Parasha Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1–17:27)
Jump to:
- 12:1-9: Get up and go!
- 12:1-3 - Initial Directions and Promises
- 12:4-9 - Abram and his people move south, build an altar and then keep moving
- 12:10-20 - Abram prostitutes his wife to Pharaoh for profit
- 13:1-4 - Abram leaves Egypt rich, builds an altar in Canaan (13:1-4)
- 13:5-18 - Lot and Abram part ways
- 14 - Abram rescues Lot and the tribes he had allied himself with him
- 15 - Abram has divine encounter
- 16 - Family Drama
- 17 - God announces circumcision as the sign of the covenant, Abram complies and gets a new name
Note: The English translation used for this Torah portion is from the Modernized Tanakh by Adam Cohn which was released under a Creative Commons License.
Get up and go! (Genesis 12:1-9)
Gen. 12:1-3
1 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃
2 וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃
Now the LORD said to Abram: ‘Go out out of your country, and away from your family, and away from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.
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 וַאֲבָֽרְכָה֙ מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖ אָאֹ֑ר וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָֽה׃
And I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those that curse you; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’
"Go out..." - The opening (and name of the parashah) sets theme. Abram is being sent out away from the land he knows in Haran.
"... all of the families of the earth will be blessed" - This imagery has been important for both Jews (especially with the concept of Tikkun Olam) but also for Christians (who interpret it through their Messianic lens). (footnote)
12:4-9 - Abram and his people move south, build an altar and then keep moving
4 וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ אַבְרָ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֤ר אֵלָיו֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִתּ֖וֹ ל֑וֹט וְאַבְרָ֗ם בֶּן־חָמֵ֤שׁ שָׁנִים֙ וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה בְּצֵאת֖וֹ מֵחָרָֽן׃
So Abram went, as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy five years old when he went out of Haran.5 וַיִּקַּ֣ח אַבְרָם֩ אֶת־שָׂרַ֨י אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְאֶת־ל֣וֹט בֶּן־אָחִ֗יו וְאֶת־כׇּל־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁוּ וְאֶת־הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֣וּ בְחָרָ֑ן וַיֵּצְא֗וּ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ אַ֣רְצָה כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their belongings that they had gathered, and the souls that they had acquired in Haran; and they went out to go to the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.6 וַיַּעֲבֹ֤ר אַבְרָם֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ עַ֚ד מְק֣וֹם שְׁכֶ֔ם עַ֖ד אֵל֣וֹן מוֹרֶ֑ה וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י אָ֥ז בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
And Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were in the land then.7 וַיֵּרָ֤א יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לַיהֹוָ֖ה הַנִּרְאֶ֥ה אֵלָֽיו׃
And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said: To your seed I will give this land’; and there he built an altar to the LORD, who appeared to him.8 וַיַּעְתֵּ֨ק מִשָּׁ֜ם הָהָ֗רָה מִקֶּ֛דֶם לְבֵֽית־אֵ֖ל וַיֵּ֣ט אׇהֳלֹ֑ה בֵּֽית־אֵ֤ל מִיָּם֙ וְהָעַ֣י מִקֶּ֔דֶם וַיִּֽבֶן־שָׁ֤ם מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וַיִּקְרָ֖א בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃
And he moved from there to the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el to the west, and Ai to the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.9 וַיִּסַּ֣ע אַבְרָ֔ם הָל֥וֹךְ וְנָס֖וֹעַ הַנֶּֽגְבָּה׃ {פ}
And Abram journeyed on, towards the South.
Abram, the slaveowner - We cannot gloss over the fact that Abram the patriarch also committed the great evil of owning slaves, in that the text mentions that he left Haran with not only his family and Lot's family but also "the souls that they had acquired in Haran."
Shechem, to the tree of Moreh - Shechem was a Cannanite city that was mentioned in ancient Egyptian literature, but which would later become the first capitol of the northern Kingdom of Israel after the split of the United monarchy. The "tree of Moreh" was likely a large tree planted in ancient times at the hill of Moreh, and might be a remnant of a previous religous tradition.
Canaanites - The Canaanites were Semitic-language speaking people. The Torah text speaks of the Canaanites as being a very different people than the Hebrews, but the archealogical record shows that the boundaries lines between the Canaanites and the Hebrews were vague at the earliest points in time, and that arguably the Hebrews might have in fact been at first a group of outcasts from Canaanite society rather than a separate people.
Also, this reference to the Canaanites being in the land (in the past tense) is an obstacle to claims of Moasaic authorship, as he died with the Caanites being firmly in control of the land. (footnote)
Beth-el - Lit. "house of El" in Hebrew. Bethel is located fairly close to Jerusalem.
Ai - It is not clear what size of city existed at the time that Abram was said to be passing through the area. The site of what was probably Ai (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Et-Tell">Et Tell has been excavated in the 20th century, however, the evidence found through the excavation does not match the Biblical account, particularly with regards to the story of the conquest and destruction of the city in the book of Joshua.
"and there he built an altar to the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD" - Locations of altars were very important for the writers/compilers of the text, but in this case it is made more important by the invocation of the Tetragrammaton by Abram.
Abram prostitutes his wife to Pharaoh for profit (Genesis 12:10-20)
12:10-20 - Marital prostitution?
