| 7And He said to him, "I am the Lord, Who brought you forth from Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it." |
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זוַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑יו אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֽוֹצֵאתִ֨יךָ֙ מֵא֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים לָ֧תֶת לְךָ֛ אֶת־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּ֖את לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ: |
| 8And he said, "O Lord God, how will I know that I will inherit it?" |
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חוַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה בַּמָּ֥ה אֵדַ֖ע כִּ֥י אִֽירָשֶֽׁנָּה: |
| 9And He said to him, "Take for Me three heifers and three goats and three rams, and a turtle dove and a young bird." |
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טוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו קְחָ֥ה לִי֙ עֶגְלָ֣ה מְשֻׁלֶּ֔שֶׁת וְעֵ֥ז מְשֻׁלֶּ֖שֶׁת וְאַ֣יִל מְשֻׁלָּ֑שׁ וְתֹ֖ר וְגוֹזָֽל: |
| three heifers (Gen. Rabbah 44:14) Three calves, symbolic of the three bulls: the bull of Yom Kippur, the bull brought when the interpretation of a law is hidden from the people [because of an error of the Sanhedrin], and the heifer whose neck was broken. |
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עֶגְלָה מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת
שְׁלשָׁה עֲגָלִים; רֶמֶז לִשְׁלֹשָׁה פָרִים, פַּר יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים וּפַר הֶעְלֵם דָּבָר שֶׁל צִבּוּר וְעֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה:
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| and three goats Symbolic of the he-goat that is sacrificed inside, the he-goats of the additional offering of the festivals, and the he-goat that is sacrificed as a sin offering for an individual. |
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וְעֵז מְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת
רֶמֶז לְשָׂעִיר הַנַּעֲשֶׂה בִּפְנִים וּשְׂעִירֵי מוּסָפִין שֶׁל מוֹעֵד וּשְׂעִיר חַטַּאת יָחִיד:
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| and three rams A guilt offering for a definite sin, a guilt offering for a doubtful sin, and a ewe lamb for a sin offering for an individual. |
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וְאַיִל מְשֻׁלָּשׁ
אֲשַׁם וַדַּאי וְאָשָׁם תָּלוּי וְכִבְשָׂה שֶׁל חַטַּאת יָחִיד:
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| and a turtle dove and a young bird A turtle dove and a young pigeon. [These are the various species offered up for all kinds of atonement sacrifices.] |
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ותור וְגוֹזָֽל
תּוֹר וּבֶן יוֹנָה (בראשית רבה):
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| 10And he took for Him all these, and he divided them in the middle, and he placed each part opposite its mate, but he did not divide the birds. |
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יוַיִּקַּח־ל֣וֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֗לֶּה וַיְבַתֵּ֤ר אֹתָם֙ בַּתָּ֔וֶךְ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אִֽישׁ־בִּתְר֖וֹ לִקְרַ֣את רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְאֶת־הַצִּפֹּ֖ר לֹ֥א בָתָֽר: |
| and he divided them He divided each one into two parts. The verse does not lose its simple meaning, because He was forming a covenant with him to keep His promise, to cause his sons to inherit the land, as it is written (verse 18): “On that day, the Lord formed a covenant with Abram, saying, etc.,” and it is the custom of those who form a covenant to divide an animal and to pass between its parts, as it is written (Jer. 34:19): “who passed between the parts of the calf.” Here too, “a smoking furnace and a fire brand, which passed between the parts,” was the agent of the Shechinah, which is [referred to as] fire. [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer , ch. 28] |
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וַיְבַתֵּר אֹתָם
חָלַק כָּל אֶחָד לִשְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים; וְאֵין הַמִּקְרָא יוֹצֵא מִידֵי פְשׁוּטוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה כוֹרֵת בְּרִית עִמּוֹ לִשְׁמֹר הַבְטָחָתוֹ לְהוֹרִיש לְבָנָיו אֶת הָאָרֶץ כְּדִכְתִיב בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא כָּרַת ה' אֶת אַבְרָם בְּרִית לֵאמֹר וְגוֹמֵר, וְדֶרֶך כּוֹרְתֵי בְרִית לְחַלֵּק בְּהֵמָה וְלַעֲבֹר בֵּין בְּתָרֶיהָ, כְּמַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר לְהַלָּן הָעֹבְרִים בֵּין בִּתְרֵי הָעֵגֶל (ירמיה ל"ד), אַף כָּאן תַנּוּר עָשָׁן וְלַפִּיד אֵשׁ אֲשֶׁר עָבַר בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים הוּא שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל שְׁכִינָה, שֶׁהוּא אֵשׁ.
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| but he did not divide the birds Since the idol-worshipping nations are likened to bulls, rams, and goats, as it is said (Ps. 22:13): “Many bulls surrounded me, etc.,” and Scripture states (Dan. 8:20): “The ram that you saw, the one with horns, represents the kings of Media and Persia,” and Scripture states (ibid. verse 21): “And the he-goat is the king of Greece.” And the Israelites are likened to young doves, as it is said (Song of Songs 2:14): “My dove, in the clefts of the rock.” Therefore, he divided the animals, as an allusion that the nations will gradually perish. “But he did not divide the bird,” as an allusion that Israel will exist forever. [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer , ch. 28; Targum. Ps. 22: 13] |
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וְאֶת־הצפור לֹא בָתָֽר
לְפִי שֶׁהָאֻמּוֹת נִמְשְׁלוּ לְפָרִים וְאֵילִים וּשְֹעִירִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר סְבָבוּנִי פָּרִים רַבִּים וְגוֹ' (תהל' כ"ב), וְאוֹמֵר הָאַיִל אֲשֶׁר רָאִיתָ בַּעַל הַקְּרָנָיִם מַלְכֵי מָדַי וּפָרָס (דניאל ח'), וְאוֹמֵר וְהַצָּפִיר הַשָּׂעִיר מֶלֶךְ יָוָן (שם), וְיִשְֹרָאֵל נִמְשְׁלוּ לִבְנֵי יוֹנָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר יוֹנָתִי בְּחַגְוֵי הַסֶּלַע (שיר השירים ב'), לְפִיכָךְ בִּתֵּר הַבְּהֵמוֹת, רֶמֶז שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הָאֻמּוֹת כָּלִים וְהוֹלְכִים, ואת הצפור לא בתר, רֶמֶז שֶׁיִּהְיוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל קַיָּמִין לְעוֹלָם:
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| 11And the birds of prey descended upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away. |
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יאוַיֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יִט עַל־הַפְּגָרִ֑ים וַיַּשֵּׁ֥ב אֹתָ֖ם אַבְרָֽם: |
| And the birds of prey Heb. הָעַיִט. This is a bird, and [it is called עַיִט] because it swoops down [עָט] and seeks the carcasses. Like (Job 9:26): “to swoop upon food,” and like (I Sam. 15:19): “and you flew (וַתַּעַט) upon the spoil.” |
