focused journey to the place Hashem commands, Hagar’s abandonment of Yishmael versus the text’s repeated statements of Avraham’s and Yitzchak’s unity, and Hagar’s ultimate inaction versus Avraham’s decisive action. These differences indicate the unique nobility of Avraham.  
• For analysis of how the two narratives reflect different approaches to challenge, see But My Covenant I will Establish with Yitzhak by R. Chanoch Waxman. This article points out that the differences between the behavior and attitudes of Avraham and Hagar also characterize Yitzchak and Yishmael.  Thus, the differences between the two “Akeidah” narratives serve to explain why Yitzchak is chosen as the spiritual heir of Avraham over Yishmael. 

¹ In the Tanakh Lab click on the Torah icon for a list of chapters which are most linguistically similar to the one being displayed.

² The stories share other similarities as well, including sudden divine salvation brought about through the actions of an angel