10 וַיְהִ֥י רָעָ֖ב בָּאָ֑רֶץ וַיֵּ֨רֶד אַבְרָ֤ם מִצְרַ֙יְמָה֙ לָג֣וּר שָׁ֔ם כִּֽי־כָבֵ֥ד הָרָעָ֖ב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was harsh in the land.11 וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִקְרִ֖יב לָב֣וֹא מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ הִנֵּה־נָ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֛י אִשָּׁ֥ה יְפַת־מַרְאֶ֖ה אָֽתְּ׃
And it came to pass, when he came near to entering Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife: ‘Now, I know that you are a woman of beautiful appearance12 וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יִרְא֤וּ אֹתָךְ֙ הַמִּצְרִ֔ים וְאָמְר֖וּ אִשְׁתּ֣וֹ זֹ֑את וְהָרְג֥וּ אֹתִ֖י וְאֹתָ֥ךְ יְחַיּֽוּ׃
And it will be, when the Egyptians shall see you, that they will say: This is his wife; and they will kill me, but you they will keep alive.13 אִמְרִי־נָ֖א אֲחֹ֣תִי אָ֑תְּ לְמַ֙עַן֙ יִֽיטַב־לִ֣י בַעֲבוּרֵ֔ךְ וְחָיְתָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י בִּגְלָלֵֽךְ׃
Please say, you are my sister; that it may be better for me, for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.’14 וַיְהִ֕י כְּב֥וֹא אַבְרָ֖ם מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּרְא֤וּ הַמִּצְרִים֙ אֶת־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה כִּֽי־יָפָ֥ה הִ֖וא מְאֹֽד׃
Now, when Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.15 וַיִּרְא֤וּ אֹתָהּ֙ שָׂרֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וַיְהַֽלְל֥וּ אֹתָ֖הּ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה וַתֻּקַּ֥ח הָאִשָּׁ֖ה בֵּ֥ית פַּרְעֹֽה׃
And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house.16 וּלְאַבְרָ֥ם הֵיטִ֖יב בַּעֲבוּרָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי־ל֤וֹ צֹאן־וּבָקָר֙ וַחֲמֹרִ֔ים וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַאֲתֹנֹ֖ת וּגְמַלִּֽים׃
And he dealt well with Abram for her sake; and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-donkeys, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-donkeys, and camels.17 וַיְנַגַּ֨ע יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֛ה נְגָעִ֥ים גְּדֹלִ֖ים וְאֶת־בֵּית֑וֹ עַל־דְּבַ֥ר שָׂרַ֖י אֵ֥שֶׁת אַבְרָֽם׃
And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.18 וַיִּקְרָ֤א פַרְעֹה֙ לְאַבְרָ֔ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַה־זֹּ֖את עָשִׂ֣יתָ לִּ֑י לָ֚מָּה לֹא־הִגַּ֣דְתָּ לִּ֔י כִּ֥י אִשְׁתְּךָ֖ הִֽוא׃
And Pharaoh called Abram, and said: ‘What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?19 לָמָ֤ה אָמַ֙רְתָּ֙ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֔וא וָאֶקַּ֥ח אֹתָ֛הּ לִ֖י לְאִשָּׁ֑ה וְעַתָּ֕ה הִנֵּ֥ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֖ קַ֥ח וָלֵֽךְ׃
Why did you say: She is my sister? so that I took her to be my wife; now here is your wife, take her, and go your way.’20 וַיְצַ֥ו עָלָ֛יו פַּרְעֹ֖ה אֲנָשִׁ֑ים וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ וְאֶת־אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ׃
And Pharaoh commanded men concerning him; and they escorted him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.
Did Abram prostitute his wife for profit and/or political status? I know some may say that this claim is inaccurate or even offensive or crass, but I happen to disagree. When considered from all points of view, it is impossible for me to come to any other conclusion about the "hero" of this text, Abram.
Here are my arguments for this position:
- Abram was already a very wealthy man. Famine or not, he had the means to survive without going to Egypt.
- Abram profitted greatly by the deception that was pulled on the Pharaoh, including using at as an excuse to expand his holdings of not only livestock but also slaves, adding to those who already "acquired" in Haran.
- The odds that Abram was actually fearful of losing his life in Egypt is pretty slim, especially given the fact that he (and all of his people) made it out of Egypt without being killed, despite a grand deception.
To be frank, I believe that Abram saw an opportunity to exploit for personal gain and took it (even gaining MORE slaves through the process), and was willing to manipulate (as seen from his statements to Sarai) and lie to get what he wanted. Like many rich people, Abram thought that the normal rules of justice didn't apply to him, and if he meant pimping out his hot wife to get what he wanted, he was willing to do it.
That said... I do wonder how it was possible for Abram to get away with this and not lose his head in Egypt? This part of the story, makes me almost wonder (assuming for a moment that this story isn't pure fiction) that this is something of an Indecent Proposal kind of situation?
To add a layer of complexity to this story, the incident of a patriarch claiming his wife is his sister (out of either supposed fear or more likely the desire for financial gain) happens THREE TIMES in Torah: (footnote)
- In Lech-lecha (Gen. 12) - Sarai is given to Pharaoh by Abram as a wife. The Pharaoh's house is struck with curses and the ruse is discovered, so Pharaoh sends out Abram fully loaded with wealth.
- In Va-yera (chapter 20) - Sarah is given to King Abimelech of Gerar by Abraham as a wife. Abimelech is told by way of a dream of the ruse but also has his household cursed with infertility. Abraham interceeds on Abimelech's behalf to God for healing, but only after he was paid handsomely.
- In Toledot (chapter 26) - Rebekah is given to Abimelech, King of the Philistines as a wife by Issac, but afterwards catches Issac canoodling with Rebekah. Abimlech gives Rebekah back without a payment of damages (and before any curses come his way), but Issac still does well in the land and profits so much that Abimelech asks him to move on.
In all three of these stories, the Patriarch claims to be fearful of his life due to their having a beautiful wife and concocts a grand deception. The wives in question cooperate with this deception (but whether they had any right to say no is an other question). Eventually the foreign king discovers the ruse and gives the wife back, while the Patriarch profits handsomely. This looks like prostitution to me.
Plagues in Egypt - This is a foreshadowing of the later plagues that would come during the Exodus. (foonote)
Camels? - An anachronism, as camels hadn't been domesticated at this point in history. This detail is another reminder that this text was written long after the events in question were alleged to have occurred.
Back to Canaan (Genesis 13)
13:1-4 - Abram leaves Egypt rich, builds an altar in Canaan
13:1 וַיַּ֩עַל֩ אַבְרָ֨ם מִמִּצְרַ֜יִם ה֠וּא וְאִשְׁתּ֧וֹ וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ וְל֥וֹט עִמּ֖וֹ הַנֶּֽגְבָּה׃
And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, to the South.2 וְאַבְרָ֖ם כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד בַּמִּקְנֶ֕ה בַּכֶּ֖סֶף וּבַזָּהָֽב׃
And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.3 וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ לְמַסָּעָ֔יו מִנֶּ֖גֶב וְעַד־בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל עַד־הַמָּק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁר־הָ֨יָה שָׁ֤ם אׇֽהֳלֹה֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה בֵּ֥ין בֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל וּבֵ֥ין הָעָֽי׃
And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai;4 אֶל־מְקוֹם֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ אֲשֶׁר־עָ֥שָׂה שָׁ֖ם בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֥א שָׁ֛ם אַבְרָ֖ם בְּשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃
to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first; and Abram called there on the name of the LORD.
Abram returns to his altar - After his return from Egypt, he returns back to the altar he built at the place between Beth-el and Ai, and he again "calls on the name of the LORD." This act of returning seems significant to me, because it indicates that this nomadic patriarch/tribal chieftain/warlord now has a home, and at that home he has a resident deity; note that we see no account of Abram praying in Egypt, so he likely still holds the ancient idea that deities were limited in their geographic domain.
