כִּי אָמְרָה הֲגַם הֲלֹם רָאִיתִי אַחֲרֵי רֹאִי. עַל כֵּן קָרָא לַבְּאֵר בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי הִנֵּה בֵין קָדֵשׁ וּבֵין בָּרֶד.
For she said “Have I indeed seen even here after having seen?” Therefore the well was called “The Well of the Living One Appearing to Me,” behold it is between Kadesh and Bered. (16:13-14)
A number of questions arise concerning these rather cryptic verses:
- Hagar expresses astonishment over seeing an angel “even here.” What was it about the location of her vision that was cause for such a reaction?
- What is the meaning of the additional words “after having seen”?
- Why was the name that marked this episode bestowed on the well specifically, and not on the place as a whole?
The Meshech Chochmah explains that the answer to these questions comes by taking note of the concluding words of pasuk 14, which identify the location the location of the well as “between Kadesh and Bered.” These places are known in the Mishnah as Rekem and Cheger, and it is apparent from Tosafos that they are both outside the land of Israel. This
4 The Meshech Chochmah refers to the Gemara in Taanis 9a which adduces this concept regarding Moshe Rabbeinu.
5 Gittin 2a.
6 Gittin ibid. s.v. ve’Ashkelon.
now leads us to an interesting question. The Gemara states that prophetic visions do not occur in chutz la’Aretz. If so, how was Hagar able to see the angel in that place?
The Mechilta raises a parallel question from the prophecies of Yechezkel which were likewise experienced in Bavel, outside the land of Israel. The Mechilta provides two explanations to how this could have been:
- Since Yechezkel had initially experienced prophecy in the land of Israel, he was then able to subsequently experience it in chutz la’Aretz as well.
- All of his prophecies took place near bodies of water, which are places of purity.
In our case, also, Hagar was initially struck by the fact that she saw an angel “even here,” between Kadesh and Bered, outside of Israel. However, she subsequently understood that this was due to the fact that it was “after having seen,” i.e. after having experienced prophecy in the land of Israel in the house of Avraham. Additionally, the vision took place by a well, a pure body of water, which further allowed for her to have prophecy in chutz la’Aretz. Hence, the name which marked that experience was given to the well – “The Well of the Living One Appearing to Me”
This week's divrei Torah are dedicated le'ilui nishmas Jenny Shay חיה בת גימפל מרדכי ת.נ.צ.ב.ה.
7 Moed Katan 25a.
8 Mechilta Parshas Bo, Maseches de’Pischa sec. 1.
