Questions tagged [genesis-bereishith]
Questions regarding the first of the five books of the Pentateuch
177 questions
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Age of Haran when he had Sarah
Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when they gave birth to Yitzchak. That means they’re 10 years apart. And Sarah is the daughter of Abraham’s younger brother Haran. So when Sarah was born, Abraham was ...
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What's bad with knowing what's good and what's evil?
After Adam and Eve eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, we read:
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֗ים הֵ֤ן הָֽאָדָם֙ הָיָה֙ כְּאַחַ֣ד מִמֶּ֔נּוּ לָדַ֖עַת ט֣וֹב וָרָ֑ע
And HaShem Elokim said, “...
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Did Jacob prostrate himself before Joseph?
The Gemara in Berachot 55 learns from Joseph's dream that there is no dream without meaningless components; as he had dreamed of the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowing before him, yet Rachel (...
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In Bereshit 1:14, what does it mean that "they shall be for signs"?
What kind of "signs"?:
Bereshit 1:14 And God said, "Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the heavens, to separate between the day and between the night, and they shall be for ...
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Why does the Torah specify that humankind was created male and female?
For all of the other animals the Torah simply states that they were created. By humankind the Torah specifies that they were created male and female - why?
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Is there a conflict with Isaiah if the correct meaning / translation of 'alam' (ō·w·lām) עוֹלָֽם׃ is forever/everlasting? [duplicate]
Is forever / everlasting until the end or for a period or different depending on the context, for example when talking about God? I’m trying to work out if the English translation is correct or ...
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Why did Hashem create the Ohr HaGanuz?
Rashi says on a Pasuk in Parshas Bereishes that Hashem created the Ohr HaGanuz / a very special light. Hashem then took away this light and reserved it for when Moshiach comes - so if Hashem knew that ...
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Parallel between Cain and Hevel's rivalry with that of Yaakov and Esav's: Could it be that Yaakov and Esav were reincarnations of Hevel and Cain?
It could be said that the rivalry between Cain and Hevel is essentially predicated on the fact that there is a right/proper way to serve G-d. Likewise, part of what led to the rivalry between Yaakov ...
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Bereishith (Genesis) chapter 49 begins with a reference to "the end of days." Is that understood to refer to something still future?
Bereishith (Genesis) chapter 49 begins with a reference to "the end of days." Is that understood to refer to something still future?:
א וַיִּקְרָא יַעֲקֹב, אֶל-בָּנָיו; וַיֹּאמֶר, ...
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Why "tilling and tending" of Eden are not considered commandments?
"God settled the Human in the garden of Eden, to til it and tend it." That preceded his introduction to its plants and trees and the commandments to withdraw from eating from them.
Was Adam ...
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What is the context, in Sefer Yossipon, of this? “Because in their fury they killed an Ox” (Gen. 49)
The author is making a list of places where the LXX translators changed the wording and meaning.
The sixth, “Because in their fury they killed an Ox” (Gen. 49). That phrase was replaced for, “in their ...
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Why in Genesis 1 all is good and Gen 2 all is "not good"?
In Genesis 1, God testifies consistently that everything He created ranged from good to very good.
In Genesis 2, on the other hand, everything goes haywire: Adam is created not perfect, and his ...
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How was Adam given the 7 Noahide laws without animals or women in existence?
The Gemmorah in Sanhedrin 56b learns that Adam was given the 7 Noahide laws from the verse "וַיְצַוי"א עַל־הָאָדָם לֵאמֹר מִכֹּל עֵץ־הַגָּן אָכֹל תֹּאכֵל׃", that comes before the ...
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Why did God form adam only male if He already created them both male and female?
In Gen 1.27 we read:
"וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם׃"
Lit: "And God created the adam in His image, in the image ...
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Was Eve created for rescue rather than assistance?
Gen.2.18 says Eve was created to be "Ezer K'Negdo": "וַיֹּאמֶר י"א לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂהּ־לּוֹ עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ׃".
I looked up the usage of עזר in the ...
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Why wasn’t Adam a hunter gatherer?
We see in Genesis 2:15 that Adam is commended to work the land, thus a farmer. How does that align with the supposed fact that we were hunter gatherers before farmers?
In Genesis 2, we also see that ...