13:5-18 - Lot and Abram part ways
5 וְגַ֨ם־לְל֔וֹט הַהֹלֵ֖ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָ֑ם הָיָ֥ה צֹאן־וּבָקָ֖ר וְאֹהָלִֽים׃
And Lot, who also went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.6 וְלֹא־נָשָׂ֥א אֹתָ֛ם הָאָ֖רֶץ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־הָיָ֤ה רְכוּשָׁם֙ רָ֔ב וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ לָשֶׁ֥בֶת יַחְדָּֽו׃
And the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together; for their possessions was great, so that they could not dwell together.7 וַֽיְהִי־רִ֗יב בֵּ֚ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵֽה־אַבְרָ֔ם וּבֵ֖ין רֹעֵ֣י מִקְנֵה־ל֑וֹט וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִי֙ וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י אָ֖ז יֹשֵׁ֥ב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land then.8 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־ל֗וֹט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃
And Abram said to Lot: ‘Let there be no strife, between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brothers.9 הֲלֹ֤א כׇל־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ הִפָּ֥רֶד נָ֖א מֵעָלָ֑י אִם־הַשְּׂמֹ֣אל וְאֵימִ֔נָה וְאִם־הַיָּמִ֖ין וְאַשְׂמְאִֽילָה׃
Is not the whole land before you? separate yourself, from me; if you go left, then I will go to the right; or if you go right, then I will go to the left.’10 וַיִּשָּׂא־ל֣וֹט אֶת־עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־כׇּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן כִּ֥י כֻלָּ֖הּ מַשְׁקֶ֑ה לִפְנֵ֣י ׀ שַׁחֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־סְדֹם֙ וְאֶת־עֲמֹרָ֔ה כְּגַן־יְהֹוָה֙ כְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה צֹֽעַר׃
And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plains of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you go toward Zoar.11 וַיִּבְחַר־ל֣וֹ ל֗וֹט אֵ֚ת כׇּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃
So Lot chose all the plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east; and they separated from one another.12 אַבְרָ֖ם יָשַׁ֣ב בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָ֑עַן וְל֗וֹט יָשַׁב֙ בְּעָרֵ֣י הַכִּכָּ֔ר וַיֶּאֱהַ֖ל עַד־סְדֹֽם׃
Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.13 וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י סְדֹ֔ם רָעִ֖ים וְחַטָּאִ֑ים לַיהֹוָ֖ה מְאֹֽד׃
Now the men of Sodom were wicked and very sinful against the LORD.14 וַֽיהֹוָ֞ה אָמַ֣ר אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם אַחֲרֵי֙ הִפָּֽרֶד־ל֣וֹט מֵֽעִמּ֔וֹ שָׂ֣א נָ֤א עֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ וּרְאֵ֔ה מִן־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֣ה שָׁ֑ם צָפֹ֥נָה וָנֶ֖גְבָּה וָקֵ֥דְמָה וָיָֽמָּה׃
And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him: ‘Lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;15 כִּ֧י אֶת־כׇּל־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה רֹאֶ֖ה לְךָ֣ אֶתְּנֶ֑נָּה וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
for all the land which you see, I will give it to you, and to your seed for ever.16 וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֖ כַּעֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֣ר ׀ אִם־יוּכַ֣ל אִ֗ישׁ לִמְנוֹת֙ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ גַּֽם־זַרְעֲךָ֖ יִמָּנֶֽה׃
And I will make your seed like the dust of the earth; so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, your seed will also be counted.17 ק֚וּם הִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בָּאָ֔רֶץ לְאׇרְכָּ֖הּ וּלְרׇחְבָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י לְךָ֖ אֶתְּנֶֽנָּה׃
Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it to you.’18 וַיֶּאֱהַ֣ל אַבְרָ֗ם וַיָּבֹ֛א וַיֵּ֛שֶׁב בְּאֵלֹנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּחֶבְר֑וֹן וַיִּֽבֶן־שָׁ֥ם מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
And Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelled by the trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
"the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell together; for their possessions was great, so that they could not dwell together." - This is not a story of two small-time sheep herders parting ways, rather this is a story of two very, very rich family patriarchs who are seeing that the way to greater profits will come from spreading out.
"The men of Sodom were wicked and very sinful against the LORD" - The text does not tell us here what the sins of Sodom were, or by whose standards are they judged.
The division of Abram's clan and Lot's clan - Intead of seeing these individuals as small-time nomadic sheep farmers, we should instead see them as chieftains with significant numbers of people held in bondage to them. As such, a practical reality is that these two clans were growing too big and needed to separate (given the limited grazing resources available where they were).
Lot chooses the well-watered lands towards the river Jordan, the "cities of the plain," while Abram chooses what is left, the more arid hill country of Canaan, which is possibly a critique of urban civilization.
