How did the midrash learn from the fact that Avrohom arose early to send Hagar and her son away that the members of his household were ותרנים?
(21,14) “And Avrohom arose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave [them] to Hagar, putting [them] on her shoulder along with the child, and sent her away. And she went and strayed in the wilderness of Be’er Sheva.”
The midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 53:13) learns from the phrase “and Avrohom arose early in the morning” that the members of Avrohom’s household were ותרנים - they possessed the character trait of voluntarily relinquishing something which is rightfully theirs to the advantage of someone else. From where does the midrash learn this?
It seems to me that the midrash deduced from what happened in the previous posukim that the reason why Avrohom arose early in the morning to send Hagar away must have been because the members of his household had this character trait.
The midrash reasoned that on the previous day when Sarah had told Avrohom to send away Hagar and her son, and Hashem had told him that “whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice” Avrohom was left with a dilemma. Because Hashem’s words could be interpreted in two ways - either He meant that Avrohom should do whatever Sarah says, and thus if she changes her mind about sending Hagar and her son away he should listen to her, or He meant that Avrohom should do what Sarah says because it was also Hashem’s will that they should be sent away, and thus even if she changes her mind he should still send them away.
Thus, since Avrohom knew that the members of his household were ותרנים it was very possible that tomorrow Sarah would rescind her request and ask Avrohom not to send Hagar and her son away, and if so, what should he do then? Therefore, he sent them away early in the morning before she had a chance to change her mind.
Hence, the midrash comments on the phrase “and Avrohom arose early in the morning” that the members of his household were ותרנים.