Bereishit 17:6 - 20:5


6 Vehifreti otcha bime'od me'od unetaticha legoyim umelachim mimcha yetze'u.
I will make you most exceedingly fruitful, and make nations of you; and kings shall descend from you.


Shevi'i


7 Vahakimoti et-briti beini uveynecha uveyn zar'acha acharecha ledorotam livrit olam lihyot lecha le-Elokim ulezar'acha acharecha.
I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make you into nations; and kings will descend from you.

8 Venatati lecha ulezar'akcha acharecha et eretz megurecha et kol-eretz Kena'an la'achuzat olam vehayiti lahem le-Elokim.
I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your temporary residence, ll the land of Kenaan as an eternal possession, and I will be a G-d to them."

9 Vayomer Elokim el-Avraham ve'atah et-briti tishmor atah vezar'acha acharecha ledorotam.
G-d said to Avraham: "And as for you, you must preserve My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

10 Zot beriti asher tishmeru beini uveyneychem uvein zar'acha acharecha himol lachem kol-zachar.
This is My covenant which you must preserve between Me and you, and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

11 Unemaltem et besar orlatchem vehayah le'ot berit beyni uveyneichem.
You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. This shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.

12 Uven-shmonat yamim yimol lachem kol-zachar ledoroteichem yelid bayit umiknat-kesef mikol ben-nechar asher lo mizar'acha hu.
At the age of eight days every male among you must be circumcised, throughout your generations; he that is a house-born [slave] or one that was bought with money from any stranger who is not your descendant.

13 Himol yimol yelid beytcha umiknat kaspecha vehayetah vriti bivesarchem liverit olam.
Your house-born slaves must be circumcised, and also those bought with your money. This shall be My covenant in your flesh as an eternal covenant.

14 Ve'arel zachar asher lo-yimol et-besar orlato venichretah hanefesh hahi me'ameiha et-beriti hefar.
An uncircumcised male, who will not circumcise his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from its people; he has broken My covenant."

15 Vayomer Elokim el-Avraham Sarai ishtecha lo-tikra et-shemah Sarai ki Sarah shemah.
And G-d said to Avraham "[As for] Sarai your wife, do not call her by the name Sarai, for Sarah is her name.

16 Uverachti otah vegam natati mimenah lecha ben uverachtiha vehayetah legoyim malchei amim mimenah yihyu.
I will bless her, and I will also give you a son through her. I will bless her, and she will be [a mother] of nations, kings of peoples will descend from her."

17 Vayipol Avraham al-panav vayitzchak vayomer belibo haleven me'ah-shanah yivaled ve'im-Sarah havat-tish'im shanah teled.
Avraham fell on his face and laughed. He said in his heart: "Can a hundred year old man have children? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old give birth?"

18 Vayomer Avraham el-ha'Elokim lu Yishma'el yichyeh lefanecha.
And Avraham said to G-d: "May it be granted that Yishmael live before You."

19 Vayomer Elokim aval Sarah ishtecha yoledet lecha ben vekarata et-shemo Yitzchak vahakimoti et-briti ito livrit olam lezar'o acharav.
G-d said: "Indeed, your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Yitzchak. I will establish My covenant with him as an eternal covenant to his descendants after him.

20 Ule-Yishma'el shmaticha hineh berachti oto vehifreyti oto vehirbeyti oto bime'od me'od shneym-asar nesi'im yolid unetativ legoy gadol.
And as for Yishmael, I have heard you. I have blessed him, and I will make him fruitful, and will increase him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.

21 Ve'et briti akim et-Yitzchak asher teled lecha Sarah lamo'ed hazeh bashanah ha'acheret.
But I will establish My covenant with Yitzchak, who Sarah will bear to you at this time next year."

22 Vayechal ledaber ito vaya'al Elokim me'al Avraham.
And when He finished speaking with him, G-d ascended from Avraham.

23 Vayikach Avraham et-Yishma'el beno ve'et kol-yelidei veyto ve'et kol-miknat kaspo kol-zachar be'anshei beit Avraham vayamol et-besar orlatam be'etzem hayom hazeh ka'asher diber ito Elokim.
Avraham took his son, Yishmael, and all those whtat were born in his household, and all that he had bought with his money, every male member of Avraham 's household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day as G-d had said to him.


Maftir


24 Ve'Avraham ben-tish'im vatesha shanah behimolo besar orlato.
Avraham was ninety-nine years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin.

25 VeYishma'el beno ben-shlosh esreh shanah behimolo et-besar orlato.
And his son Yishmael was thirteen years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin.

26 Be'etzem hayom hazeh nimol Avraham veYishma'el beno.
On that very day Avraham and his son Yishmael were circumcised.

27 Vechol-anshei veyto yelid bayit umiknat-kesef me'et ben-nechar nimolo ito.
All the men of his household, those born in his household, and bought with money from a stranger, were circumcised with him.