Abram rescues Lot and the tribes he had allied himself with (Genesis 14)
14:1-12 - Some tribes of Canaan attack other tribes of Canaan, including those that Lot soujourned with
14:1 וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ אַמְרָפֶ֣ל מֶֽלֶךְ־שִׁנְעָ֔ר אַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֔ם וְתִדְעָ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ גּוֹיִֽם׃
In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,2 עָשׂ֣וּ מִלְחָמָ֗ה אֶת־בֶּ֙רַע֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ סְדֹ֔ם וְאֶת־בִּרְשַׁ֖ע מֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמֹרָ֑ה שִׁנְאָ֣ב ׀ מֶ֣לֶךְ אַדְמָ֗ה וְשֶׁמְאֵ֙בֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ צְבֹיִ֔ים וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִיא־צֹֽעַר׃
that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela - also called Zoar.3 כׇּל־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ חָֽבְר֔וּ אֶל־עֵ֖מֶק הַשִּׂדִּ֑ים ה֖וּא יָ֥ם הַמֶּֽלַח׃
They came as allies to the valley of Siddim, also called the Salt Sea.4 שְׁתֵּ֤ים עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה עָבְד֖וּ אֶת־כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֑מֶר וּשְׁלֹשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה מָרָֽדוּ׃
Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.5 וּבְאַרְבַּע֩ עֶשְׂרֵ֨ה שָׁנָ֜ה בָּ֣א כְדׇרְלָעֹ֗מֶר וְהַמְּלָכִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ וַיַּכּ֤וּ אֶת־רְפָאִים֙ בְּעַשְׁתְּרֹ֣ת קַרְנַ֔יִם וְאֶת־הַזּוּזִ֖ים בְּהָ֑ם וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֵימִ֔ים בְּשָׁוֵ֖ה קִרְיָתָֽיִם׃
And in the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came and the kings that were with him, and killed the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim inHam, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,6 וְאֶת־הַחֹרִ֖י בְּהַרְרָ֣ם שֵׂעִ֑יר עַ֚ד אֵ֣יל פָּארָ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃
and the Horites in mount Seir, to El-paran, which is by the desert.7 וַ֠יָּשֻׁ֠בוּ וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־עֵ֤ין מִשְׁפָּט֙ הִ֣וא קָדֵ֔שׁ וַיַּכּ֕וּ אֶֽת־כׇּל־שְׂדֵ֖ה הָעֲמָלֵקִ֑י וְגַם֙ אֶת־הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י הַיֹּשֵׁ֖ב בְּחַֽצְצֹ֥ן תָּמָֽר׃
And they turned back, and came to En-mishpat - which is Kadesh - and killed all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar.8 וַיֵּצֵ֨א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֜ם וּמֶ֣לֶךְ עֲמֹרָ֗ה וּמֶ֤לֶךְ אַדְמָה֙ וּמֶ֣לֶךְ צְבֹיִ֔ים וּמֶ֥לֶךְ בֶּ֖לַע הִוא־צֹ֑עַר וַיַּֽעַרְכ֤וּ אִתָּם֙ מִלְחָמָ֔ה בְּעֵ֖מֶק הַשִּׂדִּֽים׃
And there the king of Sodom went out, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela - which is Zoar; and they met in battle against them in the valley of Siddim;9 אֵ֣ת כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֜מֶר מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֗ם וְתִדְעָל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ גּוֹיִ֔ם וְאַמְרָפֶל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שִׁנְעָ֔ר וְאַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר אַרְבָּעָ֥ה מְלָכִ֖ים אֶת־הַחֲמִשָּֽׁה׃
against Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.10 וְעֵ֣מֶק הַשִּׂדִּ֗ים בֶּֽאֱרֹ֤ת בֶּאֱרֹת֙ חֵמָ֔ר וַיָּנֻ֛סוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֥ם וַעֲמֹרָ֖ה וַיִּפְּלוּ־שָׁ֑מָּה וְהַנִּשְׁאָרִ֖ים הֶ֥רָה נָּֽסוּ׃
Now the valley of Siddim was full of clay pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and the remaining men fled to the mountain.11 וַ֠יִּקְח֠וּ אֶת־כׇּל־רְכֻ֨שׁ סְדֹ֧ם וַעֲמֹרָ֛ה וְאֶת־כׇּל־אׇכְלָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵֽכוּ׃
And they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way.12 וַיִּקְח֨וּ אֶת־ל֧וֹט וְאֶת־רְכֻשׁ֛וֹ בֶּן־אֲחִ֥י אַבְרָ֖ם וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְה֥וּא יֹשֵׁ֖ב בִּסְדֹֽם׃
And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his possessions, and departed.
Lot is captured - The text speaks of "Kings" (melech) and nations, but it is probably more accurate to describe these leaders as being chieftains of smaller groupings of people rather than nation-states, some of whom had territory but others might have been nomadic in nature.
"Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah" - The names provided in the text are symbolic in nature and are unlikely to be the names of historic figures, since Bera means "evil" and Birsha means "in wickedness." (footnote)
14:13-24 - Abram's forces launch rescue mission and victor
13 וַיָּבֹא֙ הַפָּלִ֔יט וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאַבְרָ֣ם הָעִבְרִ֑י וְהוּא֩ שֹׁכֵ֨ן בְּאֵֽלֹנֵ֜י מַמְרֵ֣א הָאֱמֹרִ֗י אֲחִ֤י אֶשְׁכֹּל֙ וַאֲחִ֣י עָנֵ֔ר וְהֵ֖ם בַּעֲלֵ֥י בְרִית־אַבְרָֽם׃
And one [prisoner] that had escaped came, and told Abram the Hebrew - now he dwelt by the tree of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were in alliance with Abram.14 וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָ֔ם כִּ֥י נִשְׁבָּ֖ה אָחִ֑יו וַיָּ֨רֶק אֶת־חֲנִיכָ֜יו יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֗וֹ שְׁמֹנָ֤ה עָשָׂר֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵא֔וֹת וַיִּרְדֹּ֖ף עַד־דָּֽן׃
And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.15 וַיֵּחָלֵ֨ק עֲלֵיהֶ֧ם ׀ לַ֛יְלָה ה֥וּא וַעֲבָדָ֖יו וַיַּכֵּ֑ם וַֽיִּרְדְּפֵם֙ עַד־חוֹבָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִשְּׂמֹ֖אל לְדַמָּֽשֶׂק׃
And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and killed them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.16 וַיָּ֕שֶׁב אֵ֖ת כׇּל־הָרְכֻ֑שׁ וְגַם֩ אֶת־ל֨וֹט אָחִ֤יו וּרְכֻשׁוֹ֙ הֵשִׁ֔יב וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַנָּשִׁ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעָֽם׃
And he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his possessions, and the women, and the people.
Abram the Hebrew - This is the text's first use of the word "Hebrew." According to Wikipedia the term Hebrew referred to a Semitic-speaking nomadic people of Canaan, but the term over time referred more extensively to other peoples in the area, as well as more broadly to all Jewish people.
Tree of Mamre - Older sources say "trees of Mamre," this was likely an ancient worship site related to the use of trees for the purposes of divination.
"Trained men, born in his house" - In other words, Abram is now so rich that he is providing military training for some of his slaves.
