בראשית רבה ס״אBereshit Rabbah 61

Section 1א׳

וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה וּשְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה (בראשית כה, א), כְּתִיב (תהלים א, א): אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ וגו', אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים, זֶה דּוֹר הַפְלָגָה. (תהלים א, א): וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים לֹא עָמָד, אֵלּוּ אַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יג, יג): וְאַנְשֵׁי סְדֹם רָעִים וְחַטָּאִים. (תהלים א, א): וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים לֹא יָשָׁב, זֶה אֲבִימֶלֶךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כ, טו): הִנֵּה אַרְצִי לְפָנֶיךָ וגו'. (תהלים א, ב): כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת ה' חֶפְצוֹ, (בראשית יח, יט): כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה. (תהלים א, ב): וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָב לֹא לִמְּדוֹ, וְרַב לֹא הָיָה לוֹ, וּמֵהֵיכָן לָמַד אֶת הַתּוֹרָה, אֶלָּא זִמֵּן לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁתֵּי כִלְיוֹתָיו כְּמִין שְׁנֵי רַבָּנִים, וְהָיוּ נוֹבְעוֹת וּמְלַמְּדוֹת אוֹתוֹ תּוֹרָה וְחָכְמָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים טז, ז): אֲבָרֵךְ אֶת ה' אֲשֶׁר יְעָצָנִי אַף לֵילוֹת יִסְרוּנִי כִלְיוֹתָי. (תהלים א, ג): וְהָיָה כְעֵץ שָׁתוּל, שֶׁשְּׁתָלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. (תהלים א, ג): אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ, זֶה יִשְׁמָעֵאל. (תהלים א, ג): וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא יִבּוֹל, זֶה יִצְחָק. (תהלים א, ג): וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ, אֵלּוּ בְּנֵי קְטוּרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה.

“Abraham took another wife, and her name was Ketura” (Genesis 25:1). “Abraham took another wife, and her name was Ketura.” It is written: “Happy is the man who has not walked…” (Psalms 1:1). “Who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked” (Psalms 1:1) – this [“the wicked”] refers to the generation of the Dispersion. “Has not stood in the path of sinners” (Psalms 1:1) – these are the people of Sodom, as it is stated: “The people of Sodom were extremely wicked and sinful to the Lord” (Genesis 13:13). “And has not sat [yashav] in the company of the insolent one” (Psalms 1:1) – this refers to Avimelekh, as it is stated: “Behold my land is before you, [dwell [shev] wherever it suits you]…” (Genesis 20:15). “But whose desire is the Torah of the Lord” (Psalms 1:2) – “For I love him, so that he will command [his children and his household after him that they keep the way of the Lord]…” (Genesis 18:19). “And he meditates on His Torah” (Psalms 1:2) – Rabbi Shimon said: He [Abraham] had no father to teach him, and he did not have a teacher. From where, then, did he learn Torah? The answer is that the Holy One blessed be He set his two kidneys [kilyotav] as two teachers of a sort, and they would flow forth and teach him Torah and wisdom. That is what is written: “I bless the Lord who counsels me, even on nights when my thoughts [khilyotai] are anguished” (Psalms 16:7). “He will be like a tree planted” (Psalms 1:3) – the Holy One blessed be He planted him in the Land of Israel. “Which brings forth its fruit in season” (Psalms 1:3) – this refers to Ishmael. “And whose leaf does not wither” (Psalms 1:3) – this refers to Isaac. “And whatever he does will prosper” (Psalms 1:3) – this refers to the sons of Ketura, as it is stated: “Abraham took another wife, and her name was Ketura.”

Section 2ב׳

שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה' בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹהֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה (תהלים צב, יד טו): זֶה אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, (תהלים צב, טו): דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעֲנַנִּים יִהְיוּ, (בראשית כה, א): וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם. (איוב יד, ז): כִּי יֵשׁ לָעֵץ תִּקְוָה, יֵשׁ לְאָבִינוּ אַבְרָהָם תִּקְוָה. (איוב יד, ז): אִם יִכָּרֵת וְעוֹד יַחֲלִיף, אִם יֹאמַר עָלָיו כְּרוֹת הַבְּרִית, וְעוֹד יַחֲלִיף, מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים, (איוב יד, ז): וְיֹנַקְתּוֹ לֹא תֶחְדָּל, זוֹ לַחְלוֹחוּת שֶׁלּוֹ. (איוב יד, ח): אִם יַזְקִין בָּאָרֶץ שָׁרְשׁוֹ, (בראשית כד, א): וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן. (איוב יד, ח): וּבֶעָפָר יָמוּת גִּזְעוֹ, (בראשית כג, ב): וַתָּמָת שָׂרָה. (איוב יד, ט): מֵרֵיחַ מַיִם יַפְרִחַ, מֵרֵיחַ מִצְווֹת וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים יַפְרִיחַ. (איוב יד, ט): וְעָשָׂה קָצִיר, נָטַע אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא (איוב יד, ט): כְּמוֹ נָטַע, הַתּוֹסֶפֶת מְרֻבָּה עַל הָעִקָּר, וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וגו'.