Haftarah Lech Lecha


 

Parashat VaYera

Haftorah VaYera


Visiting the Sick and Hospitality


18:1 Vayera elav HASHEM be'Elonei Mamre vehu yoshev petach-ha'ohel kechom hayom.
HASHEM
appeared to him in the groves of Mamre and he was sitting at the door of the tent in the heat of the day.

2 Vayisa eynav vayar vehineh shloshah anashim nitzavim alav vayar vayarotz likratam mipetach ha'ohel vayishtachu artzah.
He lifted his eyes and saw, and behold three men were standing near him. He saw [them], and ran from the door of the tent to greet them, and he bowed down to the earth.

3 Vayomar adonai im-na matzati chen be'eyneycha al-na ta'avor me'al avdecha.
He said, "My Master, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please do not bypass your servant.

4 Yukach-na me'at-mayim verachatzu ragleychem vehisha'anu tachat ha'etz.
Let a bit of water be brought and wash your feet. Rest yourselves under the tree.

5 Ve'ekchah fat-lechem vesa'adu libechem akhar ta'avoru ki-al-ken avartem al-avdechem vayomeru ken ta'aseh ka'asher dibarta.
I will get bread and you will sustain your hearts. Afterwards you will continue on your way, because it is for this reason that you have passed by your servant." They said, "Fine, do as you have said."

6 Vayemaher Avraham ha'ohelah el-Sarah vayomer mahari shlosh se'im kemach solet lushi va'asi ugot.
Avraham hurried to Sarah's tent and said, "Hurry! [take] three measures of the finest flour; knead it and make cake-rolls."

7 Ve'el-habakar ratz Avraham vayikach ben-bakar rach vatov vayiten el-hana'ar vayemaher la'asot oto.
Avraham ran to the cattle, and took a tender, choice calf. He gave it to the lad, and hurried to prepare it.

8 Vayikach chem'ah vechalav uven-habakar asher asah vayiten lifneihem ve-hu omed aleihem tachat ha'etz vayochelu.
He took butter, milk, and the calf he had prepared, and set it before them. He stood over them under the tree, and they ate.

9 Vayomeru elav ayeh Sarah ishtecha vayomer hineh va'ohel.
They said to him, "Where is Sarah, your wife?" He said "Here, in the tent."

10 Vayomer shov ashuv eleicha ka'et chayah vehineh-ven le-Sarah ishtecha veSarah shoma'at petach ha'ohel vehu acharav.
He said "I will return to you next year, and Sarah, your wife will have a son." Sarah was listening at the door of the tent, that was behind him.

11 Ve'Avraham veSarah zekenim ba'im bayamim chadal lihyot le-Sarah orach kanashim.
Avraham and Sarah were old, well on in years. Sarah no longer had the way of women.

12 Vatitzchak Sarah bekirbah lemor acharei veloti hayetah-li ednah va'adoni zaken.
Sarah laughed to herself saying, "Now that I am worn out, shall I have the pleasure [of a son], my master being [also] an old man."

13 Vayomer HASHEM el-Avraham lamah zeh tzachakah Sarah lemor ha'af umnam eled va'ani zakanti.
HASHEM said to Avraham, "Why did Sarah laugh saying, 'Can I really give birth when I am old?'

14 Hayipale me'HASHEM davar lamo'ed ashuv eleicha ka'et chayah ule-Sarah ven.
Is anything too far removed from HASHEM? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time of life, and Sarah will have a son."


Sheni


15 Vatechachesh Sarah lemor lo tzachakti ki yare'ah vayomer lo ki tzachakt.
Sarah denied it saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He said, "Not so, for you did laugh."

16 Vayakumu misham ha'anashim vayashkifu al-penei Sedom ve'Avraham holech imam leshalecham.
The men stood up from where they were, and they gazed upon Sedom. Avraham went with them to send them [on their way].


Hashem's Love For Avraham

17 Va'HASHEM amar hamechaseh ani me'Avraham asher ani oseh.
HASHEM said, "Shall I conceal from Avraham what I am about to do?

18 Ve'Avraham hayoh yihyeh legoy gadol ve'atzum veniverechu-vo kol goyei ha'aretz.
Avraham is indeed to become a great and mighty nation, and through him shall be blessed all the nations of the world.

19 Kiyedativ lema'an asher yetzaveh et-banav ve'et-beyto acharav veshameru derech HASHEM la'asot tzedakah umishpat lema'an havi HASHEM al-Avraham et asher-diber alav.
For I have given him special attention because he commands his children, and his household after him, and they will preserve the way of HASHEM, doing charity and justice, so that HASHEM will bring upon Avraham all that which He has spoken of him."

