There is a well-known Medrash that at a tender young age, Avram recognized the folly of idol worship. He set out to teach the people of his town the error of their ways, but they were less than accepting of his teachings. His father Terach in particular was dead set against them, as he owned a store that sold idols. One day, his father asked him to watch the idols, and when he came back, he found that all the idols were smashed. He turned to Avram and asked, “What happened?”
Avram answered, “Someone brought in food for the idols. One of the smaller ones took it, the bigger idol got jealous, and they had a fight – punching, kicking, and smashing. This is what is left.”
Terach was not impressed with the cleverness of his son. In fact, he was so unimpressed that he took him to Nimrod the king, who pronounced him an enemy of the state and attempted to execute him. That resulted in another of the tests of Avram: the fire of Ur Kasdim.
This being the case, it is hard to imagine that Avram felt any great attachment and connection to his homeland and his father’s house. So what does Rashi mean that each expression made it harder for him to leave?
The answer to this question can best be understood with a perspective.