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הָעַיִט
הוּא עוֹף, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהוּא עָט וְשׁוֹאֵף אֶל הַנְּבֵלוֹת לָטוּשׂ עֲלֵי אֹכֶל, כְּמוֹ וַתַּעַט אֶל הַשָּׁלָל (שמואל א ט"ו):
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| upon the carcasses upon the parts. (Other editions: הַפְּגָרִים is translated into Aramaic as פַּגְלַיָא, [meaning “carcass,” and not “parts,” as Rashi interprets]. But because they [the Targumim] were accustomed to translating אִישׁ בִּתְרוֹ [verse 10] as וִיהַב פַּלְגַּיָא [meaning: “He placed each part”], the word פַּגְלַיָא was mistakenly changed to פַּלְגַּיָא, and they therefore translated הַפְּגָרִים as פַּלְגַיָא. But whoever translates that way is in error, because we cannot equate בְּתָרִים, parts, to פְּגָרִים, carcasses, for בְּתָרִים should be translated פַּלְגַּיָא, and פְּגָרִים should be translated פַּגְלַיָא, an expression of פִּגוּל, an abominable thing, as (Lev. 19:7): “it is an abominable thing (פִּגוּל),” an expression of a carcass. (So I heard from Rabbi Judah the son of Rabbi Samuel.) And so it was emended in a Rashi ms., and in another ms. was written: So did Rabbi Meir the son of Rabbi Samuel explain.) |
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עַל־הַפְּגָרִים
עַל הַבְּתָרִים. הַפְּגָרִים מְתַרְגְּמִינָן פַּגְלַיָּא, אֶלָּא מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהֻרְגְּלוּ לְתַרְגֵּם "איש בִּתְרוֹ" וִיהַב פַּלְגַּיָּא, נִתְחַלֵּף לָהֶם תֵּבַת פַּגְלַיָּא לְפַלְגַּיָּא, וְתִרְגְּמוּ הַפְּגָרִים פַּלְגַּיָּא; וְכָל הַמְתַרְגֵּם כֵּן טוֹעֶה, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין לְהַקִּיש בְּתָרִים לִפְגָרִים, שֶׁבְּתָרִים תַּרְגּוּמוֹ פַּלְגַּיָּא, וּפְגָרִים תַּרְגּוּמוֹ פַּגְלַיָּא, לְשׁוֹן פִּגּוּל, כְּמוֹ פִּגּוּל הוּא (ויקרא ז') לְ' פֶּגֶר:
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| and Abram drove them away Heb. וַיַּשֵּׁב, an expression of blowing and causing to fly away, like (Ps. 147:18): “He causes His wind to blow (יַשֵּׁב).” This is an allusion that David the son of Jesse will come to destroy them, but they will not permit him from heaven [to do so] until the King Messiah arrives. [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 28] |
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וַיַּשֵּׁב
לְשׁוֹן נְשִׁיבָה וְהַפְרָחָה, כְּמוֹ יַשֵּׁב רוּחוֹ (תה' קמ"ז), רֶמֶז שֶׁיָּבֹא דָוִד בֶּן יִשַּׁי לְכַלּוֹתָם, וְאֵין מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ:
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| 12Now the sun was ready to set, and a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and behold, a fright, a great darkness was falling upon him. |
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יבוַיְהִ֤י הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ לָב֔וֹא וְתַרְדֵּמָ֖ה נָֽפְלָ֣ה עַל־אַבְרָ֑ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵימָ֛ה חֲשֵׁכָ֥ה גְדֹלָ֖ה נֹפֶ֥לֶת עָלָֽיו: |
| and behold, a fright, etc. An allusion to the troubles and darkness of the exiles. [from above mentioned source, Targum Jonathan, Targum Yerushalmi, Gen. Rabbah 42:17, and many other midrashic sources] |
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וְהִנֵּה אֵימָה וגו'
רֶמֶז לְצָרוֹת וְחשֶׁךְ שֶׁל גָּלִיּוֹת:
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| 13And He said to Abram, "You shall surely know that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and they will enslave them and oppress them, for four hundred years. |
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יגוַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאַבְרָ֗ם יָדֹ֨עַ תֵּדַ֜ע כִּי־גֵ֣ר | יִֽהְיֶ֣ה זַרְעֲךָ֗ בְּאֶ֨רֶץ֙ לֹ֣א לָהֶ֔ם וַֽעֲבָד֖וּם וְעִנּ֣וּ אֹתָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָֽה: |
| that your seed will be strangers From the time that Isaac was born until the Israelites left Egypt was four hundred years. How so? Isaac was sixty years old when Jacob was born, and Jacob, when he went down to Egypt, said, “The days of the years of my sojournings are one hundred and thirty years,” which total 190. They were in Egypt 210 years, like the numerical value of רְדוּ (see Rashi, below 42:2; ר = 200, ד = 4, ו = 6, totaling 210). Thus, the total is 400 years. Now, if you should say that they were 400 years in Egypt, [this is not so] because Kehath was one of those who descended to Egypt. If you compute the years of Kehath (133) and those of Amram (his son, 137), and the 80 years of Moses, his age when they left Egypt, you will find only 350 [years]. And you must still subtract from them all the years that Kehath lived after the birth of Amram and that Amram lived after the birth of Moses. [from Seder Olam ch. 3] |
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כִּי־גֵר יִֽהְיֶה זַרְעֲךָ
מִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק עַד שֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה כֵּיצַד? יִצְחָק בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה כְּשֶׁנּוֹלַד יַעֲקֹב, וְיַעֲקֹב כְּשֶׁיָּרַד לְמִצְרַיִם אָמַר יְמֵי שְׁנֵי מְגוּרַי שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה, הֲרֵי ק"צ, וּבְמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ מָאתַיִם וְעֶשֶׂר כְּמִנְיַן רְד"וּ, הֲרֵי אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. וְאִם תֹּאמַר בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת, הֲרֵי קְהָת מִיּוֹרְדֵי מִצְרַיִם הָיָה, צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב שְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל קְהָת וְשֶׁל עַמְרָם וּשְׁמוֹנִים שֶׁל משֶׁה שֶׁהָיָה כְּשֶׁיֶָּצְאוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם, אֵין אַתָּה מוֹצֵא אֶלָּא שְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁים, וְאַתָּה צָרִיךְ לְהוֹצִיא מֵהֶן כָּל הַשָּׁנִים שֶׁחַי קְהָת אַחַר לֵדַת עַמְרָם וְשֶׁחַי עַמְרָם אַחַר לֵדַת משֶׁה:
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| in a land that is not theirs It does not say, “in the land of Egypt,” but “[in a land] that is not theirs,” and from the time Isaac was born (below 21:34): “and Abraham sojourned, etc.” (Below 20:1): “And [Isaac] sojourned in Gerar.” (Ps. 105:23): “And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.” (Below 47:4): “To sojourn in the land we have come.” - [from Mid. Abchir] |
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בְּאֶרֶץ לֹא לָהֶם
לֹא נֶאֱמַר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם, אֶלָּא לֹא לָהֶם – וּמִשֶּׁנּוֹלַד יִצְחָק וַיָּגָר אַבְרָהָם וְגוֹ' (בר' כ"א), וּבְיִצְחָק גּוּר בָּאָרֶץ הַזֹאת (שם כ"ו), וְיַעֲקֹב גָּר בְּאֶרֶץ חָם (תה' ק"ה), לָגוּר בָּאָרֶץ בָּאנוּ (בר' מ"ז):
