Questions tagged [abraham]

First of the Patriarchs אברהם

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
6 votes
3 answers
270 views

Why weren’t the descendants of Esav or Yishmael also given the Torah alongside the benei Yaakob?

As we all know, Abraham had two descendants, Yishmael and Yitschak. Yitschak also had two descendants, Esav and Yaakob; however only the children of Yaakob were the nation that was chosen for the ...
Kyotiq's user avatar
  • 151
2 votes
3 answers
488 views

How does one reconcile the fact that Avraham Avinu proselytized to non-Jews and yet Judaism is not a proselytizing religion?

I've read that Avraham Avinu proselytized to anyone he encountered, encouraging them to acknowledge HaShem as the Master of the Universe and express gratitude to Him. Yet, it is generally understood ...
ddas91600's user avatar
  • 347
0 votes
2 answers
51 views

Rashi's comment on Abraham's gifts

The Torah says: וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃ -- but to Abraham’...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
86 views

Were the malochim who visited Avraham human?

Based on this answer, there is plenty of evidence that malachim can be human. There is a widespread opinion that the 3 visitors who came to Avraham were malachim. Are there any opinions who agree ...
Moses Supposes's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
117 views

Abraham's female partners

The Torah says: וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃ -- but to Abraham’...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
224 views

Why did Abraham run to greet the visitors in Genesis 18?

Did he run because he knew they were angels? Or did he run to exhibit hospitality to strangers in the desert?
David Jonathan's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
68 views

On the status of Melchizedek as a Kohen [closed]

In Genesis 14:18 it is stated that "And MelchiZedek, king of Shelem, brought out bread and wine and he was a Kohen to the Most High God." A number of questions arise from this: How is it ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 1,209
0 votes
1 answer
80 views

Who curses Abraham?

In Genesis 12:3, God tells Abraham: וַאֲבָֽרְכָה֙ מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖ אָאֹ֑ר וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ -- And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
41 views

Lech Lecha: Avraham fulfilled G-ds mitzvos with joy

Rabbi Yerucham Brodianski in his sefer Siach Yitzchak (Parashas Vayigash, p. 480, sv. תשמע לאומרים) quotes the Nesivos Shalom and says that bitachon in Hashem will give a person inner joy when ...
Shmuel's user avatar
  • 8,864
1 vote
1 answer
117 views

Why is the akeida called - the akeida of Yitzchak (named after Yitzchak)

Why is the akeida called - the "akeida of Yitzchak", after Yitzchak (and not, for example, the akeida of the son of Avraham) even though Avraham was the active one, he received the ...
Avi's user avatar
  • 1,209
1 vote
1 answer
81 views

What did Abraham call himself in his language?

Curious to know what did Prophet Abraham call himself from a religious perspective in the language he spoke. Did he call himself "jew" or "yahood"?
knowit's user avatar
  • 1,969
2 votes
0 answers
46 views

Genesis 22:18 ‘the seed’ include the Moshiach?

Genesis 22:18 speaks about Abraham’s descendants: וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר שָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקֹלִי׃ and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; ...
Sujin's user avatar
  • 141
2 votes
0 answers
40 views

Why is the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah considered a reward?

The Gemara (Sotah 17a) says that the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah was given as a reward for Avraham Avinu’s humility, and Rashi explains that it’s considered a reward, because A. It purifies. B. It atones ...
שלום's user avatar
  • 3,197
3 votes
0 answers
58 views

Midrash - Avraham Avinu and the idol worshipper

A came across a Dvar Torah here which states the following: The souls that they made in Charan (12:5) – Rav Ovadiah Yosef ztl. cited a midrash which described how far Avraham went in order to be ...
Dov's user avatar
  • 30.3k
1 vote
2 answers
118 views

Tzafnat Panei’ach

I’m looking for some help with Tzafnat Panei’ach’s commentary to Genesis 17:23 (pages 137-138 of this PDF). Specifically: The author queries whether Abraham circumcised himself before his household, ...
Zarka's user avatar
  • 2,361
2 votes
0 answers
46 views

Did Yitzchak carry out his father's legacy?

I had learnt that after Avraham had passed away, people whom Avraham had preached about the monotheism of G-d didn't hold on to the truth but went astray. Why didn't Yitzchak carry his father's legacy ...
Gembali Noach's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
241 views

Reconciling the merits of Moshe, Aharon & Miriam in the desert vs the merit of Avraham?

In Parshas Chukas we are told that following Miriam's death, the be'er, the water source for the Bnei Yisroel, dried up. It writes in 20:1-2: וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל כׇּל־הָ֨עֵדָ֤ה מִדְבַּר־...
Dov's user avatar
  • 30.3k
0 votes
2 answers
151 views

From Adam to Moshe Rabbeinu

I noticed interesting parallels between Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moshe. When Hashem was angry on humans sins and wanted to punish human or humanity, we can notice different behavior from Adam to Moshe. ...
SarDau Mort's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
49 views

Arami Oved Avi reference to Avraham

Perhaps somebody can help me understand a phrase from this text from the Bechor Shor on דברים פרק כו פסוק ה: ארמי אובד אבי: עתה מספר החסדים והצדקות שעשה הקדוש ברוך הוא לאבותינו, ולא ארמי היה אבי ...
steve nachman's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
51 views

Did Abraham leave Haran before or after Terah died?

