And Abraham took another wife (Gen. 25:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: But as for me, I will hope continually and will praise Thee, yet more and more (Ps. 71:14). R. Yudan stated: It is written: Only he shall not multiply horses to himself (Deut. 17:16). When Solomon was crowned king, he did not possess a single horse, and was compelled to ride upon an ass, but later on he obtained numerous horses.
R. Hunya said: It is written: And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised (Lev. 12:3). This indicates that a man should even go into debt in order to make the circumcision a day of rejoicing. Hence it says: And will praise Thee, yet more and more (Ps. 71:14). The rabbis maintained that this verse speaks of Abraham. He said to the Holy One, blessed be He: “You told me: For in Isaac shall seed be called unto thee (Gen. 21:12). You have multiplied Your blessings upon me, and I have borne many sons.” Hence it is said: And Abraham took another wife.
וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב: וַאֲנִי תָּמִיד אֲיַחֵל וְהוֹסַפְתִּי עַל כָּל תְּהִלָּתֶךָ (תהלים עא, יד). אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן, כְּתִיב: לֹא יַרְבֶּה לּוֹ סוּסִים (דברים יז, טז). וּשְׁלֹמֹה כְּשֶׁמָּלַךְ, אֲפִלּוּ אֶחָד לֹא הָיָה לוֹ, אֶלָּא עַל הַפִּרְדָּה רָכַב וְהוֹסִיף עוֹדּ.
And Abraham took another wife (Gen. 25:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this verse: But as for me, I will hope continually and will praise Thee, yet more and more (Ps. 71:14). R. Yudan stated: It is written: Only he shall not multiply horses to himself (Deut. 17:16). When Solomon was crowned king, he did not possess a single horse, and was compelled to ride upon an ass, but later on he obtained numerous horses.
אָמַר רַבִּי חוֹנְיָא, כְּתִיב: וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי יִמּוֹל בְּשַׂר עָרְלָתוֹ (ויקרא ט, ג). כְּשֶׁמָּל בְּנוֹ, אֲפִלּוּ אָדָם מְמַשְׁכֵּן עַצְמוֹ מְשַׂמֵּחַ אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם. הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר, וְהוֹסַפְתִּי עַל כָּל תְּהִלָּתֶךָ. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי, מְדַבֵּר בְּאַבְרָהָם. אָמַר לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּךְ אָמַרְתָּ לִי, כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע (בראשית כא, יב), הֲרֵי הוֹסַפְתָּ לִי מִבִּרְכָתְךָ וַאֲנִי מוֹלִיד כַּמָּה בָנִים. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה.
R. Hunya said: It is written: And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised (Lev. 12:3). This indicates that a man should even go into debt in order to make the circumcision a day of rejoicing. Hence it says: And will praise Thee, yet more and more (Ps. 71:14). The rabbis maintained that this verse speaks of Abraham. He said to the Holy One, blessed be He: “You told me: For in Isaac shall seed be called unto thee (Gen. 21:12). You have multiplied Your blessings upon me, and I have borne many sons.” Hence it is said: And Abraham took another wife.