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Did G-d foresee the sin of knowledge?
BH
I heard that if a person sinned, then all of his sins were Hashgacha pratit, after the fact, although before the fact, if there is something bad that a person knows, he shouldn't do it.
So did ...
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Why was Abel's sacrifice favored over Cain's? [duplicate]
In the story of Cain & Abel, Cain brings an offering to the Lord from the fruit of the field. On the other hand, Abel offers the firstborn from his livestock. The LORD looks favorably upon Abel ...
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In Bereshit 1:1, does בָּרָא suggest "made out of nothing" or simply "gave a form to"?
Disclaimer: I don't know Hebrew.
In Bereshit 1:1, does בָּרָא suggest "made out of nothing" or simply "gave a form to"? I have heard it suggested that it implies "creation out ...
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In Bereshit 1:1, are the plurals in השּׁמים significant, or plural in form (ie: "skies") but singular in meaning (ie: "sky"), and how do we determine?
Disclaimer: I don't know Hebrew.
In Bereshit 1:1, are the plurals in השּׁמים significant, or plural in form (ie: "skies") but singular in meaning (ie: "sky"), and how do we ...
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Genesis Chapters 10 and 11 split seems to be in wrong location?
Regarding the Tower of Babel narrative...
I have posted elsewhere about the timeline problem of Babel happening only ~100 years after the flood. Population, technology, etc. issues are all raised with ...
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How can we understand the timeline of the Tower of Babel? [closed]
I'm not finding a coherent explanation of the ENTIRE timing issue of the Tower of Babel. That I'm seeing the issue talked about so little baffles me, as the basic math from a plain reading doesn't ...
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What was the order of events, by hour, for each of the first 5 days of creation?
B"H
There's a maamar chazal (Avos DRebbi Noson 1:8) that tells us the specific order of events on the sixth day by hour.. One hour, Hashem gathered Adam's dust from around the world, another hour ...
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Why isn’t Hagar counted as a prophetess?
G-d appears and speaks to her through malochim in Genesis 16 & 21. Has G-d ever interacted with a woman in two separate episodes except her? Notably too she is the first in the written Torah who ...
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Did the ancient Jews embrace Aristotle's observation that the Earth was a globe?
The Catholic Church fought long and hard for a fixed (stationary) earth, with the sky moving around it (a geocentric "universe"). Did it similarly take a long time for the Jews to accept the ...
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Egypt 2309-2362
If Am Israel went out of Egypt in 2448, 210 years after the moment yaakov avinu and the brothers joined yosef, that would be the year 2238.
Yosef was 39 years old then and died at the age of 110. ...
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What’s up with the translations of Genesis 49:22?
In Genesis 49 when Jacob blesses his sons the blessing he gives to Joseph is usually rendered (in most translations) as something similar to:
“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, ...
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Is it true that the wealthier we become the more we forget about God? [closed]
I've never been wealthy or part of the upper class so I cannot confirm whether this is true or not (although I'de love to be given the chance!) but, Chaim Kramer in his book Earning A Living Earning A ...
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In Genesis 22:14, which is more accurate: Yehova Yireh or Adonai Yireh? Are they the same or not? The Hebrew is יהוה. What does it mean?
In Genesis 22:14, Abraham calls the place "Yehova [יהוה] Yireh, which I always understood as “God will provide”.
But is it really “Adonai [יהוה] Yireh” which your site has “On God's mountain he ...
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Inconsistent Ohr HaChaim?
In this Ohr HaChaim he says that Noach received the pre sinatic torah from Chanoch (Enoch) who had received it from Adam.
From my understanding Noach was born after Chanochs death.
This would seem to ...
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Image of God denotes perfection and holiness? Does Murder destroys the likeness of God in the self or the victim?
Is there any commentary which details about the object of the likeness of God? Is the murderer destroys his own perfection (divine likeness) or he is punished for destroying the innocent/perfect ...
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Yosef and three times scaring his brothers
In the interaction between the Viceroy (really Yosef) and his brothers in Parshas Mikeitz, the Torah describes three different ways he frightened them.
First, he claimed they were spies (מרגלים).
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What's the reason why Yosef HaTzadik had to go through slavery?
