Daily Chumash & Rashi Vayeira Revi’i – Lot and his daughters

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Summary of Text

Revi’i

  • The angels acquiesce to Lot’s request and don’t destroy the nearby city. Lot arrives to Tzoar.
  • The destruction of Sodom: Hashem rained upon Sodom and Amora fire and brimstone, and turned over the city of Sodom and its neighboring cities.
  • Lots wife: As they were fleeing from the city, Lots wife turned around and turned into a pillar of salt.
  • Avraham viewed the aftermath of destruction of the city and saw smoke arising from that area.

 

  1. Lot and his daughters:
  • Lot and his daughters are afraid to remain in Tzoar and they thus move to the mountains.
  • The daughters, fearing the end of mankind, gave their father wine and slept with him, for the sake of having offspring. They became pregnant and each had a child from their father. The older daughter gave birth to a son called Moav while the younger daughter gave birth to a son called Amon.

 

  1. Sarah is abducted by Avimelech:
  • Avraham moves to the province of Avimelech and tells them that Sarah is his sister.
  • Avimelech takes Sarah to be his wife.
  • Hashem came to Avimelech in a dream and warned him against touching Sarah, lest he die, as she is a married woman. Avimelech argues with Hashem, saying that he is innocent, as he was told that she is his sister, and not married.
  • Avimelech was forced to return Sarah to Avraham. Avraham was asked to pray for them [to be healed], and Avimelech severely warned his townspeople from touching Sarah.
  • Avimelech confronted Avraham for misleading him, and in the end Avimelech gave Avraham and Sarah cattle and money to compensate them for their suffering.
  • Avraham davened for them to be healed, as all of their body cavities were sealed, and Hashem answered his prayers.

 

  1. Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak:
  • Hashem remembers the promise He made to Sarah and she conceives.
  • She gave birth to a son for Avraham, exactly a year from the previous year’s prediction.
  • Avraham named the son, Yitzchak, and circumcised him at eight days old, as he was commanded.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 19:21–38 (Lot and Sodom)

Q: Why was Tzoar spared?
A: The angel agreed to Lot’s request and saved the city for his sake.

Q: Why did the angel say, “I can do nothing until you arrive”?
A: Angels admitted they had no independent power; they were punished for previously saying, “We will destroy.”

Q: Why was the city called Tzoar?
A: Because Lot said, “It is small” (מִצְעָר).

Q: When did the destruction occur?
A: At dawn, when both sun and moon were visible, to refute idolaters who worshiped either.

Q: What rained down on Sodom?
A: Sulfur and fire from heaven—initially rain, then transformed into fire.

Q: Why does the verse say “from God”?
A: Scripture often uses this phrasing for emphasis, as in other examples.

Q: How were the cities destroyed?
A: They were overturned like a rock flipped upside down.

Q: Why did Lot’s wife become a pillar of salt?
A: She sinned with salt by refusing to give it to guests, so she was punished with salt.

Q: Why did God spare Lot?
A: In Abraham’s merit—Lot had protected Abraham in Egypt by not revealing Sarah’s identity.

Q: Why did Lot’s daughters commit incest?
A: They thought the entire world was destroyed, like in the Flood.

Q: Why was wine available in the cave?
A: It was providentially prepared so they could produce offspring.

Q: Why is the older daughter’s sin described explicitly?
A: She initiated the act; the younger’s shame is partially concealed.

Q: Why did both daughters conceive immediately?
A: They removed their hymens to enable conception from the first relations.

Q: What were the names of their sons?
A: Moav (“from father”) and Ben-Ami (“son of my kindred”).

Q: Why was the younger daughter rewarded later?
A: She named her son modestly, unlike her sister.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 20:1–18 (Avimelech and Sarah)

Q: Why did Abraham move to Gerar?
A: To avoid Lot’s disgrace and because wayfarers no longer passed by after Sodom’s destruction.

Q: Why did Abraham say Sarah was his sister without asking her?
A: He knew she would refuse after the Pharaoh incident.

Q: What punishment struck Avimelech’s household?
A: All bodily orifices were sealed.

Q: Why did Avimelech claim innocence?
A: Abraham and Sarah both said they were siblings; he acted with a pure heart.

Q: How did God respond?
A: He agreed Avimelech acted innocently but said He prevented him from sinning.

Q: Why did God call Abraham a prophet?
A: To assure Avimelech that Abraham knew the truth and would pray for him.

Q: What gift did Avimelech give Abraham?
A: Flocks, cattle, servants, and 1000 silver pieces.

Q: What was the purpose of the silver?
A: To serve as proof of Sarah’s innocence and prevent slander.

Q: How did God heal Avimelech’s household?
A: By reopening their orifices so they could relieve themselves and give birth.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 21:1–4 (Birth of Yitzchak)

Q: Why is Sarah’s remembrance mentioned after Abraham’s prayer?
A: To teach that one who prays for others while needing the same thing is answered first.

Q: What does “as He had said” and “as He had spoken” refer to?
A: “Said” refers to the promise of pregnancy; “spoken” refers to the promise of a son.

Q: When was Yitzchak born?
A: At the appointed time—either after nine months (Rabbi Yudan) or seven months (Rabbi Chama).

Q: Why does the Torah stress “in his old age”?
A: To show Isaac resembled Abraham, silencing scoffers.

Q: What did Abraham do on the eighth day?
A: Circumcised Yitzchak, as God commanded.

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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