Daily Chumash & Rashi Vayeira Rishon – Avraham receives guests

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Summary of the Text

Rishon

  1. Avraham receives guests:
  • Avraham sat in the opening of the tent in the heat of the day when Hashem visited him [on the third day after his circumcision]. Avraham noticed three people coming towards him and he ran to them from the entrance of his tent. Upon approaching them, Avraham bowed to the ground and asked them to come over and have some water, wash their feet, rest under the tree, and eat a fresh meal. The men acquiesced to his request.
  • The meal: Avraham rushed to his tent and asked Sarah to bake bread. Avraham then went on to tell the lad to prepare meat from a fresh slaughtered calf. Avraham served the guests butter and milk and the calf meat.
  1. Avraham and Sarah are blessed with children:
  • The guest then asked Avraham as to the whereabouts of his wife and then promised them that they will have a son next year.
  • Sarah was already past menopause and Avraham was old, and she thus laughed at the suggestion that she could still bare a child. Hashem asked Avraham as to why his wife laughed at the notion of her giving birth, as nothing is outside of Hashem’s hands.
  • Hashem reassured Avraham that he will have a son.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 18:1–14

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 18:1–14

Q: Why did God appear to Avraham in the plains of Mamre?
A: To visit the sick. It was the third day after Avraham’s circumcision, and Mamre had advised him about the circumcision, so God appeared in Mamre’s territory.

Q: Why is the word “ישב” written without a ו?
A: It indicates past tense (he sat), teaching that Avraham began sitting now. He wanted to stand, but God told him to remain seated as a precedent for judges who sit while God stands.

Q: Why was the day unusually hot?
A: God took the sun out of its sheath to prevent travelers from bothering Avraham, but when He saw Avraham was distressed, He sent angels disguised as men.

Q: Why were there three angels?
A: One to announce Sarah’s birth, one to heal Avraham, and one to destroy Sodom. Each angel performs only one mission.

Q: Why does the verse say “standing over him”?
A: It means “before him,” but uses “over him” to indicate the angels’ superiority.

 

Q: Why is “וירא” repeated?
A: The first means “he saw,” the second means “he understood” that they hesitated to approach him, so he ran toward them.

 

Q: What does “אדני” mean in verse 3?
A: Two explanations:

  1. Refers to the angels collectively as “lords.”
  2. Refers to God, asking Him to wait while Avraham brings in guests.

 

Q: Why did Avraham say “Let water be brought” in passive voice?
A: He intended to send a messenger. God later repaid his descendants by giving them water through a messenger (Moshe striking the rock).

 

Q: Why did Avraham ask them to wash their feet?
A: He thought they were Arabs who worshipped the dust of their feet and did not want idolatry in his home.

 

Q: What does “וְסַעֲדוּ לִבְּכֶם” teach?
A: Bread sustains the heart. The Torah, Prophets, and Writings all use bread as a metaphor for strengthening the heart.

 

Q: Why did Avraham hurry to Sarah and ask for flour?
A: To make bread quickly. He asked for fine flour for cakes and coarse flour for starch to absorb scum in the pot.

 

Q: Why did Avraham choose three calves?
A: To serve each guest a tongue with mustard.

 

Q: Who was “the youth” Avraham sent to prepare the meat?
A: Ishmael, to train him in mitzvot.

 

Q: Why did Avraham serve cream and milk first?
A: The bread was not served because Sarah had menstruated that day, making the dough ritually impure.

 

Q: Did the angels actually eat?
A: They appeared to eat to follow custom, teaching that one should not deviate from social norms.

Q: Why did the angels ask, “Where is Sarah?”
A: To highlight her modesty and endear her to Avraham. Also, to send her wine from the blessing cup.

Q: What does the dotted letters in “אליו” teach?
A: They also asked Sarah about Avraham, teaching that one should inquire about the welfare of hosts.

Q: What does “כעת חיה” mean?
A: “At this time next year.” It was Pesach, and Yitzchak would be born the following Pesach.

Q: Why did Sarah laugh?
A: She doubted she could bear a child, saying her body was withered and Avraham was old.

Q: How did God respond to Sarah’s laughter?
A: He asked Avraham why Sarah laughed, but changed her words for peace (she said Avraham was old).

Q: What does “היפלא” mean?
A: “Is anything hidden or impossible for God?” Nothing can obstruct His will.

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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