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| 14And also the nation that they will serve will I judge, and afterwards they will go forth with great possessions. |
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ידוְגַ֧ם אֶת־הַגּ֛וֹי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַֽעֲבֹ֖דוּ דָּ֣ן אָנֹ֑כִי וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֥ן יֵֽצְא֖וּ בִּרְכֻ֥שׁ גָּדֽוֹל: |
| And also the nation [The word] וְגַם, [and also], is to include the four kingdoms (Babylon, Persia and Media, Greece, and Edom), for they too will perish because they enslaved Israel. [from Gen. Rabbah 44:19] |
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וְגַם אֶת־הַגּוֹי
וְגַם לְרַבּוֹת ד' מַלְכֻיּוֹת, שֶׁאַף הֵן כָּלִים עַל שֶׁשִּׁעְבְּדוּ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל:
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| will I judge with ten plagues. [from Gen. Rabbah 44:20] |
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דָּן אָנֹכִי
בְּעֶשֶׂר מַכּוֹת:
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| with great possessions with much money, as it is said (Exod. 12:36): “and they emptied out Egypt.” |
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בִּרְכֻשׁ גָּדֽוֹל
בְּמָמוֹן גָּדוֹל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְנַצְּלוּ אֶת מִצְרָיִם (שמות י"ב):
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| 15But you will come to your forefathers in peace; you will be buried in a good old age. |
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טווְאַתָּ֛ה תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם תִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָֽה: |
| But you will come to your forefathers in peace And you will not witness any of this. [From Gen. Rabbah 44:20] |
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וְאַתָּה תָּבוֹא
וְלֹא תִרְאֶה כָּל אֵלֶה:
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| to your forefathers His father was an idolater, and He announces to him that he will come to him? This teaches you that Terah repented. [from Tan. Shemoth 18] |
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אֶל־אבותיך
אָבִיו עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה וְהוּא מְבַשְּׂרוֹ שֶׁיָּבֹא אֵלָיו? לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁעָשָׂה תֶּרַח תְּשׁוּבָה:
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| you will be buried in a good old age He announced to him that Ishmael would repent during his lifetime (Gen. Rabbah 30:4, 38:12), and that Esau would not embark on evil ways during his lifetime. Therefore, he died five years before his time, and on that very day, Esau rebelled (ibid. 63:12). See below 25:29f. |
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תִּקָּבֵר בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָֽה
בִּשְּׂרוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה יִשְׁמָעֵאל תְּשׁוּבָה בְּיָמָיו, וְלֹא יֵצֵא עֵשָׂו לְתַרְבּוּת רָעָה בְּיָמָיו; וּלְפִיכָךְ מֵת ה' שָׁנִים קֹדֶם זְמַנּוֹ, וּבוֹ בַיּוֹם מָרַד עֵשָׂו:
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| 16And the fourth generation will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites will not be complete until then." |
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טזוְד֥וֹר רְבִיעִ֖י יָשׁ֣וּבוּ הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֧י לֹֽא־שָׁלֵ֛ם עֲוֹ֥ן הָֽאֱמֹרִ֖י עַד־הֵֽנָּה: |
| And the fourth generation After they will have been exiled to Egypt, they will be there for three generations, and the fourth will return to this land (Mishnath Rabbi Eliezer ch. 5), for in the land of Canaan He spoke with him, and formed this covenant, as it is written (above verse 7): “to give you this land to inherit it.” And so it was: Jacob descended to Egypt. Go forth and figure his generations: Judah, Perez, and Hezron, and Caleb the son of Hezron was one of those who entered the land (Sotah 11b). |
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וְדוֹר רְבִיעִי
לְאַחַר שֶׁיִּגְלוּ לְמִצְרַיִם יִהְיוּ שָׁם ג' דּוֹרוֹת, וְהָרְבִיעִי יָשׁוּבוּ לָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, לְפִי שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן הָיָה מְדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ, וְכָרַת בְּרִית זוֹ, כְּדִכְתִיב: לָתֶת לְךָ אֶת הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת לְרִשְׁתָּהּ. וְכֵן הָיָה: יַעֲקֹב יָרַד לְמִצְרַיִם, צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב דּוֹרוֹתָיו: יְהוּדָה, פֶּרֶץ, וְחֶצְרוֹן, וְכָלֵב בֶּן חֶצְרוֹן מִבָּאֵי הָאָרֶץ הָיָה:
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| for the iniquity of the Amorites will not be complete that they should be sent out of their land until that time, for the Holy One, blessed be He, does not punish a nation until its measure is full, as it is said: (Isa. 27:8):“When her measure is full, when You send her away, then You will strive with her.” - [from Zohar, vol. 1, p. 113b] |
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כִּי לֹֽא־שָׁלֵם עֲוֹן הָֽאֱמֹרִי
לִהְיוֹת מִשְׁתַּלֵּחַ מֵאַרְצוֹ עַד אוֹתוֹ זְמַן, שֶׁאֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִפְרָע מֵאֻמָּה עַד שֶׁתִּתְמַלֵּא סְאָתָהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּסַאסְּאָה בְּשַׁלְחָהּ תְּרִיבֶנָּה (יש' כ"ז):
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| 17Now it came to pass that the sun had set, and it was dark, and behold, a smoking furnace and a fire brand, which passed between these parts. |
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יזוַיְהִ֤י הַשֶּׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ בָּ֔אָה וַֽעֲלָטָ֖ה הָיָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֨ה תַנּ֤וּר עָשָׁן֙ וְלַפִּ֣יד אֵ֔שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָבַ֔ר בֵּ֖ין הַגְּזָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה: |
| Now it came to pass that the sun had set Heb. וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בָּאָה. [The subject apparently does not agree with the predicate, because שֶׁמֶשׁ is a feminine noun, whereas וַיְהִי is a masculine verb. Therefore, Rashi explains as follows:] This is similar to (below 42:35): “And it came to pass that they were emptying their sacks”; (II Kings 13:21): “And it came to pass that they were burying a man”; meaning: this event took place. [The subject of וַיְהִי is not הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ but דָבָר זֶה (i.e., it is as if the masculine noun דָבָר זֶה (this event) were inserted after וַיְהִי.] The same is true in the two instances quoted by Rashi, in which the subject is plural, whereas the predicate is singular. There too, the subject of וַיְהִי is דָבָר זֶה.] |
