BEN ZOMA SAID: "It is written, And there was a famine in the land, and Abraham went down into Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was sore in the land (Gen. 12. 10) While Abraham and Sarah were crossing the desert a sandstorm arose that circled them like a whirlwind and everything was blotted out in their sight. When the storm subsided they found that their food had been scattered, their water spilt, and they were lost between Kadesh and Shur in the Egyptian desert. There nothing flourished but the twin herbs of fear and despair, and there was nothing to guide them, for all the landmarks had been lost beneath the sands. Then, when their thirst was such that the Angel of Death appeared before their eyes, Abraham stopped and prayed, and soon a white bird appeared on the horizon, and flew directly towards them. When this bird reached Abraham it dropped from its beak a single seed that fell at his feet. And Abraham cradled the seed and kneaded the earth to make it ready and planted the seed while it was still damp from its source. And before the sun had set a tree grew up in that place and bore fruit"

RABBI AKIBA SAID: "The white bird was the dove of Noah, as it is written, And the dove came to him at eventide; and lo in her mouth an olive-leaf freshly plucked (Gen. 8:10), so Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth. This time the dove brought back a seed from the Tree of Life that gave new life to Abraham and Sarah. This dove had existed since the time of the Creation, for it had been brought into being for these two purposes, and to be an eternal symbol of peace. During the day this dove led them through the desert, and at night they followed a pillar of fire. And for years after the birth of Isaac this same dove returned to Abraham as he prayed and sang, and in this way his prayers were able to ascend into heaven, for the song of the dove rose up under them and carried them upward like wings."

BEN AZZAI SAID: "The white bird was the Phoenix, for of all birds, only the Phoenix, which has eternal life, is permitted to approach the Tree of Life, since any others might taste the fruit of that Tree and thereby gain eternal life against God's intentions, as it is written, Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the Tree of life, and eat, and live forever (Gen. 3:22)."

BEN ZOMA SAID: "The white bird was Sarah herself, who was transformed into a dove that flew directly to the Tree of Life while Abraham was praying, as it is written, You shall be as wings of a dove (Ps. 55:7). And as the dove flew above the world she never wavered in her flight, but proceeded by the shortest and most direct route to the Tree of Life in the center of Gan Eden. And she brought back the seed even before Abraham had realized that she had disappeared. How did Sarah transform herself into the dove? Sarah possessed the gift of prophecy that enabled her to discern the future by means of the Holy Spirit. In this way she foresaw Israel's history and was able to offer her prayers and blessings for the future, which are still in effect. Indeed, in the gift of prophecy she ranked higher than Abraham. That is why she is sometimes known as Iscah, the seer. It was as Iscah that she pronounced the Divine Name and was transformed into the dove."

AHER SAID: "The white bird was the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, who had transformed herself into a dove for the sake of Abraham and Sarah, as it is written, The spirit of the Lord hovered over the face of the waters (Gen. 1-2)-like a dove over her nest. For she had awaited the birth of Abraham since the time of the Creation, since she knew that Israel would descend from him, and to her Israel is as a child is to its mother. Thus she took great care to be certain that the seed would be transmitted and received, so that the future destiny would be fulfilled. So too did the Holy One, blessed be He, approve of the plan of the Shekhinah to disguise herself as a bird to bring the seed to Abraham and Sarah. From the mirror on the other side of the Pargod, the Curtain that hangs before the Throne of Glory, He watched her take the seed from the Tree of Life and bring it to Abraham, who understood at once how precious a gift it was...."