Questions tagged [abraham]
First of the Patriarchs אברהם
206
questions
2
votes
2
answers
62
views
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 ...
- 25.5k
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
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 ...
- 827
4
votes
2
answers
220
views
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 ...
- 25.5k
2
votes
1
answer
58
views
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 ...
- 25.5k
0
votes
1
answer
40
views
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 ...
- 25.5k
4
votes
2
answers
151
views
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"...
- 25.4k
1
vote
0
answers
81
views
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 ...
- 19.1k
0
votes
2
answers
61
views
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) ...
- 46.6k
0
votes
0
answers
108
views
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 ...
- 11
2
votes
0
answers
120
views
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 ...
- 19.1k
2
votes
1
answer
404
views
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 ...
- 19.1k
1
vote
2
answers
65
views
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?
- 672
2
votes
0
answers
59
views
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 ...
- 628
3
votes
0
answers
65
views
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), ...
1
vote
2
answers
142
views
Why wasn't Avraham lying when he said "Eloh-im yireh lo haseh li-ola, bni"?
When Avraham was going with Yitzchok to the Akaida.
As far as Avraham knew at the moment, there was no lamb. So the answer to Yitzchok's question should have been that there will be no lamb for the ...
- 2,171
-1
votes
3
answers
302
views
Did God want converts in the early days of Judaism?
The Midrash says that Abraham and Sarah made many converts, presumably with God's blessing:
Abraham made converts, for it is written, "And Abraham took Sarai his wife... and all the souls that they ...
- 19.1k
2
votes
3
answers
207
views
Did the Avos light the menorah? [duplicate]
The Gemara Yoma 28b says that Avraham Avinu kept the whole Torah including Eruv Tavshilin. We see that Avraham kept the Rabbinic laws. Does this mean he lit the Menorah as well?
אמר (רב) ואיתימא רב ...
- 2,115
0
votes
1
answer
64
views
Why didn’t Avraham run the first time he saw the three men?
It becomes clear from Bereshit 18:2 that Avraham is looking around from the entrance of the tent and sees three men appearing, cause it reads: והנה שלשה אנשים נצבים עליו.
But what did Avraham see the ...
- 7,268
3
votes
1
answer
102
views
Why did Avraham respond to Avimelech but not Pharaoh?
There are two instances recorded in the Torah where Avraham and Sarah have to leave their home and go to a dangerous region. Both times Avraham tells people that Sarah is his sister, and both times ...
- 19.2k
6
votes
1
answer
253
views
Why did Yitzchok use the same subterfuge for his wife that had not worked for Avraham?
When I read the Parashas Toldos, I was surprised to see that when Yitzchok went to the land of Avimeleh, he said that Rivka was his sister to protect his life in Bereshis, 26, 7.
It is obvious that ...
- 253
1
vote
1
answer
174
views
Deep Sleep Genesis 15:12
I would like to know if the "deep sleep" of Abraham (Genesis 15:12) is literally a "sleep", or a state of "trance" as The Midrash of Philo says (15:12). What does the ...
- 19
-2
votes
1
answer
39
views
Why Me'arat Hamachpela was bought by Avraham and not conquered?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not an aggressor, but conquest and war are always in our set of tools (see Yaakov's preparations to meeting his brother).
IIRC Hittim people were idolaters and doomed to be ...
- 25.5k
1
vote
2
answers
175
views
Why Sarah didn't have more kids with Avraham?
IIRC, Sarah was completely rejuvenated in order to give birth to Itzhak, but I don't remember that G-d took it back after he was born.
Apparently, Avraham was eager to have more kids in his old age.
...
- 25.5k
0
votes
3
answers
88
views
In Avraham's story, what's the importance of his burial place, Meoras hamachpeila?
The Torah spends a couple of pages describing Avraham's desire to [be buried and] bury Sarah in a particular place - the Cave of the patriarchs. I find it difficult to comprehend this desire.
After ...
- 25.5k
-4
votes
1
answer
62
views
Why it was important for Avraham to bring more goyish children in his old age?