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וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בָּאָה
כְּמוֹ וַיְהִי הֵם מְרִיקִים שַׂקֵּיהֶם (בראשית מ"ב), וַיְהִי הֵם קֹבְרִים אִישׁ (מלכים ב י"ג), כְּלוֹמַר, וַיְהִי דָּבָר זֶה:
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| the sun had set Heb. בָּאָה. It had set. |
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הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בָּאָה
שָׁקְעָה:
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| and it was dark The day darkened. |
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וַֽעֲלָטָה הָיָה
חָשַׁךְ הַיּוֹם:
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| and behold, a smoldering furnace, etc. He hinted to him that the kingdoms of the pagans would fall into hell. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 28] |
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וְהִנֵּה תַנּוּר עָשָׁן וגו'
רָמַז לוֹ שֶׁיִּפְּלוּ הַמַּלְכֻיּוֹת בַּגֵּיהִנֹּם:
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| had set Heb. בָּאָה Its accent is on the first syllable. Therefore, it is explained that it had already set; but if its accent were at the end, on the “alef,” it would be explained to mean: as it was setting. but it is impossible to say this, for it is already written (above verse 12): “Now the sun was setting,” and the passing of the smoking furnace happened after this. It is found that it had already set. And this difference exists in every word in the feminine gender, whose radical consists of two letters, such as בא (to come), קם (to arise), שב (to return). When the accent is on the first syllable, it is in the past tense, e.g., this case and e.g., (below 29:9): “and Rachel came (בָּאָה)”; (below 37:7): “my sheaf arose (קָמָה)”; (Ruth 1:15): “Lo! Your sister-in-law has returned (שָׁבָה).” However, when the accent is on the final syllable, it is in the present tense, denoting a thing that is happening now and is continuing to happen, like (below 29:6): “She is coming בָּאָה with the flocks”; (Esther 2:14): “In the evening she would come (בָּאָה), and in the morning she would return (שָׁבָה).” |
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בָּאָה
טַעֲמוֹ לְמַעְלָה, לְכָךְ הוּא מְבֹאָר שֶׁבָּא כְבָר. וְאִם הָיָה טַעֲמוֹ לְמַטָּה, בָּאָלֶ"ף, הָיָה מְבֹאָר כְּשֶׁהִיא שׁוֹקַעַת; וְאִי אֶפְשַָׁר לוֹמַר כֵּן, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְבָר כְּתִיב וַיְהִי הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לָבוֹא, וְהַעֲבָרַת תַּנּוּר עָשָׁן לְאַחַר מִכָּאן הָיְתָה, נִמְצָא שֶׁכְּבָר שָׁקְעָה; וְזֶה חִלּוּק בְּכָל תֵּבָה לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה שֶׁיְּסוֹדָהּ שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת, כְּמוֹ בָּא, קָם, שָׁב: כְּשֶׁהַטַּעַם לְמַעְלָה, לְשׁוֹן עָבַר הוּא, כְּגוֹן זֶה, וּכְגוֹן וְרָחֵל בָּאָה, קָמָה אֲלֻמָּתִי, הִנֵּה שָׁבָה יְבִמְתֵּךְ, וּכְשֶׁהַטַּעַם לְמַטָּה הוּא לְשׁוֹן הוֹוֶה, דָּבָר שֶׁנַּעֲשֶׂה עַכְשָׁו וְהוֹלֵךְ, כְּמוֹ בָּאָה עִם הַצֹּאן, בָּעֶרֶב הִיא בָאָה וּבַבֹּקֶר הִיא שָׁבָה:
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| 18On that day, the Lord formed a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt until the great river, the Euphrates river. |
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יחבַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא כָּרַ֧ת יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־אַבְרָ֖ם בְּרִ֣ית לֵאמֹ֑ר לְזַרְעֲךָ֗ נָתַ֨תִּי֙ אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את מִנְּהַ֣ר מִצְרַ֔יִם עַד־הַנָּהָ֥ר הַגָּדֹ֖ל נְהַר־פְּרָֽת: |
| To your seed I have given The word of the Holy One, blessed be He, is like an accomplished fact. |
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לְזַרְעֲךָ נָתַתִּי
אֲמִירָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּאִלוּ הִיא עֲשׂוּיָה:
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| the great river, the Euphrates river Since it is associated with the Land of Israel, He calls it great, even though it is the last of the four rivers going forth from Eden, as it is said (above 2:14): “and the fourth river that is the Euphrates.” A common proverb states: “A king’s servant is a king; associate with a ruler, and people will bow down to you.” - [from Sifrei Devarim 6] |
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הַנָּהָר הגדול
לְפִי שֶׁהוּא דָבוּק לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל קוֹרְאֵהוּ גָּדוֹל, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהוּא מְאֻחָר בְּאַרְבָּעָה נְהָרוֹת הַיּוֹצְאִים מֵעֵדֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהַנָּהָר הָרְבִיעִי הוּא פְרָת. מָשָׁל הֶדְיוֹט: עֶבֶד מֶלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ, הִדָּבֵק לַשַּׁחֲוָר וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ (בראשית רבה):
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| 19The Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, |
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יטאֶת־הַקֵּינִי֙ וְאֶת־הַקְּנִזִּ֔י וְאֵ֖ת הַקַּדְמֹנִֽי: |
| The Kenites There are ten nations [enumerated] here, but He gave them only seven nations. The [other] three are Edom, Moab, and Ammon, and they are [here referred to as] the Kenites, the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, which are destined to be [our] heritage in the future, as it is said (Isa. 11:14): “upon Edom and Moab shall they stretch forth their hand, and the children of Ammon shall obey them.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 44:23] |
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אֶת־הקני
עֶשֶׂר אֻמּוֹת יֵשׁ כָּאן וְלֹא נָתַן לָהֶם אֶלָּא שִׁבְעָה גוֹיִם, וְהַשְּׁלשָׁה אֱדוֹם וּמוֹאָב וְעַמּוֹן, וְהֵם קֵינִי, קְנִזִּי, וְקַדְּמוֹנִי עֲתִידִים לִהְיוֹת יְרֻשָּׁה לֶעָתִיד (בראשית רבה), שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֱדוֹם וּמוֹאָב מִשְׁלוֹחַ יָדָם וּבְנֵי עַמּוֹן מִשְׁמַעְתָּם (ישעיה י"א):
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| 20And the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Rephaim, |
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כוְאֶת־הַֽחִתִּ֥י וְאֶת־הַפְּרִזִּ֖י וְאֶת־הָֽרְפָאִֽים: |
| and the Rephaim the land of Og, concerning which it is said (Deut. 3: 13):“That is called the land of the Rephaim.” |
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וְאֶת־הָֽרְפָאִֽים
אֶרֶץ עוֹג, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּה: הַהוּא יִקָּרֵא אֶרֶץ רְפָאִים (דברים ג'):
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| 21And the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Girgashites and the Jebusites." |
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כאוְאֶת־הָֽאֱמֹרִי֙ וְאֶת־הַכְּנַֽעֲנִ֔י וְאֶת־הַגִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִֽי: |