Dan - Another anachronism, as the place didn't get this name until much later. (footnote)
14:17-24 - Abram the victor meets with Kings of Sodom and Salem
17 וַיֵּצֵ֣א מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹם֮ לִקְרָאתוֹ֒ אַחֲרֵ֣י שׁוּב֗וֹ מֵֽהַכּוֹת֙ אֶת־כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֔מֶר וְאֶת־הַמְּלָכִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ אֶל־עֵ֣מֶק שָׁוֵ֔ה ה֖וּא עֵ֥מֶק הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃
And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh - also called the King’s Valley.18 וּמַלְכִּי־צֶ֙דֶק֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ שָׁלֵ֔ם הוֹצִ֖יא לֶ֣חֶם וָיָ֑יִן וְה֥וּא כֹהֵ֖ן לְאֵ֥ל עֶלְיֽוֹן׃
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought bread and wine; and he was priest of God the Most High.19 וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖הוּ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר בָּר֤וּךְ אַבְרָם֙ לְאֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן קֹנֵ֖ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
And he blessed him, and said: ‘Blessed is Abram of God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth;20 וּבָרוּךְ֙ אֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן אֲשֶׁר־מִגֵּ֥ן צָרֶ֖יךָ בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֥וֹ מַעֲשֵׂ֖ר מִכֹּֽל׃
and blessed is God the Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tenth of all.21 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֶֽלֶךְ־סְדֹ֖ם אֶל־אַבְרָ֑ם תֶּן־לִ֣י הַנֶּ֔פֶשׁ וְהָרְכֻ֖שׁ קַֽח־לָֽךְ׃
And the king of Sodom said to Abram: ‘Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself.’22 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָ֖ם אֶל־מֶ֣לֶךְ סְדֹ֑ם הֲרִמֹ֨תִי יָדִ֤י אֶל־יְהֹוָה֙ אֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן קֹנֵ֖ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
And Abram said to the king of Sodom: ‘I have lifted up my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth,23 אִם־מִחוּט֙ וְעַ֣ד שְׂרֽוֹךְ־נַ֔עַל וְאִם־אֶקַּ֖ח מִכׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָ֑ךְ וְלֹ֣א תֹאמַ֔ר אֲנִ֖י הֶעֱשַׁ֥רְתִּי אֶת־אַבְרָֽם׃
I will not take a thread or a shoe-lace or anything that is yours, so you won’t say: I have made Abram rich;24 בִּלְעָדַ֗י רַ֚ק אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָֽכְל֣וּ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וְחֵ֙לֶק֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָלְכ֖וּ אִתִּ֑י עָנֵר֙ אֶשְׁכֹּ֣ל וּמַמְרֵ֔א הֵ֖ם יִקְח֥וּ חֶלְקָֽם׃ {ס}
except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their portion.’
Melchizedek, king of Salem... priest of God the Most High" - A mysterious figure, likely included to provide a connection between the story of the Hebrews/Israelites with their future capital city of Jerusalem (Salem/Jerusalem is only mentioned in this passage of the Torah). Melchizedeck would later play a bigger role in post-TANAKH texts including in some of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as in the NT Letter to the Hebrews (chapters 5-7).(foonote)
"God most high" - In Heb. El Elyon, a generic term for deities in Canaan, (foonote) but also at times the word El was a proper noun that was used to refer to the highest deity of the Canaanite religious system.
Melchizedek's blessing identified Abram as being "of" El Elyon, but Abram takes it a step further by speaking of YHVH as being the same deity a s El Elyon (a claim not made by Melchizedek).(foonote)
bread and wine - Foods with great signficance for later Jewish and Christian traditions.
Abram has divine encounter (Genesis 15)
15:1-6 - Abram has a "word of the LORD" in a vision
15:1 אַחַ֣ר ׀ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה הָיָ֤ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם בַּֽמַּחֲזֶ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אַל־תִּירָ֣א אַבְרָ֗ם אָנֹכִי֙ מָגֵ֣ן לָ֔ךְ שְׂכָרְךָ֖ הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד׃
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: ‘Do not fear, Abram, I am your shield, your reward will be exceeding great.’2 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָ֗ם אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עֲרִירִ֑י וּבֶן־מֶ֣שֶׁק בֵּיתִ֔י ה֖וּא דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃
And Abram said: ‘O Lord GOD, what will you give me, I go childless, and the inheritor of my house is its steward, Eliezer of Damascus?’3 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָ֔ם הֵ֣ן לִ֔י לֹ֥א נָתַ֖תָּה זָ֑רַע וְהִנֵּ֥ה בֶן־בֵּיתִ֖י יוֹרֵ֥שׁ אֹתִֽי׃
And Abram said: You have given no seed to me, and no one born in my house is its inheritor.’4 וְהִנֵּ֨ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א יִֽירָשְׁךָ֖ זֶ֑ה כִּי־אִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵצֵ֣א מִמֵּעֶ֔יךָ ה֖וּא יִֽירָשֶֽׁךָ׃
And, the word of the LORD came to him, saying: ‘This man will not be your heir; but one that will come from inside you, will be your inheritor.’5 וַיּוֹצֵ֨א אֹת֜וֹ הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַבֶּט־נָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וּסְפֹר֙ הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֖ל לִסְפֹּ֣ר אֹתָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ כֹּ֥ה יִהְיֶ֖ה זַרְעֶֽךָ׃
He brought him out, and said: ‘Look toward heaven, and count the stars, if you are able to count them’; and He said to him: ‘So will your seed be.’6 וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן בַּֽיהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ לּ֖וֹ צְדָקָֽה׃
And he believed in the LORD; and He considered it righteousness for him.
Word of the LORD - The phrasology of how exactly the LORD communicated with Abram is vague, but it appears that Abram and his deity are communicating in the context of a dream or vision.