וַיֹּסֶף אַבְרָהָם וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה וּשְׁמָהּ קְטוּרָה׃
Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. (Gen 25.1)
While the Gemmorah (Yevomos 62b) learns that a person must procreate through ...
- 25.5k
2
votes
2
answers
141
views
Why was King David allowed to kill Phillistines?
In Breishit 21:23–24, Avimelech asks Avrahm to swear that his future generations will not destroy his sons or grandchildren.
Bechor Shor commentary says:
תעשה עמדי. כשתבא לידך שלא תגרש גם אתה את זרעי:...
- 69.6k
9
votes
3
answers
204
views
Source for Rashi's claim that some nations worshiped dust?
Rashi (Gen 18,4) on "יֻקַּח־נָא מְעַט־מַיִם וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם׃" says:
כַּסָּבוּר שֶׁהֵם עַרְבִיִּים שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִים לַאֲבַק רַגְלֵיהֶם
He thought they were Arabians who worship the dust of ...
- 25.5k
2
votes
2
answers
117
views
Why did Avraham ask Eliezer to go to his family?
What was so special about Avraham's family that he prefers that Eliezer should search there for a wife for Yitzchok (Bereshis 24:40)?
- 990
4
votes
2
answers
85
views
Prayer for individual tzadikim in Sodom
According to Rashi, Avraham began his prayers by reasoning let the tzadikim save the entire cities, and if the tzadikim can't save the whole city, at least don't kill the tzadikim themselves.
אולי יש ...
- 33k
2
votes
3
answers
94
views
Looking for a source about Avraham compared to Noah
I'm having some trouble tracking down a source I saw earlier that I'd like to review.
Around Beresheit 18:18 when Hashem is deciding whether or not to tell Avraham about the impending destruction of ...
- 123
3
votes
0
answers
62
views
Why does Rashi say Avraham thought the angels were wayfarers?
Rashi on Breishis 18:16
And the men arose from there, and they looked upon Sodom, and Abraham went with them to escort them,
says
to escort them: Heb. לְשַׁלְּחָם, to escort them. He thought ...
- 2,076
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What was the ethnicity of Abraham?
The Book of Genesis says that Abraham was from Ur Kasdim. Usually English translations renders it "Ur of the Chaldees/Chaldeans". It is impossible for Kasdim to mean Chaldeans if the Torah was written ...
- 1,955
18
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why didn't Abraham ask the single best question?
Genesis 18:24ff:
And Abraham... said: Will You [God] also cause to perish the righteous one with the wicked one? ...Will You not spare the place for the sake of [say] 50 righteous ones in its ...
- 19.1k
6
votes
2
answers
377
views
Rashi's explanation of why we are told that Avram was 86 at the birth of Yishma'el
Bereishit 16:16:
וְאַבְרָ֕ם בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים בְּלֶֽדֶת־הָגָ֥ר אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל לְאַבְרָֽם׃
Avram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Yishma'el to Avram.
...
- 40.4k
10
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Did Abraham and Noah know of each other?
Are there any sources that discuss whether Abraham and Noah knew of each other's existence, if there was ever any interactions between the two and/or if they ever met (not sure if their lives actually ...
- 1,325
2
votes
1
answer
91
views
What was G-d's plan in having 20 wicked generations before Abraham?
I'm trying to understand G-d's plan for creating wicked and sinful humans, waiting for 1600 years/10 generations for them to sin, wiping them out completely, then waiting for another 400 years for the ...
- 25.5k
6
votes
1
answer
97
views
Source for Avraham's Conversation About Hoshana Rabba
Although many websites quote a Midrash saying Hashem told Avraham,
"I will give your descendants a special day for forgiveness: Hoshana Rabbah. If they are not forgiven on Rosh Hashana then let ...
- 13.2k
0
votes
3
answers
274
views
Did Abraham always follow halacha?
-The Talmud says that Abraham followed halacha [derived from Genesis 26:5].