Just a question out of curiosity: What's the reason why Yosef had to go through slavery? What do the sages/scholars say?
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Why did Yehuda/Shelah need Yibum with Tamar? She had a Chazaka
Why did Yehuda/Shelah have to Yibum, after all Tamar already has 2 of her husbands die, and even though we pasken chazakah happens after three times we pasken you only need 2 times for a danger?
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Strange that Rachel held onto Lavan's idols and did not throw them out
Why was Rachel holding onto Lavan's idols for a few days? Since she was trying to prevent Lavan from doing Avodah Zara she should have thrown them out immediately!
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Were Rivka, Rachel, and Leah monotheists prior to marrying their respective husbands?
I was wondering what the religious affiliation of Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah were prior to getting married. Did they all already acknowledge HaShem as G-d or at least subscribed to monotheism?
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Geographical location of Gan Eden
Do the sources give us the location of Gan Eden in which Adam and Chava lived?
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Is Genesis 28:20-22 intended as a description of Jacob's conversion/"becoming a true Jew"?
Is Genesis 28:20-22 intended as a description of Jacob's conversion/"becoming a true Jew"? If not, what is being described?
[Gen 28:20-22 NASB95] [20] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "...
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Does the line in Bereishith/Genesis "God saw that the light was good." imply that he didn't know the nature of his creation until it was created?
At the very beginning of Bereishith/Genesis there is a phrasing of the creation of light which I find to be slightly confusing.
It's stated that God created light. The wording then seems to indicate ...
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Rivkah not giving water to the men traveling with Eliezer?
In Parshat Chayei Sarah, we all are familiar with the episode of Rivkah imenu offering water to Eliezer first then to the camels.
However, the Torah doesn't record Rivkah giving water to the men ...
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Why did Hagar go back?
This one has bugged me for a long time. Why would Hagar go back to a pressured existence especially when she was told that her son would become a wild man and a thief?
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Did Benjamin recognize Joseph when he came down to Egypt
The Torah mentions that Yosef recognized his brothers but they didn't recognize him (Bereshit 42:7-8).
Was wondering whether any commentaries deal with the question of when Benjamin came down did he ...
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What is the major scholarship on the notion that Satan is the Serpent from The Fall? [duplicate]
Now, I do not believe that the Serpent is Satan. I can't find a particularly useful way of making that case.
But, despite the lack of anything concrete, the general public consensus has made the ...
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Why did people in biblical times live for so long?
The Tanakh records many instances in which people lived exceptionally long lifespans, some even nearing 1,000 years old.
There tends to be a trend in the recorded ages, in that the earlier generations ...
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Rishonim & Chazal on Bereishit as allegory/metaphorical
I know the Rambam stays Maaseh Bereishit is largely allegory. I wanted to know if there are other Rishonim Geonim and/or Chazal sources that are similar or agreeing with the Rambam.
Sometimes people ...
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Do the sages give any sort of insight as to why humans and land animals were created AFTER birds and fish?
The genesis description of creation states that on the 5th day, G-d created all fish and sea creatures and filled the sky with all variety of birds that fly.
After this, G-d creates all the land ...
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Skills of the Shevatim
I recently read this story - 'Warrior Prophets' by Ben Tzion: https://ben-tzion.com/warrior-prophets/#:~:text=A%20Biblical%20Fiction%20Novel%20based,chaos%20sweeping%20the%20ancient%20world.
(Highly ...
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Midrash that Yosef sinned first
Can someone point me to a midrash that says that Yosef actually started sinning with Eshet Potiphar but then stopped?
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Is Yaacov Avinu implying that Hashem only fulfils His promises to those who are worthy? (Rashi)
קָטֹנְתִּי מִכֹּל הַחֲסָדִים וּמִכָּל־הָאֱמֶת
I am unworthy of all the kindness and all the truth...(Bereshit 32:11)
Rashi on "truth":
ומכל האמת. אֲמִתַּת דְּבָרֶיךָ, שֶׁשָּׁמַרְתָּ לִי ...
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Who is Rabbi Koryah?
I have been reading up on Midrash Rabbah Bereshit 19:3 concerning Adam's location whilst Chava is speaking to the snake.
When it says that Adam had previously had sex with Chava and was now sleeping, ...
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