Daily Chumash Lech Licha Chamishi – The victory of the war and distribution of booty

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Summary of Text

Chamishi

  1. The victory of the war and distribution of booty:
  • The king of Sodom offered Avraham to keep the spoils, but return the people [to his nation]. Avraham refused to take any of the spoils, so people would not say that the king of Sodom made him wealthy. However, he did request payment for his people who joined him in battle.
  • Hashem blesses Avraham with children: After the above occurrence, Hashem appeared to Avraham and reassured him of his great reward. Avraham responded by saying that his reward is irrelevant as he has no heirs amongst his offspring who will inherit it. Hashem then promised Avraham that he will have a child who will inherit him. He took Avraham outside and pointed towards the stars in heaven saying that his descendants will be as many as the stars of the sky.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 14:21–15:6

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 14:21–15:6

Q: What did the king of Sodom request from Avram?
A: He asked Avram to return only the people captured and keep the possessions for himself.

 

Q: What does “הרימתי ידי” (“I have raised my hand”) mean?
A: It is an expression of an oath, similar to “By Myself I swear.” Avram swore to God not to take anything.

 

Q: What does “אִם־מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ־נַעַל” (“not even a thread or a shoe strap”) mean?
A: Avram vowed not to take even the smallest item from the spoils.

 

Q: Why did Avram refuse gifts from the king of Sodom?
A: So the king could not claim, “I made Avram rich,” since God had promised to bless Avram.

 

Q: Who was allowed to take a share of the spoils?
A: Avram’s young men who fought and his allies Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. This established the principle later codified by King David: those who guard equipment share equally with those who fight.

 

Bereishit 15:1–6 – God’s Reassurance and Promise

Q: What does “אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה” (“After these words”) indicate?
A: It means soon after Avram’s victory over the kings. Avram feared he had exhausted his reward or would be punished for killing people. God reassured him: “Do not fear; I am your shield. Your reward will be very great.”

 

Q: What was Avram’s concern despite God’s promise?
A: He was childless and thought his administrator, Eliezer of Damascus, would inherit him.

 

Q: What does “עֲרִירִי” mean?

A: It means “childless” or “without an heir.” Rashi explains its root as related to destruction.

 

Q: What does “וּבֶן־מֶשֶׁק בֵּיתִי” mean?
A: It refers to the one who manages Avram’s household—Eliezer.

 

Q: Why is Eliezer called “Damascus”?
A: Onkelos says he came from Damascus. Midrash explains it as an acronym for “drawing and giving drink” (דולה ומשקה) from Avram’s teachings.

 

Q: What was God’s response to Avram’s concern?
A: “This one will not inherit you; your own son will.”

 

Q: What does “וַיּוֹצֵא אֹתוֹ הַחוּצָה” (“He took him outside”) mean?
A: Literally, God brought Avram outside to look at the stars. Midrash explains: God told him to abandon astrology—Avram will have children after his name changes to Abraham, and Sarai to Sarah. Another view: God lifted him above the stars, so “look” means looking down from above.

 

Q: What was the sign God gave Avram?
A: He told him to count the stars—his descendants would be as numerous as them.

 

Q: How did Avram respond to God’s promise?
A: He believed without asking for a sign. God considered this faith an act of righteousness.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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