| 1Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not borne to him, and she had an Egyptian handmaid named Hagar. |
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אוְשָׂרַי֙ אֵ֣שֶׁת אַבְרָ֔ם לֹ֥א יָֽלְדָ֖ה ל֑וֹ וְלָ֛הּ שִׁפְחָ֥ה מִצְרִ֖ית וּשְׁמָ֥הּ הָגָֽר: |
| an Egyptian handmaid She was Pharaoh’s daughter. When he (Pharaoh) saw the miracles that were wrought for Sarah, he said, “It is better that my daughter be a handmaid in this household, than a mistress in another household.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 45:1] |
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שׁפחה מִצְרִית
בַּת פַּרְעֹה הָיְתָה, כְּשֶׁרָאָה נִסִּים שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לְשָׂרָה אָמַר: מוּטָב שֶׁתְּהֵא בִתִּי שִׁפְחָה בְּבַיִת זֶה וְלֹא גְבִירָה בְּבַיִת אַחֵר:
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| 2And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing; please come to my handmaid; perhaps I will be built up from her." And Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice. |
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בוַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֜י אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם הִנֵּה־נָ֞א עֲצָרַ֤נִי יְהֹוָה֙ מִלֶּ֔דֶת בֹּא־נָא֙ אֶל־שִׁפְחָתִ֔י אוּלַ֥י אִבָּנֶ֖ה מִמֶּ֑נָּה וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע אַבְרָ֖ם לְק֥וֹל שָׂרָֽי: |
| perhaps I will be built up from her This teaches that whoever has no children is not built up but demolished. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:2] |
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אוּלַי אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה
לִמֵּד עַל מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בָּנִים שֶׁאֵינוֹ בָנוּי אֶלָּא הָרוּס:
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| I will be built up from her in the merit that I will bring my rival into my house. — [from Gen. Rabbah 71:7, Aggadath Bereishith 52] |
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אִבָּנֶה מִמֶּנָּה
בִּזְכוּת שֶׁאַכְנִיס צָרָתִי לְתוֹךְ בֵּיתִי:
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| to Sarai’s voice to the Divine Spirit within her. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:2] |
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לְקוֹל שָׂרַי
לְרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁבָּהּ (בראשית רבה):
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| 3So Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, at the end of ten years of Abram's dwelling in the land of Canaan, and she gave her to Abram her husband for a wife. |
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גוַתִּקַּ֞ח שָׂרַ֣י אֵֽשֶׁת־אַבְרָ֗ם אֶת־הָגָ֤ר הַמִּצְרִית֙ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ מִקֵּץ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר שָׁנִ֔ים לְשֶׁ֥בֶת אַבְרָ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְאַבְרָ֥ם אִישָׁ֖הּ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה: |
| So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took She took her with words, “You are fortunate that you have merited to cleave to a holy body such as this one.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 45:3] |
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וַתִּקַּח שָׂרַי
לְקָחַתָּה בִּדְבָרִים, אַשְׁרַיִךְ שֶׁזָּכִית לִדָּבֵק בְּגוּף קָדוֹשׁ כָּזֶה (בראשית רבה):
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| at the end of ten years This is the allotted time for a woman who has lived ten years with her husband and has not borne children to him, when he is obligated to marry another. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:3] |
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מִקֵּץ עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים
מוֹעֵד הַקָּבוּעַ לְאִשָּׁה שֶׁשָּׁהֲתָה עֶשֶׂר שָׁנִים וְלֹא יָלְדָה לְבַעֲלָהּ, חַיָּב לִשָֹּא אַחֶרֶת:
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| of Abram’s dwelling This tells us that the time they dwelled outside the Land does not count in the number [ten years], because it was not said to him, “and I will make you into a great nation,” [i.e., this promise would not be fulfilled] until he would come to the Land of Israel. — [from above source] |
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לְשֶׁבֶת אַבְרָם וגו'
מַגִּיד שֶׁאֵין יְשִׁיבַת חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ עוֹלָה לוֹ מִן הַמִּנְיָן (יב' ס"ד), לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר לוֹ וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא לְאֶרֶץ יִשְֹרָאֵל:
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| 4And he came to Hagar, and she conceived, and she saw that she was pregnant, and her mistress became unimportant in her eyes. |
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דוַיָּבֹ֥א אֶל־הָגָ֖ר וַתַּ֑הַר וַתֵּ֨רֶא֙ כִּ֣י הָרָ֔תָה וַתֵּקַ֥ל גְּבִרְתָּ֖הּ בְּעֵינֶֽיהָ: |
| And he came to Hagar, and she conceived from the first union. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:4] |
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וַיָּבֹא אֶל־הָגָר וַתַּהַר
מִבִּיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה (בראשית רבה):
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| and her mistress became unimportant in her eyes She said, “This Sarai her conduct in secret is not like her conduct in public. She shows herself as if she is a righteous woman, but she is not a righteous woman, for she did not merit to conceive all these years, whereas I have conceived from the first union.” - [from aforementioned source] |
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וַתֵּקַל גְּבִרְתָּהּ בְּעֵינֶֽיהָ
אָמְרָה שָׂרַי זוֹ אֵין סִתְרָהּ כִּגְלוּיָהּ מַרְאָה עַצְמָהּ כְּאִלּוּ הִיא צַדֶּקֶת וְאֵינָהּ צַדֶּקֶת, שֶׁלֹּא זָכְתָה לְהֵרָיוֹן כָּל הַשָּׁנִים הַלָּלוּ, וַאֲנִי נִתְעַבַּרְתִּי מִבִּיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה (בראשית רבה):
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| 5And Sarai said to Abram, "May my injustice be upon you! I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and she saw that she had become pregnant, and I became unimportant in her eyes. May the Lord judge between me and you!" |
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הוַתֹּ֨אמֶר שָׂרַ֣י אֶל־אַבְרָם֘ חֲמָסִ֣י עָלֶ֒יךָ֒ אָֽנֹכִ֗י נָתַ֤תִּי שִׁפְחָתִי֙ בְּחֵיקֶ֔ךָ וַתֵּ֨רֶא֙ כִּ֣י הָרָ֔תָה וָֽאֵקַ֖ל בְּעֵינֶ֑יהָ יִשְׁפֹּ֥ט יְהֹוָ֖ה בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינֶֽיֹךָ: |