Eliezer of Damascus - We know little about Eliezer other than that he was to be the heir of Abram if he had no son of his own. Normally inheritance would have gone to a patriarch's closest kin (in the event of a death without a son) which would have meant Lot would have been the logic heir, but apparently Abram had already adopted Eliezer as his heir instead of Lot.(footnote)
"he believed in the LORD..." This is not a great translation of the Hebrew, as it implies in our modern ears the idea of belief being mental assent. I prefer NJPS's rendering "Abram trusted..." as the Hebrew root word here "-m-n" means to trust deeply in a person, not to believe despite evidence to the contrary. (footnote)
15:7-21 - Abram performs rituals to invoke God's presence
7 וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הוֹצֵאתִ֙יךָ֙ מֵא֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים לָ֧תֶת לְךָ֛ אֶת־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃
And He said to him: ‘I am the LORD that brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.’8 וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה בַּמָּ֥ה אֵדַ֖ע כִּ֥י אִֽירָשֶֽׁנָּה׃
And he said: ‘O Lord GOD, how will I know that I shall inherit it?’9 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו קְחָ֥ה לִי֙ עֶגְלָ֣ה מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת וְעֵ֥ז מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁת וְאַ֣יִל מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ וְתֹ֖ר וְגוֹזָֽל׃
And He said to him: ‘For Me, take three heifers, and three she-goats, and a three rams, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.’10 וַיִּֽקַּֽח־ל֣וֹ אֶת־כׇּל־אֵ֗לֶּה וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר אֹתָם֙ בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אִישׁ־בִּתְר֖וֹ לִקְרַ֣את רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֖ר לֹ֥א בָתָֽר׃
And he took these, and cut them down the middle, and laid each half against the other; but he did not cut the birds.11 וַיֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יִט עַל־הַפְּגָרִ֑ים וַיַּשֵּׁ֥ב אֹתָ֖ם אַבְרָֽם׃
And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.12 וַיְהִ֤י הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ לָב֔וֹא וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה נָפְלָ֣ה עַל־אַבְרָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה נֹפֶ֥לֶת עָלָֽיו׃
It happened that, when the sun was going down, Abram fell into a deep sleep; and, a fear, a great darkness, descended on him.13 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאַבְרָ֗ם יָדֹ֨עַ תֵּדַ֜ע כִּי־גֵ֣ר ׀ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֙רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔ם וַעֲבָד֖וּם וְעִנּ֣וּ אֹתָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה׃
And He said to Abram: ‘Know for certain that your seed will be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and they will made servants; and they will afflict them for four hundred years;14 וְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַגּ֛וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲבֹ֖דוּ דָּ֣ן אָנֹ֑כִי וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן יֵצְא֖וּ בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ גָּדֽוֹל׃
and I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with great possessions.15 וְאַתָּ֛ה תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם תִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָֽה׃
But you will go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried in a good old age.16 וְד֥וֹר רְבִיעִ֖י יָשׁ֣וּבוּ הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֧י לֹא־שָׁלֵ֛ם עֲוֺ֥ן הָאֱמֹרִ֖י עַד־הֵֽנָּה׃
And the fourth generation will return here; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not complete yet.’17 וַיְהִ֤י הַשֶּׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ בָּ֔אָה וַעֲלָטָ֖ה הָיָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה תַנּ֤וּר עָשָׁן֙ וְלַפִּ֣יד אֵ֔שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָבַ֔ר בֵּ֖ין הַגְּזָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
And it happened, that, when the sun went down, and there was thick darkness, - a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.18 בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כָּרַ֧ת יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־אַבְרָ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֑ר לְזַרְעֲךָ֗ נָתַ֙תִּי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִנְּהַ֣ר מִצְרַ֔יִם עַד־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל נְהַר־פְּרָֽת׃
In that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates;19 אֶת־הַקֵּינִי֙ וְאֶת־הַקְּנִזִּ֔י וְאֵ֖ת הַקַּדְמֹנִֽי׃
the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,20 וְאֶת־הַחִתִּ֥י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּ֖י וְאֶת־הָרְפָאִֽים׃
and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,21 וְאֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְאֶת־הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י וְאֶת־הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִֽי׃ {ס}
and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.’
Bizarre way of proving a point? - The various rituals depicted here involving the body parts of sacrificed animals were rituals that were common during this period throughout the region. (footnote) This is important because it shows that Abram is still largely doing the religious practices of his neighbors, even if he is beginning to develop different theological ideas --- of course later Jewish Midrash would disagree with this assessment, claiming that Abram was a fervant iconoclastic monotheist starting as a young man (in the well-known legend of Abram destroying his father's idols in his idol workshop.)
Greater Israel? - The boundaries of the "promised land" provided here are much, much larger than later texts would indicate. Sadly, religious/political extremists of the modern era have latched onto this reading to justify further expansion of the modern state of Israel. (footnote)
Family Drama (Genesis 16)
Conflict between Sarai and Hagar - 16:1-6
16:1 וְשָׂרַי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת אַבְרָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָלְדָ֖ה ל֑וֹ וְלָ֛הּ שִׁפְחָ֥ה מִצְרִ֖ית וּשְׁמָ֥הּ הָגָֽר׃
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife bore him no children; and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.2 וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֜י אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם הִנֵּה־נָ֞א עֲצָרַ֤נִי יְהֹוָה֙ מִלֶּ֔דֶת בֹּא־נָא֙ אֶל־שִׁפְחָתִ֔י אוּלַ֥י אִבָּנֶ֖ה מִמֶּ֑נָּה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע אַבְרָ֖ם לְק֥וֹל שָׂרָֽי׃
And Sarai said to Abram: ‘now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing; please come to my handmaid; it may be that I will be built up through her.’ And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.3 וַתִּקַּ֞ח שָׂרַ֣י אֵֽשֶׁת־אַבְרָ֗ם אֶת־הָגָ֤ר הַמִּצְרִית֙ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ מִקֵּץ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר שָׁנִ֔ים לְשֶׁ֥בֶת אַבְרָ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְאַבְרָ֥ם אִישָׁ֖הּ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram, her husband to be his wife.4 וַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָגָ֖ר וַתַּ֑הַר וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ כִּ֣י הָרָ֔תָה וַתֵּקַ֥ל גְּבִרְתָּ֖הּ בְּעֵינֶֽיהָ׃
And he went to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was lowered in her eyes.5 וַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֣י אֶל־אַבְרָם֮ חֲמָסִ֣י עָלֶ֒יךָ֒ אָנֹכִ֗י נָתַ֤תִּי שִׁפְחָתִי֙ בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ כִּ֣י הָרָ֔תָה וָאֵקַ֖ל בְּעֵינֶ֑יהָ יִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יְהֹוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽיׄךָ׃
And Sarai said to Abram: ‘My wrong be upon you: I gave my handmaid into your lap; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was lowered in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and you.’6 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔ךְ עֲשִׂי־לָ֖הּ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ שָׂרַ֔י וַתִּבְרַ֖ח מִפָּנֶֽיהָ׃
But Abram said to Sarai: ‘Your maid is in your hand; do to her that what is good in your eyes.’ And Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
"She had a Handmaid" - a term that may refer to a female personal servant, often but not always an enslaved person. The term has taken on new layers of meaning over time through the use of the term in the Christian stories about Mary the mother of Jesus, but also in popular culture, including Margaret Atwoods' book The Handmaid's Tale (footnote)
Also worth noting is that the text describes Hagar as being the personal property of Sarah (and not part of the larger property holding of Abraham), which sadly brings to mind many of the wills of the early 19th century in the United States that I have read as an amateur geneaologist, which often make special point to ensure that a favorite slave was given to a man's wife or daughter. Unfortunately female empowerment during slavery often meant that non-enslaved women had to become oppressors in their own right to achive some measure of autonomy. (footnote)
Hagar the Egyptian - Since Abram was reported to have left Egypt with both "men-servants" and "maid-servants," we need to be frank and say that Hagar was likely an enslaved person.