One of these days I heard from a local rabbi that according to the commandments of bnei noach one must respect father and mother even if it is not literally explicit in the 7 commandments, since ...
Thales's user avatar
  • 565
3 votes
0 answers
55 views

Is there a Midrash around Rashi's claim of Terah's forefathers being from Canaan?

Rashi's commentary on Tractate Sanhedrin 44b implies that Terah and his forefathers originated from Canaan. He references the mention of 'your Amorite father' - presumably citing Ezek 16:3 - 'Thus ...
ANH's user avatar
  • 263
1 vote
0 answers
111 views

Did Abraham use a flint knife for circumcision and/or for the akedah?

I've seen it queried why Tzipporah and Joshua use/are commanded to use flint knives for the circumcisions they perform (Exodus 4:25, Joshua 5:3) when they had access to metal (bronze) knives in that ...
ANH's user avatar
  • 263
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Who was Abraham’s Mother?

I was wondering if we have any info/ sources on who Abrahams’s mother was? It seems interesting that she was never mentioned, and doesn’t play any role in his story, or his leaving his “father’s house”...
Eak2449's user avatar
  • 207
1 vote
2 answers
191 views

"land of the Chaldeans" or “fire of the Chaldeans.”?

According to midrash Pirkei De Rabbi Eliezer.26.2 "The second trial was when he was put into prison for ten years—three years in Kuthi, seven years in Budri. After ten years they sent and brought ...
Ariel55's user avatar
  • 11
1 vote
0 answers
74 views

The three messengers and Abraham

Talmud and Midrash give their explanation of the three angels that Abraham (be peace upon him) met in chapter 18 of Genesis. They both offer the same names for the angels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael....
Pier's user avatar
  • 21
2 votes
1 answer
107 views

How come the world was doing Avodah Zara, while Noach and Shem were still alive?

Noach and Shem were alive during the time of Avraham, and I know midrashim say he lived in their house for some time learning about Hashem, but how come the whole world was practicing polytheism, when ...
Eak2449's user avatar
  • 207
0 votes
0 answers
97 views

Between Sanhedrin 108b & Sanhedrin.38b

According to Sanhedrin 108b: Rav Ḥana bar Leva’ei says that Shem the Great said to Eliezer, servant of Abraham: When the four great kings of the east and the west came upon you to wage war with ...
ميخائيل مينا's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
79 views

How can we compare a Ba'al Ga'avah who did teshuva to avraham avinu?

It says in Masechet Sotah 5a: דָרַש רַב עֲוְִירָא זִמְנִין אָמַר לָהּ מִשְּמֵיהּ דְרַב אַסִּי וְְזִמְנִין אָמַר לָהּ מִשְּמֵיהּ דְרַב אַמִי כָל אָדָם שֶיֵּש בוֹ גַּסּוּת הָרוּחַ לַסּוֹף מִתְמַעֵט ...
yogazefish's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
64 views

How did the Avos know the Torah, who taught them?

Is there any source to what my Rabeiim taught me in yeshiva that the Avos knew the Torah by "reverse Engineering the Briyah" because Hashem looked into the Torah to create the world so the ...
Rabbi B's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
96 views

Does the covenant with Abraham affect any of his children besides the children of Jacob?

If God established the covenant he made with Abraham first with Isaac, and then with Jacob, does that covenant have any effects at all upon the other children in the family of Abraham such as Ishmael ...
1Sam1223's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
1 answer
171 views

Why did Abraham receive news of Nahor's family

I'm referring to Genesis 22:20 - 22 Some time later Abraham was told, “Milkah is also a mother; she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel (the father of ...
A.O.'s user avatar
  • 194
2 votes
1 answer
108 views

The abduction of Sarah Immeinu

When Sarah Immeinu was abducted by the Egyptians and Avimelech's thugs, the reason why she was passed as Avraham Avinu's sister is because they might kill him if they knew he was her husband. Why did ...
Mars Sojourner's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
90 views

Did Avrohom own חמץ on פסח?

In Gensis 18 -6, when Avrohom hosted the angels, he told his wife to מַֽהֲרִ֞י שְׁל֤שׁ סְאִים֙ קֶ֣מַח סֹ֔לֶת ל֖וּשִׁי וַֽעֲשִׂ֥י עֻגֽוֹת: "Hasten three seah of meal [and] fine flour; knead and ...
terryg's user avatar
  • 169
2 votes
0 answers
64 views

Abraham’s Childhood

Why doesn’t the Torah detail Abraham’s upbringing or just talk more about his childhood and family and how he discovered Hashem? Like by Moshe Rabbeinu, the savior of Israel, his whole life since he ...
Curious Yid's user avatar
  • 1,812
2 votes
2 answers
149 views

Why Abraham noticed Sarah's beauty in Egypt?

