What is an “Eshel,” and why did Avraham plant it at Beersheba? What does it mean to “call out in the name of God”? Is this an act of praying to God or publicizing God’s reputation and message?
After Avraham and Avimelekh make a treaty, the Torah relates that Avraham plants an “Eshel” in Beersheba and “calls out in the Name of God.” The plain meaning of the text describes Avraham as “planting,” and seems to present the Eshel as a type of tree—one of the few trees that thrive in the arid desert conditions of Beersheba.
What does it mean to “call out in the Name of God”—and what is the connection to the Eshel?
Targum Onkelos, in his Aramaic translation, interprets this “calling out in the Name of God” as meaning that Avraham built a matzeva (a type of pillar) at Beersheba and prayed there.
Onkelos sees the tree as connected to the matzeva. This conceptual link comes from the Book of Devarim: In the context of future generations building a society in the Land of Israel, the Torah forbids planting a tree next to the altar of God. Immediately following that verse, appears the prohibition of building a matzeva (Deuteronomy 16, 21-22).
Rashbam writes that the Eshel was an orchard that Avraham set up as a place to pray. It appears that Rashbam, too, views “calling out in the Name of God” as praying.
Ramban (Nahmanides) and others, however, explain that Avraham was “calling out in God’s Name” to the people of the world, spreading God’s message and reputation.
According to this interpretation, why would Avraham plant an Eshel instead of building an altar or matzeva? Chapter 12 describes him as “calling out in the Name of God” and building an altar, where he would ostensibly enable those interested to sacrifice offerings to God.
The Talmud (Tractate Sotah 10b) presents the opinion of Resh Lakish, who explains that when Avraham planted the Eshel, he was essentially planting a field with full of good things to eat.
Resh Lakish explains that Avraham would facilitate the acknowledgement and appreciation of the Creator of the Universe through his hospitality: Passersby would eat and drink, and when they would get up to leave, they would start to thank Avraham. Avraham, however, would stop them and tell them that what they ate and drank did not belong to him, but to God—and that the right address for their thanks, praise and blessing is God, the Creater of the Universe. In this way, he would bring people of the world to God.
The ideas of Resh Lakish suggest that Avraham brought people close to God in two ways: One was inviting them to a House of Worship (a “synagogue” or “shul model”) as he did in Chapter 12. Another way was welcoming those in far-flung regions to an “outreach center” in their area.