Hagar's Well
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ShareWellsprings and Visions - Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan, wellspringsofwisdom.com
The Hebrew word for “well,” Be’er, באר can be read, “to elucidate, make clear.”
The Hebrew word for “spring,” Ma’ayan, is related to the words for “eye” and “looking” (ayin, ayen, עין).
Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, speaks to an angel at Ein Hamayim (spring or “eye” of water) at Be’er Le-Chai Ro’i באר לחי רואי (which could mean, poetically, “Well of the Life-Source, the One who sees me”), Genesis 16:7-15), and is later saved in the desert when God “opens her eyes” shows her a well of water (Genesis 21:19).
Wellsprings, water underground, suggests the messages that appear to us through dreams, meditations, creative explorations, and synchronicity (meaningful coincidences). These are experience that can open our eyes and help us find the depths within our souls.
Consider and Comment: Do you have time and space in your life to dream, meditate, and engage in creative pursuits? What are the wellsprings of your inspiration?
The Hebrew word for “well,” Be’er, באר can be read, “to elucidate, make clear.”
The Hebrew word for “spring,” Ma’ayan, is related to the words for “eye” and “looking” (ayin, ayen, עין).
Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, speaks to an angel at Ein Hamayim (spring or “eye” of water) at Be’er Le-Chai Ro’i באר לחי רואי (which could mean, poetically, “Well of the Life-Source, the One who sees me”), Genesis 16:7-15), and is later saved in the desert when God “opens her eyes” shows her a well of water (Genesis 21:19).
Wellsprings, water underground, suggests the messages that appear to us through dreams, meditations, creative explorations, and synchronicity (meaningful coincidences). These are experience that can open our eyes and help us find the depths within our souls.
Consider and Comment: Do you have time and space in your life to dream, meditate, and engage in creative pursuits? What are the wellsprings of your inspiration?
אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: הָרוֹאֶה בְּאֵר בַּחֲלוֹם — רוֹאֶה שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּחְפְּרוּ עַבְדֵי יִצְחָק בַּנָּחַל וַיִּמְצְאוּ שָׁם בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים״. רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: מָצָא תּוֹרָה — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי מֹצְאִי מָצָא חַיִּים״, וּכְתִיב הָכָא: ״בְּאֵר מַיִם חַיִּים״. רָבָא אָמַר: חַיִּים מַמָּשׁ.
The Gemara continues dealing with interpretations of the details of dreams: Rabbi Ḥanina said: One who sees a well in a dream sees peace, as it is said: “And Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of living water” (Genesis 26:19), and ultimately there was peace. Rabbi Natan says: One who sees a well in his dream it is a symbol that he has found Torah, as the well symbolizes Torah. As it is stated with regard to the Torah: “For whoever finds me finds life” (Proverbs 8:35), and it is written here: “A well of living water,” and we see that a well is linked to Torah as both are associated with life. Rava said: The well in the dream symbolizes actual life.
וַיִּפְקַ֤ח אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־עֵינֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֖רֶא בְּאֵ֣ר מָ֑יִם וַתֵּ֜לֶךְ וַתְּמַלֵּ֤א אֶת־הַחֵ֙מֶת֙ מַ֔יִם וַתַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־הַנָּֽעַר׃
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and let the boy drink.
ויפקח אלהים את עיניה ותרא באר מים. פירוש כנזכר למעלה שהבאר היה לעיניה רק שלא ראתה אותו וכשפקח אלהים עיניה ראתה, וזה פירוש הכתוב (במדבר כ', ח') ודברתם אל הסלע לעיניהם כי הן המים לעיניהם הוא ואך שאין רואין אותו כי המים רוחנית הוא, מתת אלהים הוא, פעם נראה ופעם אינו נראה, והבן.
"And God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water." The explanation above was that the well was in her eyes only when she saw it, and when God opened her eyes she saw it, and this is consistent with the meaning of another verse (Numbers 20:8)
"and you shall speak to the rock before their eyes" - they didn't see it for the water was spiritual, from the source of God, so sometimes you see it and sometimes you don't, so understand this!
שְׁתֵה־מַ֥יִם מִבּוֹרֶ֑ךָ וְ֝נֹזְלִ֗ים מִתּ֥וֹךְ בְּאֵרֶֽךָ׃
Drink water from your own cistern, Running water from your own well.
שתה מים מבורך. מבור שנתן לך הקב"ה לחלקך היא תורת משה:
כמו ותלך ותמלא, ואלהים הטיב ראותה לפי שעה לראותו, או לא היה שם, אבל בקע אלהים את הארץ באותו מקום ויצאו מים, כמו שנאמר בשמשון.
ותלך ותמלא את החמת, G’d expanded her range of vision so that she now saw the contours of a well she had not previously been able to see. Perhaps that well had not existed and G’d had provided it at this time on a temporary basis to keep Ishmael alive. The matter may have been similar to an experience Shimshon had in Judges 15,19 when G’d split the depression in the jawbone and produced sufficient water to quench Shimshon’s thirst.
ויפקח אלהים את עיניה נתן בה דעת להכיר מקום מים שהיה שם כי לא היתה סומא קודם לכן:
ויפקח אלוקים את עיניה, He granted her the instinct to look for water in the place where she would find it. She had not been blind previously so that her eyes had to be “opened.”
Indeed, there is not enough water for Hagar and Ishmael to survive in the desert. Hagar is certain that her son will soon die of thirst. It’s a horrible scene. Hagar is sobbing, terrified. Just at that moment the angel of God appears, and reassures her.
“And then God opens her eyes and she sees a well of water. She goes and fills the skin with water, and she lets her son drink.”
Many commentators agree: the well of water was always there, Hagar had just missed it.
It is only when her panic has pushed her to the limit that Hagar’s eyes are opened. The desperate fear of her son’s death induces vision in Hagar. She is capable of seeing clearly what has been right in front of her the whole time, the well of water that will rescue her son and save his life.
-sermon excerpt by Rabbi Rolano Matalon of B'nai Jeshurun (New York City ) for Rosh Hashanah 2020/5781.
“And then God opens her eyes and she sees a well of water. She goes and fills the skin with water, and she lets her son drink.”
Many commentators agree: the well of water was always there, Hagar had just missed it.
It is only when her panic has pushed her to the limit that Hagar’s eyes are opened. The desperate fear of her son’s death induces vision in Hagar. She is capable of seeing clearly what has been right in front of her the whole time, the well of water that will rescue her son and save his life.
-sermon excerpt by Rabbi Rolano Matalon of B'nai Jeshurun (New York City ) for Rosh Hashanah 2020/5781.
