Parashat Lech Lecha selections with assorted commentaries (Matok)

(30) And Sarai was barren; she had no child. (31) And Terah took Avram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Avram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur Kasdim, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran, and dwelt there.

• (1) ותהי, the Torah makes clear that Sarai was barren, and that even if at a much later stage in her life she did give birth to a son, Yitzchok, this was not a natural development but was a miracle which could not be explained scientifically. This is the reason why the Torah did not simply content herself with the words ותהי שרי עקרה, “Sarai remained barren.” When Sarah did eventually bear a child, not only was the fact that she gave birth a miracle, but her age at the time, long after she had passed the child-bearing age, was an additional miracle....

(1) Now the LORD said unto Avram: ‘Go (for yourself) out of your country, and from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. (2) And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you will be a blessing. (3) And I will bless those that bless you, and whoever curses you will I curse; and through you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ (4) So Avram went, as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him; and Avram was seventy and five years old when he went out from Haran. (5) And Avram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their property that they had accumulated, and the souls that they had made in Haran; and they went forth to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to the land of Canaan . (6) And Avram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to Elon Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. (7) And the LORD appeared unto Avram, and said: ‘To your seed will I give this land’; and he built there an altar to the LORD, who appeared to him.

• (1) “Lech Lecha (Go forth)” - God already commanded Abraham, when they were still in Ur Kasdim, to leave his land and country and birthplace and the house of his father. And the reason is that God knew that Terach, after he went to go to the Land of Canaan, would stay in Haran....

• (1) "that they 'made' in Haran"-they brought them under the wings of the Shechina (God's presence); Abraham would convert the men and Sarah would convert the women, the Torah writes it as if they 'created' them (that's why it says 'made')...

(1) After these things the word of the LORD came unto Avram in a vision, saying: ‘Fear not, Avram, I am your shield, your reward shall be very great.’ (2) And Avram said: ‘O Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing that I go childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?’ (3) And Avram said: ‘Behold, You have given me no seed, and one born in my house is to be my heir.’ (4) And, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying: ‘This man will not be your heir; but he that will come forth out of your own bowels will be your heir.’ (5) And He brought him outside and said: ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars, if you are able to count them’; and He said to him: ‘So shall your seed be.’ (6) And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness. (7) And He said unto him: ‘I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur Kasdim, to give you this land to inherit it.’ (8) And he said: ‘O Lord GOD, how will I know that I will inherit it?’

(12) And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Avram; and a great fear, even a great darkness, fell upon him. (13) And He said unto Avram: ‘You wills surely know that your seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; (14) and also I will judge that nation, whom they will serve; and afterward shall they come out with great substance. (15) But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried at a good old age. (16) And in the fourth generation they will come back here; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.’

(1) But you will come to your forefathers in peace: And you will not witness any of this. [From Gen. Rabbah 44:20]

(2) to your forefathers: His father was an idolater, and He announces to him that he will come to him? This teaches you that Terah repented. [from Tan. Shemoth 18]

I have

(1) And when Avram was ninety nine years old, the LORD appeared to Avram, and said to him: ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be wholehearted. (2) And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.’ (3) And Avram fell on his face; and God talked with him, saying: (4) ’As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of many of nations. (5) Your name will no longer be Avram, your name will be Avraham; for I have made you the father of many nations. (6) And I will make you very fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. (7) And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto you and to your seed after you. (8) And I will give you, and to your seed after you, the land where you are living, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’ (9) And God said unto Avraham: ‘And as for you, you will keep My covenant, you, and your seed after you throughout their generations. (10) This is My covenant, which you will keep, between Me and you and you seed after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. (11) And you will be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and you. (12) And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner, that is not of your seed. (13) He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money, must be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (14) And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.’ (15) And God said unto Avraham: ‘As for Sarai your wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. (16) And I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son from her; I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of nations will come from her.’

It was taught: Rabbi said "Great is circumcision, for no on was as busy with mitzvot as Avraham our Father, yet he was called perfect (תמים) on account of circumcision. As it is said "Walk before me and be perfect."

• (1) ולא יקרא עוד את שמך,...Our sages say that when a person's name is changed this results in the cancellation of bad things that were supposed to happen to them (Rosh Hashanah 16) They point to Avraham and Sarah as proof. Both Avraham and Sarah after having had their names changes had become able to jointly produce Yitzchok.

(23) And Avraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that same day, as God had said to him. (24) And Avraham was ninety nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (25) And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (26) On that same day Abraham wasmcircumcised, and Ishmael his son. (27) And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.