Another interpretation (of Gen. 12:1): GO. This text is related (to Ps. 45:11 [10]): HEAR, O DAUGHTER, TAKE NOTE, AND INCLINE YOUR EAR: FORGET YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE.⁸., Gen. 3:3; cf. Gen. R. 39:1. HEAR, O DAUGHTER, TAKE NOTE: This refers to Abraham. AND FORGET YOUR PEOPLE AND YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE: This refers to the idolaters, as stated (in Jer. 2:27): THEY SAY TO A TREE: YOU ARE MY FATHER. (Ps. 45:12 [11]) AND THE KING WILL DESIRE YOUR BEAUTY. This refers to the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, who takes pleasure in ⁹. adorning you in the world. R. Abbin said: {(ibid.): BECAUSE HE IS YOUR LORD, BOW DOWN TO HIM.} Now what did Abraham resemble?¹⁰ A vial of persimmon¹¹. when it has been set in a graveyard. Then no one would know what its aroma was. What did a certain one do? He took it and moved it from place to place, so that its aroma began to disperse abroad. Similarly Abraham was dwelling among those who served idols. The Holy One said to him: Why are you residing among the wicked? Go out from among them, and make your good works known abroad. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 12:1): GO.

footnotes: ⁸ Tanh ⁹ The reading follows the traditional Tanhuma ¹⁰ Cf. Gen. R. 39:2. ¹¹ Gk.: balsamon