"to be his wife" - This translation is not ideal, as it implies that Hagar has an equal status with Sarah. NJPS translates it as "concubine" which in the ancient world was a semi-married kind of relationship, but one in which the children born would be treated as children of the barren wife rather than the concubine.(footnote)
An Angel speaks to Hagar, Ishmael is born - 16:7-16
7 וַֽיִּמְצָאָ֞הּ מַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה עַל־עֵ֥ין הַמַּ֖יִם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַל־הָעַ֖יִן בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ שֽׁוּר׃
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.8 וַיֹּאמַ֗ר הָגָ֞ר שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה בָ֖את וְאָ֣נָה תֵלֵ֑כִי וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִפְּנֵי֙ שָׂרַ֣י גְּבִרְתִּ֔י אָנֹכִ֖י בֹּרַֽחַת׃
And he said: ‘Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where do you come from? and where do you go?’ And she said: ‘I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.’9 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה שׁ֖וּבִי אֶל־גְּבִרְתֵּ֑ךְ וְהִתְעַנִּ֖י תַּ֥חַת יָדֶֽיהָ׃
And the angel of the LORD said unto her: ‘Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.’10 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה הַרְבָּ֥ה אַרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־זַרְעֵ֑ךְ וְלֹ֥א יִסָּפֵ֖ר מֵרֹֽב׃
And the angel of the LORD said to her: ‘I will greatly multiply your seed, that it can not be counted for its multitude.11 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנָּ֥ךְ הָרָ֖ה וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֑ן וְקָרָ֤את שְׁמוֹ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־עׇנְיֵֽךְ׃
And the angel of the LORD said to her: ‘you are with child, and will bear a son; and you will name him Ishmael, because the LORD has heard your affliction.12 וְה֤וּא יִהְיֶה֙ פֶּ֣רֶא אָדָ֔ם יָד֣וֹ בַכֹּ֔ל וְיַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בּ֑וֹ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כׇל־אֶחָ֖יו יִשְׁכֹּֽן׃
And he will be a wild donkey of a man: his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he will live in the face of all his brothers.’13 וַתִּקְרָ֤א שֵׁם־יְהֹוָה֙ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יהָ אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל רֳאִ֑י כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה הֲגַ֥ם הֲלֹ֛ם רָאִ֖יתִי אַחֲרֵ֥י רֹאִֽי׃
And she called the name of the LORD that spoke to her, You are a God of seeing; for she said: ‘Have I even here seen Him that sees Me?’14 עַל־כֵּן֙ קָרָ֣א לַבְּאֵ֔ר בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִ֑י הִנֵּ֥ה בֵין־קָדֵ֖שׁ וּבֵ֥ין בָּֽרֶד׃
So, the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it is between Kadesh and Bered.15 וַתֵּ֧לֶד הָגָ֛ר לְאַבְרָ֖ם בֵּ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְרָ֧ם שֶׁם־בְּנ֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָ֥ה הָגָ֖ר יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃
And Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.16 וְאַבְרָ֕ם בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים בְּלֶֽדֶת־הָגָ֥ר אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל לְאַבְרָֽם׃ {ס}
And Abram was eighty six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
A fountain in the wilderness...on the way to Shur - Later, in verse 14 this location is referred to as "Beer-lahai-roi" and was said to be located between Kadesh and Bered, which would have been on the way back to Egypt. Hagar had apparently decided that Egyptian oppression (after all she was given as a slave to Abraham) was preferable to remaining under Sarah's oppressive hand.
Angel of the LORD - This is the first mention of Angels in Torah. The word in Hebrew for Angel means "messenger" and is from the root word for "to send." While later tradition depicts angels as super-natural beings, the commentaries I looked at were split on whether the "angel" in question was a human messenger or a super-natural being. (footnote)
Ishmael - lit. "God heeds" (footnote)
"You are a God of seeing" - More and more we are seeing new, more personal imagery to describe the God of the Hebrews. Notably, it is Hagar the enslaved concubine who has this revelation rather than the Patriarch himself. This is a small hint of better things to come in the Torah.
God announces circumcision as the sign of the covenant, Abram complies and gets a new name (Genesis 17)
New covenant terms announced - 17:1-8
17:1 וַיְהִ֣י אַבְרָ֔ם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְתֵ֣שַׁע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיֵּרָ֨א יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲנִי־אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים׃
And when Abram was ninety nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him: ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me, and be innocent.2 וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְאַרְבֶּ֥ה אוֹתְךָ֖ בִּמְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃
And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you greatly.’3 וַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַבְרָ֖ם עַל־פָּנָ֑יו וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֛וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר׃
And Abram fell on his face; and God talked with him, saying:4 אֲנִ֕י הִנֵּ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וְהָיִ֕יתָ לְאַ֖ב הֲמ֥וֹן גּוֹיִֽם׃
’As for Me,, My covenant is with you, and you will be the father of a multitude of nations.5 וְלֹא־יִקָּרֵ֥א ע֛וֹד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ֖ אַבְרָ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה שִׁמְךָ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֛י אַב־הֲמ֥וֹן גּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ׃
No more will your name be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.6 וְהִפְרֵתִ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְגוֹיִ֑ם וּמְלָכִ֖ים מִמְּךָ֥ יֵצֵֽאוּ׃
And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.7 וַהֲקִמֹתִ֨י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֜י בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֨ין זַרְעֲךָ֧ אַחֲרֶ֛יךָ לְדֹרֹתָ֖ם לִבְרִ֣ית עוֹלָ֑ם לִהְי֤וֹת לְךָ֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים וּֽלְזַרְעֲךָ֖ אַחֲרֶֽיךָ׃
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 to you and to your seed after you.8 וְנָתַתִּ֣י לְ֠ךָ֠ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֨ אַחֲרֶ֜יךָ אֵ֣ת ׀ אֶ֣רֶץ מְגֻרֶ֗יךָ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן לַאֲחֻזַּ֖ת עוֹלָ֑ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃
And I will give to you, and to your seed after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.’
"I am God Almighty" - NJPS instead renders this line as "I am El Shaddai" (leaving the Hebrew untranslated). Originally "El Shaddai" meant "God of the mountain," which later generations took as a reference to Mount Sinaii.(footnote)
"multitude of nations" - This is probably best understood in hindsight as a reference to the later birth of the nations of Ishamel, Edom and others.
A new name - The change of name was tied to a change in Abram's identity.
