Chumash Classes: Lech Lecha

Chp.12 verse 1. Introduction to the sedra and an overview of first verse

Chp. 12 verse 2 - verse 7. Hashem promises Avraham health, wealth, and children. He gives him the ability to bless others. Avraham leaves Haran with Sarai and Lot and he comes to Shechem were he builds an alter to Hashem.

Chp. 12 verse 8 through end of chp. 12. Avraham builds an alter to Hashem. There is a famine in the land and he goes to Egypt, he tells Sarai to say she is his sister, she is abducted by Pharoh. He showers Avraham with gifts, but he is punished with plagues. He then releases her and gives them a royal escort out of Egypt.

Chp.13 verse 1-18: Avraham leaves Egypt and comes back to Canaan with his wife and Lot. Both are very wealthy which causes quarrels between them. They separate, Lot goes to Sodom, and Avraham goes to Chevron. Hashem then appears to him and promises to give the land of Israel to him and his descendants.

Chp. 14: Story of the five kings rebelling against the four kings and being defeated. They capture Sodom and take Lot and all the populace captive. Avraham goes to battle against the four Kings to rescue Lot and defeats them. He meets Malchi Tzeddek, who brings him bread and wine. Avraham returns all the people to the king of Sodom but refuses to accept any of the booty.

Chp. 15 verses 1-15: After Avram's victory over the four kings Hashem assures him that he still has a great deal of merit. Hashem then promises him that he will have an heir and that he will inherit the land. This is called the "covenant between the parts." Hashem has him bring three animals and two birds as part of the ritual. He then tells him that his children will be enslaved for 400 years and the nation that enslaves them will be judged and that they will leave with great wealth. But G-d assures him that this would occur after his death, that he would live in peace.

Chp. 15 verse 16 - chp. 16: Continues with the description of the "covenant between the parts." Chp. 16 discusses the relationship between sarai, Avram, and Hagar. Also the birth of Yishmael.