| May my injustice be upon you [For] the injustice that has been done to me, I lay the punishment upon you. When you prayed to God, “What will You give me, since I am going childless?” you prayed only for yourself, whereas you should have prayed for both of us, and I would have been remembered with you. Moreover, you are stealing from me your [protective] words, for you hear my degradation, and you remain silent (i.e., you are depriving me of the words you should have spoken to Hagar to reprimand her on my behalf). — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:5] |
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חֲמָסִי עָלֶיךָ
חָמָס הֶעָשׂוּי לִי, עָלֶיךָ אֲנִי מֵטִיל הָעֹנֶשׁ; כְּשֶׁהִתְפַּלַּלְתָּ לְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַה תִּתֶּן לִי וְאָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ עֲרִירִי, לֹא הִתְפַּלַּלְתָּ אֶלָּא עָלֶיךָ, וְהָיָה לְךָ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל שְׁנֵינוּ, וְהָיִיתִי אֲנִי נִפְקֶדֶת עִמְּךָ, וְעוֹד דְּבָרֶיךָ אַתָּה חוֹמֵס מִמֶּנִי, שֶׁאַתָּה שׁוֹמֵעַ בִּזְיוֹנִי וְשׁוֹתֵק (בראשית רבה):
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| I gave my handmaid, etc. between me and you Every בֶּינֶיךָ in Scripture is spelled defectively (without the second yud), but this one is spelled plene. It may thus also be read וּבֵינַיִךְ (second person feminine), for she cast an evil eye on Hagar’s pregnancy, and she miscarried her fetus. That is why the angel said to Hagar, “Behold, you will conceive.” But was she not already pregnant? Yet he announces to her that she will conceive? But this teaches that she miscarried her first pregnancy. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:5] |
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אָֽנֹכִי נָתַתִּי שִׁפְחָתִי וגו' בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶֽיֹךָ
כָּל בֵּינֶיךָ שֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא חָסֵר, וְזֶה מָלֵא, קְרִי בֵיהּ וּבָנַיִךְ, שֶׁהִכְנִיסָה עַיִן הָרָע בְּעִבּוּרָהּ שֶׁל הָגָר וְהִפִּילָה עֻבָּרָהּ; הוּא שֶׁהַמַּלְאָךְ אוֹמֵר לְהָגָר הִנָּךְ הָרָה, וְהֲלֹא כְבָר הָרְתָה, וְהוּא מְבַשֵּׁר לָהּ שֶׁתַּהַר? אֶלָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהִפִּילָה הֵרָיוֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן:
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| 6And Abram said to Sarai, "Here is your handmaid in your hand; do to her that which is proper in your eyes." And Sarai afflicted her, and she fled from before her. |
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ווַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־שָׂרַ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה שִׁפְחָתֵךְ֙ בְּיָדֵ֔ךְ עֲשִׂי־לָ֖הּ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יִךְ וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ שָׂרַ֔י וַתִּבְרַ֖ח מִפָּנֶֽיהָ: |
| And Sarai afflicted her She enslaved her harshly. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:6] |
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וַתְּעַנֶּהָ שׁרי
הָיְתָה מְשַׁעְבֶּדֶת בָּהּ בְּקֹשִׁי (בראשית רבה):
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| 7And an angel of the Lord found her by a water fountain in the desert, by the fountain on the road to Shur. |
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זוַיִּמְצָאָ֞הּ מַלְאַ֧ךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה עַל־עֵ֥ין הַמַּ֖יִם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר עַל־הָעַ֖יִן בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ שֽׁוּר: |
| 8And he said, "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where are you coming from, and where are you going to?" And she said, "From before Sarai my mistress, I am fleeing." |
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חוַיֹּאמַ֗ר הָגָ֞ר שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרַ֛י אֵֽי־מִזֶּ֥ה בָ֖את וְאָ֣נָה תֵלֵ֑כִי וַתֹּ֕אמֶר מִפְּנֵי֙ שָׂרַ֣י גְּבִרְתִּ֔י אָֽנֹכִ֖י בֹּרַֽחַת: |
| where are you coming from [meaning]: “Where have you come from?” He knew [where she was coming from] but he wished to give her an opening to commence speaking with her. Now the אֵי מִזֶּה [lit. where from this] means: “Where is the place about which you can say, ‘From this place I have come.’” |
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מִזֶּה בָאת
מֵהֵיכָן בָּאת? יוֹדֵע הָיָה, אֶלָּא לִתֵּן לָהּ פֶּתַח לִכָּנֵס עִמָּה בִּדְבָרִים. וּלְשׁוֹן אֵי מִזֶּה: אַיֵּה הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁתֹּאמַר עָלָיו מִזֶּה אֲנִי בָאָה?
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| 9And the angel of the Lord said to her, "Return to your mistress, and allow yourself to be afflicted under her hands." |
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טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה שׁ֖וּבִי אֶל־גְּבִרְתֵּ֑ךְ וְהִתְעַנִּ֖י תַּ֥חַת יָדֶֽיהָ: |
| And the angel of the Lord said to her, etc. For each statement, another angel was sent to her. Therefore, the word מַלְאָךְ, angel, is used with each statement. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:7] |
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וַיֹּאמֶר לָהּ מַלְאַךְ וגו'
עַל כָּל אֲמִירָה הָיָה שָׁלוּחַ לָהּ מַלְאָךְ אַחֵר, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר מַלְאָךְ בְּכָל אֲמִירָה וַאֲמִירָה:
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| 10And the angel of the Lord said to her, "I will greatly multiply your seed, and it will not be counted for abundance." |
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יוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה הַרְבָּ֥ה אַרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־זַרְעֵ֑ךְ וְלֹ֥א יִסָּפֵ֖ר מֵרֹֽב: |
| 11And the angel of the Lord said to her, "Behold, you will conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your affliction. |
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יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהּ֙ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה הִנָּ֥ךְ הָרָ֖ה וְיֹלַ֣דְתְּ בֵּ֑ן וְקָרָ֤את שְׁמוֹ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל כִּֽי־שָׁמַ֥ע יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־עָנְיֵֽךְ: |
| Behold, you will conceive When you return, you will conceive, like (Jud. 13:5): Behold you shall conceive, stated concerning the wife of Manoah. |
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הִנָּךְ הָרָה
כְּשֶׁתָּשׁוּבִי תַּהֲרִי, כְּמוֹ הִנָּךְ הָרָה דְאֵשֶׁת מָנוֹחַ:
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| and bear a son וְיֹלַדְתְּ is וְיוֹלֶדֶת, and similar to this (Jer. 22:23): You, who abide (ישַׁבְתְּ) in the Lebanon, (יוֹשֶׁבֶת) who nest (מְקוּנַנְתְּ) in the cedars [like, מְקוֹנֶנֶת]. |
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וְיֹלַדְתְּ בֵּן
כְּמוֹ וְיוֹלֶדֶת, וְדוֹמֶה לוֹ יֹשַׁבְתְּי בַּלְּבָנוֹן מְקֻנַּנְתְּי בָּאֲרָזִים (ירמיה כ"ב):