“Planted in the House of the Lord, they blossom in the courts of our God. They will continue to yield fruit even in old age” (Psalms 92:14–15) – this refers to Abraham our patriarch. “They will remain full and fresh” (Psalms 92:15) – “Abraham took another [wife].” “For the tree has hope” (Job 14:7) – Abraham our patriarch has hope. “If it is hewed [yikaret], it will yet regenerate” (Job 14:7) – if He will say to him: ‘Perform [kerot] the covenant [of circumcision],’ “it will yet regenerate” – [he constantly increased his performance of] mitzvot and good deeds. “And its roots will not cease” (Job 14:7) – this refers to his [Abraham’s] vitality. “If its root grows old in the earth” (Job 14:8) – “Abraham was old” (Genesis 24:1). “And its trunk dies in the dirt” (Job 14:8) – “Sarah died” (Genesis 23:2). “It will blossom from the scent of water” (Job 14:9) – due the scent of mitzvot and good deeds, he will blossom. “And produce branches” (Job 14:9) – “[branches] of a sapling” is not written here, but rather, “[branches] like a sapling” – the addition is greater than the tree itself: “Abraham took another [wife]…”

Section 3ג׳

בַּבֹּקֶר זְרַע אֶת זַרְעֶךָ וְלָעֶרֶב אַל תַּנַּח יָדֶךָ (קהלת יא, ו), רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אָמַר אִם זָרַעְתָּ בְּבָכִיר זְרַע בְּאָפִיל, שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ (קהלת יא, ו): אֵיזֶהוּ יֻכְשַׁר, אִם שֶׁל אָפִיל אִם שֶׁל בָּכִיר (קהלת יא, ו): וְאִם שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד טוֹבִים. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אָמַר אִם בָּא עָנִי אֶצְלְךָ בְּשַׁחֲרִית, תֵּן לוֹ. בְּעַרְבִית, תֵּן לוֹ. שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כּוֹתֵב עָלֶיךָ הֲזֶה אוֹ זֶה וְאִם שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד טוֹבִים. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא, רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר אִם לָמַדְתָּ תּוֹרָה בְּנַעֲרוּתֶךָ לְמֹד תּוֹרָה בְּזִקְנוּתֶךָ, שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן מִתְקַיֵּם לְךָ הֲזֶה אוֹ זֶה וְאִם שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד טוֹבִים. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר אִם הָיוּ לְךָ תַּלְמִידִים בְּנַעֲרוּתֶךָ עֲשֵׂה לְךָ תַּלְמִידִים בְּזִקְנוּתֶךָ, שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ אֵיזֶה מֵהֶם מִתְקַיֵּם לְךָ זֶה אוֹ זֶה, וְאִם שְׁנֵיהֶם כְּאֶחָד טוֹבִים. שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר אֶלֶף תַּלְמִידִים הָיוּ לְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מֵעַכּוֹ וְעַד אַנְטִיפְרָס וְכֻלָּם בְּפֶרֶק אֶחָד מֵתוּ, לָמָּה, שֶׁהָיְתָה עֵינֵיהֶם צָרָה אֵלּוּ בְּאֵלּוּ, וּבַסּוֹף הֶעֱמִיד שִׁבְעָה, רַבִּי מֵאִיר וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה, רַבִּי יוֹסֵי וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן שַׁמּוּעַ וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הַסַּנְדְּלָר וְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב. וְאִית דְּאָמְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבִּי מֵאִיר וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא בֶּן חֲכִינָאי וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הַסַּנְדְּלָר. אָמַר לָהֶם בָּנַי, הָרִאשׁוֹנִים לֹא מֵתוּ אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיְתָה עֵינֵיהֶם צָרָה אֵלּוּ לְאֵלּוּ תְּנוּ דַּעְתְּכֶם שֶׁלֹא תַעֲשׂוּ כְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם, עָמְדוּ וּמִלְּאוּ כָּל אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל תּוֹרָה. רַבִּי דּוֹסְתָּאי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אִם הָיוּ לְךָ בָּנִים בְּנַעֲרוּתֶךָ קַח לְךָ אִשָּׁה בְּזִקְנוּתֶךָ וְהַעֲמֵד בָּנִים, וּמִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד מֵאַבְרָהָם שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים בְּנַעֲרוּתוֹ וְלָקַח אִשָּׁה בְּזִקְנוּתוֹ וְהֶעֱמִיד בָּנִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וגו'.

“In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not rest your hand” (Ecclesiastes 11:6) – Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Eliezer said: If you sowed in the early season, sow in the late season [as well], as you do not know “which will succeed” (Ecclesiastes 11:6), whether that of the early season or that of the late season, “or whether they both alike will be good” (Ecclesiastes 11:6). Rabbi Yehoshua said: If a poor person comes to you in the morning, give him charity, [and if another comes] in the evening, give him [as well], as you do not know for which of them the Holy One blessed be He will record about you, for this one or for that one, “or whether they both alike will be good.” Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Yishmael says: If you studied Torah in your youth, study Torah in your old age [as well], as you do not know which of them will endure, this one or that one, “or whether they both alike will be good.” Rabbi Akiva says: If you had students in your youth, procure students for yourself in your old age [as well], as you do not know which of them will endure, this one or that one, “or whether they both alike will be good.” Rabbi Akiva had twelve thousand students from Akko to Antipatris and they all died in one time period. Why? Because they were miserly toward one another. Ultimately, he produced seven [disciples]: Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yosei, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua, Rabbi Yoḥanan HaSandlar, and Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov. Some say: Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yosei, Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, Rabbi Ḥanina ben Ḥakhinai, and Rabbi Yoḥanan HaSandlar. He said to them: ‘My sons, the previous students died only because they were miserly toward one another. See to it that you do not act in accordance with their actions.’ They arose and filled the entire Land of Israel with Torah knowledge. Rabbi Dostai in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: If you had children in your youth, take a wife in your old age and produce [more] children. From whom do you learn this? From Abraham, who had children in his youth, and took a wife in his old age and produced [more] children. That is what is written: “Abraham took another [wife]…”