When Abraham went with Sarah to Egypt, he said: "Now I know that you are a beautiful woman." Why did this happen on their way to Egypt? I heard that this happened specifically there because ...
Renan Suchmacher's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
72 views

Why is it important to state that Avraham was a prophet?

In Beresheet 20:7 it says: "וְעַתָּה הָשֵׁב אֵשֶׁת הָאִישׁ כִּי נָבִיא הוּא וְיִתְפַּלֵּל בַּעַדְךָ וֶחְיֵה וְאִם אֵינְךָ מֵשִׁיב דַּע כִּי מוֹת תָּמוּת אַתָּה וְכָל אֲשֶׁר לָךְ" "...
Harel13's user avatar
  • 24.9k
2 votes
4 answers
470 views

Why did Sarai & Abram have the slave Hagar?

Why did Sarai & Abram have the Egyptian slave/servant girl (שִׁפְחָ֥ה) Hagar? Was it custom for newlywed Hebrew couples like them to have servants?
Geremia's user avatar
  • 132
0 votes
1 answer
96 views

Philistines destroyed the Temple?

Posting for someone else: The Rashbam on Bereshis 22:1 brings that Hashem, in retaliation for Avraham giving 7 sheep to Avimelech, says that Avimelech's descendants will destroy 7 sanctuaries of ...
רבות מחשבות's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
165 views

A prophet from the seed of Ishmael is necessary to fufill Genesis 17:7?

In Genesis 17:7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after ...
ميخائيل مينا's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
156 views

How did Abraham end up in Ur Kasdim when Shem and Ever lived in Israel?

IIRC, it starts with Noah landing on the Ararat mountains somewhere in nowadays Turkey. Some 300 years later we hear that Shem runs a Yeshiva in Eretz Israel together with his grand-grandson Ever and ...
Al Berko's user avatar
  • 25.7k
4 votes
1 answer
206 views

Avraham was one of the builders of the Tower of Bavel?

Ibn Ezra to Gen. 11:1 says that "Avraham was amongst the builders of the Tower." "Hu haya Avraham mibonei hamigdal." Does Ibn Ezra mean that Avraham Avinu was actually one of the ...
user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
138 views

Why would Abraham establish the morning prayer?

The Talmud proposes that the morning prayer was established by Abraham (Berakhot.26b): "תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: אַבְרָהָם תִּקֵּן תְּפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית, ...
Al Berko's user avatar
  • 25.7k
5 votes
1 answer
157 views

Why did God listen to Lot's prayer to save Sodom, yet didn't listen to Abraham's?

After all of Abraham's wondorous prayers to Hashem to save Sodom the posuk says (י״ח:לג): וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּלָּ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְאַבְרָהָ֖ם שָׁ֥ב לִמְקֹמֽוֹ God 'went' when ...
Simcha's user avatar
  • 522
2 votes
1 answer
94 views

Why the long delay for Akeidas Yitzchak?

In Bereishis 21:8 the pasuk writes: וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃ The child grew up and was weaned, and Abraham held a ...
Dov's user avatar
  • 30.3k
1 vote
2 answers
184 views

Were there any Tzaddikim in Sodom?

In Vayera, Avraham asks HaShem to save Sodom if even 10 righteous people exist. Sodom gets destroyed. Are there any sources that say Sodom had any righteous people, even if less than ten?
michael's user avatar
  • 830
1 vote
2 answers
256 views

Signing off the bracha of 'magen Avraham' with just Avraham

In Parshas Lech Lecha 12:2, the pasuk famously reads: וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃ I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you; ...
Dov's user avatar
  • 30.3k
1 vote
1 answer
53 views

Hashem vindicates Sarah's jealousy?

According to the Ibn Ezra (21,9), Sarah's demand to banish Yishmael was based purely on jealousy. Why would Hashem agree with her and instruct Avraham to send him away?
Nochie Wolf's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
40 views

What do Chazal say as to why Avram and Terach left Ur Kasdeem

The Torah in Bereishis does not elaborate as to why Terach and Avram left Ur Kasdeem. Could it have been because of a massive earthquake and the fear that it might reoccur and harm the family? The ...
chanina Yaacov's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
119 views

Why did HaShem send an angel to speak to Avraham?

During the Akeida of Yitzchak, the Torah tells us twice that an Angel called out to Avraham. HaShem spoke to Avraham Avinu many times; why here was an angel used (twice!)?
michael's user avatar
  • 830
1 vote
0 answers
37 views

Did the patriarchs travel at night?

I have heard that Abraham and the other Patriarchs would have travelled during the night and encamp during the daytime. What evidence is there for such a claim?
למה זה תשאל לשמי's user avatar

1
2 3 4 5