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| and you shall name him This is the imperative [feminine], as the text states for the masculine: (below 17:19): “and you shall name him (וְקָראתָ אֶת שְׁמוֹ) Isaac.” |
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וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ
צִוּוּי הוּא, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמֵר לְזָכָר וְקָרָאתָ אֶת שְׁמוֹ יִצְחָק (בר' י"ז):
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| 12And he will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be upon all, and everyone's hand upon him, and before all his brothers he will dwell." |
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יבוְה֤וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ פֶּ֣רֶא אָדָ֔ם יָד֣וֹ בַכֹּ֔ל וְיַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בּ֑וֹ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו יִשְׁכֹּֽן: |
| A wild donkey of a man who loves the wilderness to hunt beasts, as it is written (below 21:20f): “And he was an archer; and he dwelt in the desert of Paran.” |
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פֶּרֶא אָדָם
אוֹהֵב מִדְבָּרוֹת לָצוּד חַיּוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב וַיֵּשֶׁב בַּמִּדְבָּר וַיְהִי רֹבֶה קַשָּׁת (בראשית כ"א):
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| his hand will be upon all [He will be] a bandit. — [from Tan. Shemot] |
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יָדוֹ בַכֹּל
לִסְטִים:
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| and everyone’s hand upon him Everyone will hate him and attack him. |
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וְיַד כֹּל בּוֹ
הַכֹּל שׂוֹנְאִין אוֹתוֹ וּמִתְגָּרִין בּוֹ:
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| and before all his brothers he will dwell for his seed will be numerous. |
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וְעַל־פְּנֵי כֹּל אֶחָיו ישכון
שֶׁיִּהְיֶה זַרְעוֹ גָּדוֹל (בראשית רבה):
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| 13And she called the name of the Lord, Who had spoken to her, "You are the God of seeing," because she said, "Have I seen [him] here also after I have seen?" |
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יגוַתִּקְרָ֤א שֵֽׁם־יְהֹוָה֙ הַדֹּבֵ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יהָ אַתָּ֖ה אֵ֣ל רֳאִ֑י כִּ֣י אָֽמְרָ֗ה הֲגַ֥ם הֲלֹ֛ם רָאִ֖יתִי אַֽחֲרֵ֥י רֹאִֽי: |
| You are the God of seeing רֳאִי is vowelized with a “chataf kamatz” because it is a noun, i.e., the God of seeing, Who sees the humiliation of the humiliated. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:10] (Other editions: Another explanation: “You are the God of seeing” meaning that He sees all, but no one sees Him. Targum Jonathan). |
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אַתָּה אֵל רֳאִי
נָקוּד חֲטַף קָמָץ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא שֵׁם דָּבָר, אֱלוֹהַּ הָרְאִיָּה, שֶׁרוֹאֶה בְעֶלְבּוֹן שֶׁל עֲלוּבִין:
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| Have I seen here also הֲגַם הֲלֹם is an expression of wonderment. Would I have thought that even here in the desert I would see the emissary of the Omnipresent after I had seen them in the house of Abraham, where I was accustomed to seeing angels? And you should know that she was accustomed to seeing them, because Manoah saw the angel once and said, “We will surely die,” and this one saw four, one after the other, and she was not frightened. — [from Gen. Rabbah 45:7] |
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הֲגַם הֲלֹם
לְשׁוֹן תֵּמַהּ; וְכִי סְבוּרָה הָיִיתִי שֶׁאַף הֲלוֹם בַּמִּדְבָּרוֹת רָאִיתִי שְׁלוּחוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם אַחֲרֵי רֹאִי אוֹתָם בְּבֵיתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם שֶׁשָּׁם הָיִיתִי רְגִילָה לִרְאות מַלְאָכִים? וְתֵדַע שֶׁהָיְתָה רְגִילָה לִרְאוֹתָם, שֶׁהֲרֵי מָנוֹחַ רָאָה אֶת הַמַּלְאָךְ פַּעַם אַחַת וְאָמַר מוֹת נָמוּת (שופ' י"ג), וְזוֹ רָאֲתָה ד' זֶה אַחַר זֶה וְלֹא חָרְדָה:
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| 14Therefore the well was called Be'er Lachai Ro'i; behold it is between Kadesh and between Bered. |
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ידעַל־כֵּן֙ קָרָ֣א לַבְּאֵ֔ר בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִ֑י הִנֵּ֥ה בֵֽין־קָדֵ֖שׁ וּבֵ֥ין בָּֽרֶד: |
| Be’er Lachai Ro’i As the Targum renders: a well upon which the living angel appeared. |
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בְּאֵר לַחַי
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:
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| 15And Hagar bore a son to Abram, and Abram named his son, whom Hagar had borne, Ishmael. |
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טווַתֵּ֧לֶד הָגָ֛ר לְאַבְרָ֖ם בֵּ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְרָ֧ם שֶׁם־בְּנ֛וֹ אֲשֶׁר־יָֽלְדָ֥ה הָגָ֖ר יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל: |
| and Abram named, etc. Although Abram had not heard the words of the angel, who said,“And you shall name him Ishmael,” the Holy Spirit rested upon him, and he called him Ishmael. — [from Bereishith Rabbathi, also Mid. Aggadah] |
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וַיִּקְרָא אַבְרָם שֶׁם־וגו'
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַע אַבְרָם דִּבְרֵי הַמַּלְאָךְ שֶׁאָמַר וְקָרָאת שְׁמוֹ יִשְׁמָעֵאל, שָׁרְתָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ עָלָיו וּקְרָאוֹ יִשְׁמָעֵאל:
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| 16And Abram was eighty-six years old, when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram. |
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טזוְאַבְרָ֕ם בֶּן־שְׁמֹנִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֵׁ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֑ים בְּלֶֽדֶת־הָגָ֥ר אֶת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל לְאַבְרָֽם: |
| And Abram was eighty-six years old, etc. This was written in praise of Ishmael, to let us know that he was thirteen years old when he was circumcised, and he did not object. — [Mid. Aggadah] |
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וְאַבְרָם בֶּן־שמונים וגו'
לְשִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל נִכְתַּב, לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן י"ג שָׁנָה כְּשֶׁנִּמּוֹל וְלֹא עִכֵּב:
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| 1And Abram was ninety-nine years old, and God appeared to Abram, and He said to him, "I am the Almighty God; walk before Me and be perfect. |
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אוַיְהִ֣י אַבְרָ֔ם בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְתֵ֣שַׁע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיֵּרָ֨א יְהֹוָ֜ה אֶל־אַבְרָ֗ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אֲנִי־אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔י הִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י וֶֽהְיֵ֥ה תָמִֽים: |
