Questions tagged [abraham]
First of the Patriarchs אברהם
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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"
"...
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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?
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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When did Abraham establish the morning prayer?
Related: "why-would-abraham-establish-the-morning-prayer"
The Talmud proposes that the morning prayer was established by Abraham (Berakhot.26b):
"תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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?
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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; ...
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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?
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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 ...
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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!)?
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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?
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Midrash on the sale of the Machpelah Cave
A few days ago I saw in a library book a midrash on the sale of the Machpelah Cave. The midrash detailed the names of the four witnesses who signed their names on the deed. Unfortunately, I returned ...
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Does Rashi refer to Arabs when describing the 3 people who visited Abraham?
The Torah writes (Bereshit 18:2)
[Abraham] saw three men standing near him
Rashi comments right after (on 18:4)
כַּסָּבוּר שֶׁהֵם עַרְבִיִּים
which can be translated "[Abraham] thought they ...
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What is the source for: One shouldn't name a baby using names from before Abraham
I've heard or I've been taught one shouldn't name a baby (or take a name, in the case of a ger) from names in the Torah before Abraham, namely Adam, Noah etc.
This makes sense to me, as Abraham is the ...
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Why does God appear to Avraham about Sarah’s laughter?
In Bereshis (Perek 18) why would God appear to Avraham regarding Sarah’s laughter and not appear to Sarah herself? Isn’t one’s relationship with God personal, not necessarily involving one’s spouse?
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Per the claim that Abraham kept the whole Torah, why didn't he circumcise Ishmael and all his slaves earlier?
"Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin, and his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. Thus Abraham and ...
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What is the exact meaning of "ha Elohim" in Genesis 22:1?
In Genesis 22: 1 we read:
"And it came to pass after these things, that ha Elohim tested Abraham, and He said to him, "Abraham," and he said, "Here I am."
I see that the ...
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Why did Sarah demand to expel Hagar?
IIRC, Hagar was [happily] married to Abraham for at least 17 years (one or two for pregnancy, 13 of Yishmael before his circumcision, one for Sarah's pregnancy, and two for Itzhak's Gmilah). If it was ...
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Why was Abraham cheap with Hagar and his son Yishmael?
Following "why-would-Hagar-go-to-the-desert-to-die", IIRC Abraham was freakishly wealthy and he should be full of Chessed (toward his former wife and his own son), Sarah didn't deny any ...
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Do Arabs have a distinct stature among non-Jews as they descend from Abraham?
To best of my knowledge, according to Judaism, both Arabs and Jews descend from Abraham. In particular, Arabs are believed to be descended from Ishmael, and Jews are believed to be descended from ...
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Where was Malkitzedek of Jerusalem at the time of the Akedah?
ארץ המוריה: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם (Rashi Genesis.22.2)
"And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine...", Targum "וּמַלְכִּי צֶדֶק מַלְכָּא דִירוּשְׁלֶם" Genesis.14.18
If ...
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Why is God unspecific with directions to Abraham?
The LORD said to Abram, “Go forth ... to the land that I will show you." Genesis.12.1
And He said, “Take your son... and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the heights that I will ...
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Was Abraham given a scripture?
According to the Quran, Abraham was given a scripture just like Moses.
This is certainly ˹mentioned˺ in the earlier Scriptures— the
Scriptures of Abraham and Moses. [Quran 87/18-19]
The scripture ...
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Rav Moshe on Midrash about Avraham sending his son to get water
I recently read the following here p.8 (third column):
Similarly, Reb Moshe comments on the Midrash that is critical of Avraham Avinu for sending his son to get water for his guests instead of ...
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Why the choice of Abraham preceded finding him righteous?
We say it daily in the morning prayer:
אַתָּה־הוּא ה"א אֲשֶׁר בָּחַרְתָּ בְּאַבְרָם וְהוֹצֵאתוֹ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים וְשַׂמְתָּ שְּׁמוֹ אַבְרָהָם׃ וּמָצָאתָ אֶת־לְבָבוֹ נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶיךָ...
You ...
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Why did Abraham give his sons impure gifts?
The Torah says that Abraham gave gifts to his sons (other than Isaac) and sent them away:
And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac. But to the sons of [his] concubines [he] gave gifts while he was ...
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Did Abraham and Sarah say a blessing on hearing a good news about their future heir?
IIRC, one says a Brachah of "Hatov veha-Meitiv" on hearing good news (source needed).
