1)

Who was Keturah?

1.

Rashi and Targum Yonasan: Keturah was alias Hagar.

2.

Ramban (in Pasuk 66) and Rashbam (according to the simple P?shat): Keturah was another woman - not Hagar. 1


1

Refer to 25:1:2:1*

2)

Why does the Torah call Hagar ?Keturah??

1.

Rashi#1: Because her deeds were beautiful like the Ketores. 1

2.

Rashi #2: Because she 'tied up' 2 her womb (she refused to marry any other man) from the time that she left Avraham.

3.

Targum Yonasan: Because she was initially 'bound' to him from day #1.


1

In Vayeira, 21:14 Rashi commented that Hagar returned to the idolatry of her father's house? Refer to 25:1:1.1:1.

2

'Katar' is the Aramaic term for 'Kashar' (tied).

3)

If Keturah was not Hagar, why did Avraham not go to Charan to find a wife, like he did for Yitzchak?

1.

Ramban (in 25:6): Avraham was fussy only with regard to Yitzchak, who was destined to build K?lal Yisrael, but with regard to himself and his other children. 1


1

Refer to 25:6:2:1. In fact, the Ramban concludes, Keturah was from Cana'an. Otherwise, the Torah would have stated her nationality, as it did with regard to the wives of Eisav (see Bereishis 26:34). Refer to 25:1:2.1:1.

4)

What is the significance of the fact that the Torah mentions Avraham marrying Keturah immediately after Yitzchak married Rivkah?

1.

Bava Kama 92b: This is the source for the saying 'The tooth that is not eating suffers sixty pains when it hears its fellow-tooth eating. 1 Consequently, when Avraham saw his son married he followed suite.


1

Torah Temimah (citing the Aruch): Which means that a person who hears his friend eating and he himself is not eating, suffers 60 pains.

5)

Why does it say "va'Yosef," especially according to Rashi, that he remarried Hagar?

1.

Malbim: The primary seed of Avraham is Yitzchak. His other children are a mere secondary addition.

2.

Ha'amek Davar: Avraham remarried in order to have more children 1 - "la'Sheves Yetzarah." This is even if their lineage does not follow him [e.g. if they are considered slaves], like it says in Yevamos 62a. 2


1

Ha'amek Davar: Alternatively, he remarried because "it is not good for man to be alone" (2:18).

2

The Gemara says that one even fulfills the Mitzvah of Peru u'Revu with such children. According to the opinion in Bava Basra 16b that Avraham did not have a daughter with Sarah, we can say that he remarried to fulfill Peru u'Revu!

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

6)

Rashi writes: "She was called Keturah because her deeds were as pleasing as incense (Ketores)." But earlier, Rashi wrote that Hagar had reverted to her native idolatry (Rashi to 21:14)?

1.

Gur Aryeh and Moshav Zekenim: She immediately did Teshuvah, upon experiencing Hash-m's kindness, when He sent her an angel and a spring of water (Bereishis 21: 17-19). Also see Keli Yakar.

7)

Rashi writes: "Keturah - This was Hagar." Why interpret this way?

1.

Gur Aryeh: If Keturah had not been introduced to us before, the Torah should state her origin - and not leave us to assume that she was a local. 1 Avraham had warned Yitzchak not to marry into Kena'an, and certainly he himself would not do so! Rather, it was Hagar (who we know was Egyptian - 16:1).


1

As opposed to Ramban. Refer to 25:1:2:1 and note.

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