| I am the Almighty God Heb. שַׁדַּי - I am He Whose Godliness suffices for every creature. [שֶׁ that, דַּי is sufficient]. Therefore, walk before Me, and I will be your God and your Protector, and wherever it (this name) appears in Scripture, it means “His sufficiency,” but each one is [to be interpreted] according to the context. — [from Gen. Rabbah 46:3] |
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שׁדי
אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁיֵּשׁ דַּי בֶּאֱלֹהוּתִי לְכָל בְּרִיָּה, לְפִיכָךְ הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי וְאֶהְיֶה לְךָ לֶאֱלוֹהַּ ולְפַטְרוֹן; וְכֵן כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא בַּמִּקְרָא פֵּרוּשׁוֹ כָּךְ: דַּי שֶׁלּוֹ, וְהַכֹּל לְפִי הָעִנְיָן:
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| walk before Me As the Targum renders: “Serve Me, cleave to My service.” |
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הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ פְּלַח קֳדָמַי, הִדַּבֵּק בַּעֲבוֹדָתִי:
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| and be perfect This too is one command following another command: be perfect in all My trials (Mid. Ps. 119:3), i.e., “Walk before Me” with faith and honesty, and also be perfect in all My trials. [Mizrachi] According to its midrashic interpretation, walk before Me refers to the commandment of circumcision, and thereby, you will be perfect, for as long as the foreskin is upon you, I consider you imperfect (Gen. Rabbah 46:1). Another explanation: “and be perfect” - Now you are missing [control over] five organs: two eyes, two ears, and the male organ. I will add a letter to your name, and the numerical value of your letters [of your name] will be 248, corresponding to the number of your organs (Tan. Lech Lecha 16, Ned. 32b). |
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וֶֽהְיֵה תָמִֽים
אַף זֶה צִוּוּי אַחַר צִוּוּי, הֱיֵה שָׁלֵם בְּכָל נִסְיוֹנוֹתַי; וּלְפִי מִדְרָשׁוֹ הִתְהַלֵּךְ לְפָנַי בְּמִצְוַת מִילָה, וּבַדָּבָר הַזֶּה תִהְיֶה תָּמִים, שֶׁכָּל זְמַן שֶׁהָעָרְלָה בְךָ אַתָּה בַּעַל מוּם לְפָנַי. דָּבָר אַחֵר וֶהְיֵה תָמִים, (עַכְשָׁו אַתָּה חָסֵר ה' אֵבָרִים, ב' עֵינַיִם, ב' אָזְנַיִם, וְרֹאשׁ הַגְּוִיָּה) שֶׁאוֹסִיף לְךָ אוֹת עַל שִׁמְךָ, וְיִהְיוּ מִנְיַן אוֹתִיּוֹתֶיךָ רמ"ח כְּמִנְיַן אֵבָרֶיךָ:
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| 2And I will place My covenant between Me and between you, and I will multiply you very greatly." |
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בוְאֶתְּנָ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְאַרְבֶּ֥ה אֽוֹתְךָ֖ בִּמְאֹ֥ד מְאֹֽד: |
| And I will place My covenant A covenant of love and the covenant of the land, to give it to you as a heritage through [your fulfillment of] this commandment. — [from Gen. Rabbah 46:9] |
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וְאֶתְּנָה בְרִיתִי
בְּרִית שֶׁל אַהֲבָה וּבְרִית הָאָרֶץ לְהוֹרִישָׁהּ לְךָ עַל יְדֵי מִצְוָה זוֹ:
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| 3And Abram fell upon his face, and God spoke with him, saying, |
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גוַיִּפֹּ֥ל אַבְרָ֖ם עַל־פָּנָ֑יו וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתּ֛וֹ אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹֽר: |
| And Abram fell upon his face from fear of the Shechinah, for as long as he was uncircumcised, he did not have the strength to stand when the Divine Presence stood over him, and that is what is said concerning Balaam (Num. 24:4): “who falls and his eyes are open” (Num. Rabbah 12:8). I found this in the Baraitha of Rabbi Eliezer (Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer ch. 29). |
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וַיִּפֹּל אַבְרָם עַל־פָּנָיו
מִמּוֹרָא הַשְּׁכִינָה; שֶׁעַד שֶׁלֹּא מָל לֹא הָיָה בוֹ כֹחַ לַעֲמֹד וְרוּח הַקֹּדֶשׁ נִצֶּבֶת עָלָיו, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּבִלְעָם נֹפֵל וּגְלוּי עֵינָיִם, בִּבְרַיְתָא דְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר:
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| 4"As for Me, behold My covenant is with you, and you shall become the father of a multitude of nations. |
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דאֲנִ֕י הִנֵּ֥ה בְרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וְהָיִ֕יתָ לְאַ֖ב הֲמ֥וֹן גּוֹיִֽם: |
| 5And your name shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. |
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הוְלֹֽא־יִקָּרֵ֥א ע֛וֹד אֶת־שִׁמְךָ֖ אַבְרָ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה שִׁמְךָ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם כִּ֛י אַב־הֲמ֥וֹן גּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ: |
| the father of a multitude of nations אַב הֲמוֹן is an acrostic of his name [i.e., - אב ר הם]. (Gen. Rabbah 46:7). The “resh” that was in it [his name] originally, denoting that he was the father only of Aram, which was his native place, whereas now [he became] the father of the whole world (Ber. 13a): nevertheless the “resh” that was there originally was not moved from its place. For even the “yud” in Sarai’s name complained to the Shechinah until it was added to Joshua, as it is said: (Num. 13:16): “and Moses called Hosea [הוֹשֵׁעַ] the son of Nun, Joshua [יְהוֹשֻׁעַ].” - [from Gen. Rabbah 47:1] |
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כִּי אַב־הֲמוֹן גּוֹיִם
לְשׁוֹן נוֹטָרִיקוֹן שֶׁל שְׁמוֹ; וְרֵי"ש שֶׁהָיְתָה בוֹ בַּתְּחִלָּה, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה אָב אֶלָּא לַאֲרָם שֶׁהוּא מְקוֹמוֹ וְעַכְשָׁו אָב לְכָל הָעוֹלָם, לֹא זָזָה מִמְּקוֹמָהּ, שֶׁאַף יוֹ"ד שֶׁל שָׂרַי נִתְרָעֲמָה עַל הַשְּׁכִינָה עַד שֶׁנִּתּוֹסְפָה לִיהוֹשֻׁעַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיִּקְרָא מֹשֶׁה לְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן נוּן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (במדבר י"ג):
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| 6And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings will emerge from you. |
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ווְהִפְרֵתִ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לְגוֹיִ֑ם וּמְלָכִ֖ים מִמְּךָ֥ יֵצֵֽאוּ: |
| and I will make you into nations [This refers to] Israel and Edom, for he already had Ishmael, and He would therefore not be informing him about him. |
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וּנְתַתִּיךָ לְגוֹיִם
יִשְׂרָאֵל וֶאֱדוֹם, שֶׁהֲרֵי יִשְׁמָעֵאל כְּבָר הָיָה לוֹ, וְלֹא הָיָה מְבַשְּׂרוֹ עָלָיו:
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