Daily Chumash & Rashi Lech Licha Sheiyni – Avraham and Sarah in Egypt

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 12:14–13:4

Q: What does “וַיְהִי כְּבוֹא אַבְרָם מִצְרָיְמָה” (“When Abram came to Egypt”) imply?
A: It should have said “as they came,” but the verse omits Sarai to teach that Avram hid her in a crate. She was discovered when customs officials opened it.

Q: What does “וַיְהַֽלֲלוּ אותה אֶל־פַרְעֹה” (“They praised her for Pharaoh”) mean?
A: Pharaoh’s ministers praised Sarai among themselves, saying she was fit to be the king’s wife.

Q: What does “וּלְאַבְרָם הֵיטִיב” (“Pharaoh treated Abram well”) mean?
A: Pharaoh gave Avram gifts because of Sarai.

Q: What kind of affliction did God bring upon Pharaoh and his household?
A: They were struck with a painful skin disease called ra’atan, which made marital relations painful.

Q: What does “וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ” (“and his household”) include according to the Midrash?
A: Not only his family, but also his walls, pillars, and utensils were affected.

Q: What does “עַל־דְּבַר שָׂרַי” (“at the word of Sarai”) mean?
A: Sarai gave the command to the angel to strike, and he did so.

Q: Why did Pharaoh rebuke Avram in verses 18–19?
A: He was angry that Avram had not told him Sarai was his wife, which led Pharaoh to take her as his own.

Q: What does “קַח וָלֵךְ” (“Take her and go”) imply about Pharaoh’s attitude?
A: Unlike Avimelech, Pharaoh told Avram to leave Egypt immediately, because Egyptians were known for immorality.

Q: What does “וַיְצַו עָלָיו” (“He charged upon him”) mean?
A: Pharaoh commanded his men to escort and protect Avram.

Q: What does “וַיְשַׁלְּחוּ” (“they escorted him”) mean?
A: As Onkelos translates, it means they accompanied him out of Egypt.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 13:1–4

Q: What does “וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם…הַנֶּֽגְבָּה” (“Avram went up…to the south”) mean?
A: He returned to the southern part of the Land of Israel, toward Mount Moriah. Though geographically Egypt is south of Canaan, the verse refers to the spiritual direction toward Jerusalem.

Q: What does “כָּבֵד מְאֹד” (“very heavy”) mean?
A: It means Avram was heavily laden with wealth—cattle, silver, and gold.

Q: What does “וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו” (“he went on his travels”) teach?
A: Avram stayed in the same lodging places on his return as he had on his way to Egypt. This teaches proper conduct—not to change one’s lodging unnecessarily. Another explanation is that he repaid debts incurred on his way to Egypt.

Q: What does “מִנֶּגֶב” (“from the south”) refer to here?
A: It refers to Egypt, which is south of Canaan.

Q: What does “אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה שָׁם בָּרִאשֹׁנָה” (“that he had built there at first”) mean?
A: It refers to the altar Avram had previously built. The verse may also mean that Avram now invoked God again at that same location.