Abraham and Hagar

Sources

Abraham rose up early, and wrote a bill of divorce, and gave it to Hagar, and he sent her and her son away from himself, and from Isaac his son, from this world and from the world to come, as it is said, "And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water" (Gen. 21:14). He sent her away || with a bill of divorcement, and he took the veil, and he bound it around her waist, so that it should drag behind her to disclose (the fact) that she was a bondwoman. Not only this, but also because Abraham desired to see Ishmael, his son, and to see the way whereon they went.

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 30:4

AND A BOTTLE OF WATER. Chemet (bottle) is a vessel. It is possibly made out of skin or wood. Chamatekha (thy venom) in That puttest thy venom (chamatekha) thereto (Hab. 2:15) is analogous. Many are amazed at Abraham’s behavior. They ask, how could Abraham chase his son out of his house? How could he send away mother and child empty handed? Where was his kindness? However, I am amazed at those who are amazed at Abraham, for Abraham acted according to God’s dictates. Had he acted contrary to Sarah’s wishes and given money to Hagar…

Ibn Ezra on Genesis 21:14:1

AND SHE CAST THE CHILD. Thirst overtook him and he was unable to walk, and so his mother laid him under the tree, cast away and abandoned. It may be that the word vatashleich (and she cast) is similar in sense to the verses: And He cast them into another land; Cast me not away from Thy presence, meaning “sending away.”
Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra said: “And she cast for she had taken him onto her lap when he was weakened by thirst, [and seeing that he was expiring from thirst, she cast him from her]…

Ramban on Genesis 21:15:1

And Abraham rose up in the morning, and took bread and a cruse of water, and gave to Hagar to bear upon her shoulder, and bound it to her loins, to signify that she was a servant, and the child, and dismissed her with a letter of divorce (be-gitta). And she went, and wandered from the way into the desert which was hard by Beersheba.

Targum Jonathan on Genesis 21:14

שם על שכמה, the hose containing the water; this was in order to show that she was a slave woman. A reminder of the angel at the time having told her that she was to submit to her mistress Sarah (16,9) A righteous person of the caliber of Avraham would certainly not send away a woman and her son without provisions adequate to ensure that she can reach the next location where new provisions can be obtained. [I wonder why Hagar was not given an animal to ride on? Clearly, Avraham was intent that she should be known to be a slave by the fact that she had to travel on foot. Ed…

Sforno on Genesis 21:14:1-3

Sarah now challenged Hagar's new found legal status. She did this by emphasising that it was she who had initiated the union between Hagar and Abraham, not Abraham. She had given Hagar to Abraham inasmuch as she could dispose of the activities of her slave Hagar. Why would the Torah repeat ("I have given my slave to your bosom") something we knew already, except to stress the conditions under which Hagar had been given to Abraham? According to what we have explained earlier Abraham had no claim to the fruit of Hagar's womb…

Or HaChaim on Genesis 16:5:4-7

Now what does the one seek Now what does the one member of the couple seek to find accusations against his wife, who is his mate, who is the seed of God? What does he claim of her that he disgraces her? This is the wording of Jonathan’s translation, except that Jonathan renders: Now what does the one seek except seed of God? The explanation is correct except for the fact that the word הָאֶחָד is pointed with “zakef” mark, and the mark of the “zakef” separates the word מְבַקֵּש from joining וּמָה הָאֶחָד. It connects it to זֶרַע אֱ-לֹֹהִים…

Rashi on Malachi 2:15:3

“Abram said to Sarai: Behold, your maidservant is in your hand; do to her what is favorable in your eyes. Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her” (Genesis 16:6).
“Abram said to Sarai…do to her what is favorable in your eyes” – she said to him: ‘I do not care neither for her benefit nor for her detriment.’ [He told her:] ‘It is written: “You shall not enslave her, because you afflicted her” (Deuteronomy 21:14). This woman, after we caused her distress, shall we enslave her?’ [Sarah repeated:] ‘I do not care for her benefit nor for her detriment…

Bereshit Rabbah 45:6

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Abraham and Sarah

Abraham and Lot

Binding of Isaac

Parashat Vayera

Tests of Abraham

Parashat Lech Lecha

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