-The Torah outlaws child sacrifice.
-So: On what grounds did Abraham agree to perform God's command to sacrifice his ...
- 19.1k
0
votes
1
answer
96
views
Why count the stars in the daytime? [closed]
It says in Lech Lecha that Hashem took Abraham outside and asked him to count the stars. And from the word "habet" we learn it was during the daytime.
Why would it be during the daytime when stars ...
- 659
6
votes
1
answer
208
views
Where does Flavius Josephus get his description of historical events about the Patriarchs
Josephus lived in the 1st century and would accurately report the history in that time period. However he does report about the activities of the Patriarchs. These stories are found in the Jewish ...
- 71
6
votes
1
answer
189
views
What would qualify a Sedomite as a "righteous person"?
In Genesis 18:23-33, Avraham pleads with God to spare Sedom from the destruction it had earned through its wicked institutionalized cruelty. Eventually, Avraham extracts an agreement from God that the ...
- 47.4k
1
vote
2
answers
178
views
“As many as the stars in the sky”- literally or allegorically?
In Bereishis 15:5 HaShem promises Avraham that his descendants will be as many as the stars in the sky:
וַיּוֹצֵ֨א אֹת֜וֹ הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַבֶּט־נָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וּסְפֹר֙ הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים אִם־...
- 2,841
4
votes
3
answers
689
views
Why don't we have a weaning party like Avraham did?
וַיִּגְדַּל הַיֶּלֶד וַיִּגָּמַל וַיַּעַשׂ אַבְרָהָם מִשְׁתֶּה גָדוֹל בְּיוֹם הִגָּמֵל אֶת־יִצְחָק׃
The child [Itzchak] grew up and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day that Isaac was ...
- 25.5k
2
votes
1
answer
463
views
Why is Abraham considered the "Founder of Judaism"?
Why is Abraham called 'the founder of Judaism' given that he didn't write its founding legislation, which is what 'founders' of other religions did (for example, Paul and Muhammed)? What place does ...
- 1,746
1
vote
1
answer
90
views
Sources for what happened to Avraham’s Converts? [duplicate]
In Bereishis (12:5 and in Rashi) we see that Avraham converted people in Charan, and then took them with him to Kena’an.
Do we know what happened to them?
• When Avraham and Lot separated, who did ...
- 2,841
2
votes
3
answers
91
views
If there were people before/during Avraham's life that recognised Hashem, why was Avraham chosen specifically?
We know that Shem lived during the life of Avraham Avinu, described as Malki Tzedek.
Why is Avraham considered the first to spread ethical monotheism (concluding in G-d choosing him) if it's known ...
- 347
4
votes
0
answers
95
views
How come the Torah doesn't recount how Avraham and Sarah met?
We know how Yitzchak met Rivka, and how Yaakov met Rachel & Leah- but why doesn't the Torah tell us how Avraham and Sarah met?
If you want to say that it's because they weren't Jewish at the time ...
- 11.9k
3
votes
3
answers
151
views
(Why) did Sarah allow herself to be put in a compromising situation
Starting in Genesis 12:13 Avraham and Sarah deceive Pharaoh into thinking that Sarah was not married. It seems from the verses that Avraham and Sarah understood that if Pharaoh thought Sarah was ...
- 1,317
2
votes
3
answers
192
views
In what manner / How, did Hashem appear to Avraham at Mamre? (Gen 18:1)
In what manner / How, did Hashem appear to Avraham at Mamre? (Gen 18:1)
We read in Gen 18:1 וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהוָה, בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא; וְהוּא יֹשֵׁב פֶּתַח-הָאֹהֶל, כְּחֹם הַיּוֹם.
And Hashem/The ...
- 2,059
2
votes
1
answer
93
views
Did Hashem originally intend to have a connection with everyone?
Does it say anywhere that when Hashem created the world it was with the intention to have a connection with everyone, but because people sinned Hashem saw he could only have this intimate connection ...
- 5,335