When the angels came to inform Abraham and Sara of giving birth to Isaac in exactly one year, did they ...
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Why didn't Avraham buy his burial plot earlier?
Rabbi Aron Moss quotes the Midrash Vayikra Rabbah (5:5) suggesting that one should buy a burial plot when still alive. If that is the case, why didn't Avraham buy the cave from Ephron for Sarah (and ...
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Why not interpret consistently the way the age at death is expressed?
The Torah says:
וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃
Sarah’s lifetime came to one hundred years and twenty years and seven years ...
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Did Abraham give Maaser after earning from Pharaoh and Abimelech?
In Parashat Lech Lecha we learn that after returning the spoils of the war, Abraham gave Maaser to Malkitzedek. Commentators deduct that this was Maaser Ksafim (monetary tithes).
In Parshiyot Lech ...
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Why בניו if Yishmael is the Only Son Now?
Bereishit 18:19 says:
כי ידעתיו למען אשר יצוה את בניו וגו׳
At this point Avraham’s only son is Yishmael. Why does the pasuk say בניו and not בנו? Does he have more than one son now? Rashi even ...
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What made Malkitzedek a Cohen more than Abraham?
IIRC, before Mt. Sinai, priestly rights were given to the firstborns.
For those who say, Malkitzedek was Shem Ben Noah, he wasn't Noah's firstborn.
I don't know if Abraham was a firstborn, but, unlike ...
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How did Abraham give Maaser of Sodom's property?
וּבָרוּךְ אֵל עֶלְיוֹן אֲשֶׁר־מִגֵּן צָרֶיךָ בְּיָדֶךָ וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ מַעֲשֵׂר מִכֹּל׃ וַיֹּאמֶר מֶלֶךְ־סְדֹם אֶל־אַבְרָם תֶּן־לִי הַנֶּפֶשׁ וְהָרְכֻשׁ קַח־לָךְ׃ וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֶל־מֶלֶךְ סְדֹם ...
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The sources of Abraham's wealth
The Torah specifies that Abraham profited well from deceiving Pharaoh and Avimelech by presenting Sarah as his sister:
וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם מִמִּצְרַיִם הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ וְלוֹט עִמּוֹ ...
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Angels Eating: The case of Avraham Vs Lot
I came across a fascinating Tanna D'Vei Eliyahu Rabbah (12:1) which states:
וכל האומר לא אכלו מלאכי השרת עם אברהם אע"ה לא אמר כלום אלא בצדקתו של אותו צדיק ובשכר טורח שטרח בשבילם פתח להם הקב"...
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Why do some Jews name their sons Abram?
When God changed Abram's name to Abraham, it was a promotion of sorts:
And you shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I make you the father of a multitude of nations. I ...
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What did Avrohom know about the war in Shechem (Rashi on Beraishis 12 (6))?
Rashi on Beraishis 12 (6) says
And Abram passed through the land until the place of Shechem: to pray
for Jacob’s sons when they would come to wage war in Shechem.
So Avrohom knew (prophetically) ...
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Sarah's beauty at 80
Shalom u bracha. Does anybody know the source of a midrash that says that Pharaoh (and everybody) finds Sarah really beautiful even at her 80's because Avraham gave her so much confidence by repeating ...
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Was Hagar part of Abraham's punishment?
The Ramban chastised Abraham for going to Egypt to escape a famine in the Holy Land and for lying about Sarah:
And you should know that our father Abraham committed a great sin unintentionally, when ...
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Why didn't Abraham tell Isaac and Sarah about God's commandment to sacrifice Isaac?
Why didn't Abraham share with Isaac and Sarah the fact that God had commanded him to sacrifice Isaac?
The commentators say that Isaac knew of the plan in advance, but, his faith being as total as his ...
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What age was Avraham's name change?
As we know Avraham was changed from Avram.
Does anyone know how old Avraham was when he got his name change?
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Why did Avraham pray for a son if he was promised one?
Hashem promised Avraham as son when he left Haran, at age 75. Yet it seems that Avraham and Sarah prayed for the next 25 years until they indeed were blessed with Yitzhak.
How could we describe ...
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According to Rashi by Avraham's prayer for Sodom he reasoned that there were 8 righteous being saved. How would Ham be considered righteous?
According to Rashi on Genesis 18:32, Abraham reasoned that 8 righteous people weren't enough to save the world so that's the limit. However given what we know about Ham (cited here and other places), ...