The practice of circumcision become mandatory - 17:9-14
9 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֑ר אַתָּ֛ה וְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אַֽחֲרֶ֖יךָ לְדֹרֹתָֽם׃
And God said to Abraham: ‘And as for you, you will keep My covenant, you, and your seed after you throughout their generations.10 זֹ֣את בְּרִיתִ֞י אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּשְׁמְר֗וּ בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ הִמּ֥וֹל לָכֶ֖ם כׇּל־זָכָֽר׃
This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your seed after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.11 וּנְמַלְתֶּ֕ם אֵ֖ת בְּשַׂ֣ר עׇרְלַתְכֶ֑ם וְהָיָה֙ לְא֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵינֵיכֶֽם׃
And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it will be a token of a covenant between Me and you.12 וּבֶן־שְׁמֹנַ֣ת יָמִ֗ים יִמּ֥וֹל לָכֶ֛ם כׇּל־זָכָ֖ר לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶ֑ם יְלִ֣יד בָּ֔יִת וּמִקְנַת־כֶּ֙סֶף֙ מִכֹּ֣ל בֶּן־נֵכָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹ֥א מִֽזַּרְעֲךָ֖ הֽוּא׃
And a son that is eight days old will be circumcised, every male throughout your generations, that is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner, that is not of your seed.13 הִמּ֧וֹל ׀ יִמּ֛וֹל יְלִ֥יד בֵּֽיתְךָ֖ וּמִקְנַ֣ת כַּסְפֶּ֑ךָ וְהָיְתָ֧ה בְרִיתִ֛י בִּבְשַׂרְכֶ֖ם לִבְרִ֥ית עוֹלָֽם׃
Those born in your house, and those bought with your money, shall be circumcised; and My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.14 וְעָרֵ֣ל ׀ זָכָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִמּוֹל֙ אֶת־בְּשַׂ֣ר עׇרְלָת֔וֹ וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מֵעַמֶּ֑יהָ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י הֵפַֽר׃ {ס}
And the uncircumcised male who does not circumcise the flesh of his foreskin, that soul will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.’
Circumcision- See Wikipedia for a further discussion of this practice of removing the foreskin of a human penis.
Sarah gets a new name and a new role in the saga- 17:15-22
15 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם שָׂרַ֣י אִשְׁתְּךָ֔ לֹא־תִקְרָ֥א אֶת־שְׁמָ֖הּ שָׂרָ֑י כִּ֥י שָׂרָ֖ה שְׁמָֽהּ׃
And God said to Abraham: ‘As for Sarai your wife, you will not call her name Sarai, but her name will be Sarah.16 וּבֵרַכְתִּ֣י אֹתָ֔הּ וְגַ֨ם נָתַ֧תִּי מִמֶּ֛נָּה לְךָ֖ בֵּ֑ן וּבֵֽרַכְתִּ֙יהָ֙ וְהָֽיְתָ֣ה לְגוֹיִ֔ם מַלְכֵ֥י עַמִּ֖ים מִמֶּ֥נָּה יִהְיֽוּ׃
And I will bless her, and I will give you a son from her; I will bless her, and she will be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will be from her.’17 וַיִּפֹּ֧ל אַבְרָהָ֛ם עַל־פָּנָ֖יו וַיִּצְחָ֑ק וַיֹּ֣אמֶר בְּלִבּ֗וֹ הַלְּבֶ֤ן מֵאָֽה־שָׁנָה֙ יִוָּלֵ֔ד וְאִ֨ם־שָׂרָ֔ה הֲבַת־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה תֵּלֵֽד׃
Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart: Will a child be born to one that is a hundred years old? and will Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?’18 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶל־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים ל֥וּ יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל יִחְיֶ֥ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
And Abraham said to God: ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before You! ’19 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲבָל֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֗ יֹלֶ֤דֶת לְךָ֙ בֵּ֔ן וְקָרָ֥אתָ אֶת־שְׁמ֖וֹ יִצְחָ֑ק וַהֲקִמֹתִ֨י אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֥י אִתּ֛וֹ לִבְרִ֥ית עוֹלָ֖ם לְזַרְע֥וֹ אַחֲרָֽיו׃
And God said: ‘‘Sarah your wife will bear you a son; and you will name him Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.20 וּֽלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֮ שְׁמַעְתִּ֒יךָ֒ הִנֵּ֣ה ׀ בֵּרַ֣כְתִּי אֹת֗וֹ וְהִפְרֵיתִ֥י אֹת֛וֹ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֥י אֹת֖וֹ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֑ד שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֤ר נְשִׂיאִם֙ יוֹלִ֔יד וּנְתַתִּ֖יו לְג֥וֹי גָּדֽוֹל׃
And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him greatly; He will sire twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.21 וְאֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י אָקִ֣ים אֶת־יִצְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁר֩ תֵּלֵ֨ד לְךָ֤ שָׂרָה֙ לַמּוֹעֵ֣ד הַזֶּ֔ה בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הָאַחֶֽרֶת׃
But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this time next year.’22 וַיְכַ֖ל לְדַבֵּ֣ר אִתּ֑וֹ וַיַּ֣עַל אֱלֹהִ֔ים מֵעַ֖ל אַבְרָהָֽם׃
And that was all that He said to him, and God went up from Abraham.
Sarai becomes Sarah - The new name was given to indicate that the covenant would be fulfilled through Sarah herself. Given the troubling misogynist lens of much of TANAKH, this centering of a female to the story seems important.
Time for circumcision in the house of Abraham - 17:23-27
23 וַיִּקַּ֨ח אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בְּנ֗וֹ וְאֵ֨ת כׇּל־יְלִידֵ֤י בֵיתוֹ֙ וְאֵת֙ כׇּל־מִקְנַ֣ת כַּסְפּ֔וֹ כׇּל־זָכָ֕ר בְּאַנְשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֣ית אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיָּ֜מׇל אֶת־בְּשַׂ֣ר עָרְלָתָ֗ם בְּעֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר אִתּ֖וֹ אֱלֹהִֽים׃
And Abraham 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 that same day, as God had instructed him.24 וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים וָתֵ֖שַׁע שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִמֹּל֖וֹ בְּשַׂ֥ר עׇרְלָתֽוֹ׃
And Abraham was ninety nine years old, when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin.25 וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בְּנ֔וֹ בֶּן־שְׁלֹ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָ֑ה בְּהִ֨מֹּל֔וֹ אֵ֖ת בְּשַׂ֥ר עׇרְלָתֽוֹ׃
And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.26 בְּעֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה נִמּ֖וֹל אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְיִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל בְּנֽוֹ׃
In the same day Abraham was circumcised, and Ishmael his son.27 וְכׇל־אַנְשֵׁ֤י בֵיתוֹ֙ יְלִ֣יד בָּ֔יִת וּמִקְנַת־כֶּ֖סֶף מֵאֵ֣ת בֶּן־נֵכָ֑ר נִמֹּ֖לוּ אִתּֽוֹ׃ {פ}
And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Ishmael his son was 13 years old... - I can't imagine how traumatic this would be, to have to go through this at age 13. With modern eyes, I can't help but see this as child abuse, but this will not be the last time that Abraham is shown to have abused one of his sons.