“Seeing” Double (Genesis 18:2)
Question
It’s becomes clear from Bereshit 18:2 that Avraham is looking around from the entrance of the tent and sees three men appearing, cause it reads: והנה שלשה אנשים נצבים עליו. But what did Avraham sees the second time the word וירא appears? It only says ‘and he saw’, it doesn’t say ‘when he saw them’ (והוא ראה אותם) or ‘as he saw them’ (כפי שהוא ראה אותם). And although it becomes clear he ran to great/call/meet them, it doesn’t seems to be connected to the fact that ‘he saw’, for he already saw them in the first part of the passuk. So what did he saw the second time he looked that made him ran towards them instead of ranning towards them right ahead?
Answers
Rashi explains that the first “seeing” is to be understood simply as meaning that Avraham physically saw them. The second time implies that he “saw” that they did not want to come any closer so as not to cause Avraham the trouble of having to serve them.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team