(Gen. 12:1:) NOW THE LORD SAID UNTO ABRAM: GO…. {Let our masters teach} [Let our master instruct us]: What does it mean for one to take upon himself the Kingdom of Heaven (i.e., recite the Shema' while he is walking?¹. 2:1 (4a); cf. Ber. 13b; Tanh., Gen. 3:1. Rav Idi and Rav Huna in the name of R. Jose bar Judah said in the name of R. Samuel:² It is forbidden for a person to take upon oneself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven while he is walking. Rather let him stand still upon his feet and give the recitation of the Shema'. Then, when he arrives at "Blessed be the name of his glorious majesty forever and ever," let him immediately begin to walk while reciting the We'ahavta (= Deut. 6:5) with no fear (of sinning). You find that whoever is meticulous about the commandments receives much reward. Now Abraham was meticulous about the commandments.³. 4:14; Yoma 28b; Ned. 32a (bar.); Gen. R. 49:2; 95:3; also below, 3:14. R. Aha said in the name of R. Alexandri and R. Samuel bar Nahmani in the name of R. Jonathan: They even kept eruvim of cooked foods in Abraham's house,⁴ 28b; Gen. R. 49:2; 64:4; M. Pss. 1:13. as stated (in Gen. 26:5): BECAUSE ABRAHAM HEEDED MY VOICE [AND KEPT MY CHARGE: MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, AND MY TORAHS]. But is there not a single Torah? The plural usage here simply indicates that he was meticulous with all commandments which are in oral and written Torah.⁵ The Holy One said: You are meticulous with my commandments; so should you dwell with those who serve idols? Go out from among them. {Thus it is stated} [Where is it shown? Where they read on the matter] (in Gen. 12:1): NOW THE LORD SAID UNTO ABRAM: GO.

footnotes: ¹ yBer ² Since R. Jose bar Judah flourished somewhat earlier than R. Samuel, the text here presents a chronological problem. Variant readings to this text represent attempts at a solution. ³ On Abraham keeping the Mosaic Law, see Syriac Baruch 57:1-2; cf. Jubilees 23:10; Damascus Document (CD) 3:2; Qid ⁴ Yoma ⁵ See below, 3:14; 11:12.