20 Vayomer HASHEM za'akat Sedom va'Amorah ki-rabah vechatatam ki khavedah me'od.
[Thus] HASHEM said, "The wailing concerning Sedom and 'Amorah is so great, and their sin is so very grave.

21 Erdah-na ve'er'eh haketza'akatah haba'ah elay asu kalah ve'im-lo eda'ah.
I will descend now and see, if their wailing which has come to Me is indicative of their conduct; destruction [shall come upon them]. If not I will know."

22 Vayifnu misham ha'anashim vayelechu Sedomah ve'Avraham odenu omed lifnei HASHEM.
The men turned from where they were, and went toward Sedom. Avraham was still standing before HASHEM.


Avraham Intercedes for Sedom

23 Vayigash Avraham vayomar ha'af tispeh tzaddik im-rasha.
Avraham came forward and said, "Will You ]actually] destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Ulay yesh chamishim tzaddikim betoch ha'ir ha'af tispeh velo-tisa lamakom lema'an chamishim hatzaddikim asher bekirbah.
Suppose there are fifty righteous people in the midst of the city. Would You still destroy it, and not bear with the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people inside it.

25 Chalilah lecha me'asot kadavar hazeh lehamit tzaddik im-rasha vehayah hatzaddik karasha chalilah lach hashofet kol-ha'aretz lo ya'aseh mishpat.
It would be sacrilege [to attribute4] to You such an act, to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. It would be sacrilege to attribute this to You: Shall the Judge of all the earth not do justice?"

26 Vayomer HASHEM im-emtza viSedom chamishim tzaddikim betoch ha'ir venasati lechol-hamakom ba'avuram.
HASHEM said: "If, in Sedom, I find fifty righteous within the city, I will bear with the entire place for their sake."

27 Vaya'an Avraham vayomar hineh-na ho'alti ledaber el-Ad-nai ve'anochi afar va'efer.
Avraham responded and said, "Here I have begun to speak to my Master, and I am but dust and ashes.

28 Ulay yachserun chamishim hatzaddikim chamishah hatashchit bachamishah et-kol-ha'ir vayomer lo ashchit im-emtza sham arba'im vachamishah.
But suppose they lack five of the fifty righteous? Will You destroy all the city because of five?" He said, "I will not destroy if I find forty-five there."

29 Vayosef od ledaber elav vayomar ulay yimatze'un sham arba'im vayomer lo e'eseh ba'avur ha'arba'im.
He [Avraham] continued to speak to Him and said, "Suppose there are forty found there?" He said, "I will not do it for the sake of the forty."

30 Vayomer al-na yichar la'adonai va'adaberah ulay yimatz'un sham shloshim vayomer lo e'eseh im-emtza sham shloshim.
He said, "Let not my Master show anger and I will [continue] to speak. Suppose thirty are found there?"

31 Vayomer hineh-na ho'alti ledaber el-adonai ulay yimatz'un sham esrim vayomer lo ashchit ba'avur ha'esrim.
He said, "Here I have begun to speak to my Master. Suppose twenty are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the twenty."

32 Vayomer al-na yichar l'adonai va'adabrah ach-hapa'am ulay yimatz'un sham asarah vayomer lo ashchit ba'avur ha'asarah.
He said, "Let not my Master show anger, and I will speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there?" He said, "I will not destroy for the sake of the ten."

33 Vayelech HASHEM ka'asher kilah ledaber el-Avraham ve'Avraham shav limekomo.
HASHEM departed when He finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place.


Shlishi


Sedom Is Destroyed


19:1 Vayavo'u shenei hamal'achim Sedomah ba'erev veLot yoshev besha'ar-Sedom vayar-Lot vayakom likratam vayishtachu apayim artzah.
The two angels came to Sedom in the evening, while Lot was sitting at the gate of Sedom. Lot saw them, and he got up to greet them, and he bowed with his face to the ground.

2 Vayomer hineh na-adonai suru na el-beit avdechem velinu verachatzu ragleychem vehishkamtem vahalachtem ledarkechem vayomeru lo ki varechov nalin.
He said, "See now my masters, please turn in to your servant's house. Stay over night, bathe your feet, and get up early and continue on your way." They said, "No, we will spend the night in the street."

3 Vayiftzar-bam me'od vayasuru elav vayavo'u el-beyto vaya'as lahem mishteh umatzot afah vayochelu.
He urged them greatly, and they turned int to him and came to his house. He made a feast for them, and baked matzot, and they ate.

4 Terem yishkavu ve'anshei ha'ir anshei Sedom nasabu al-habayit mina'ar ve'ad-zaken kol-ha'am mikatzeh.
They had not yet laid down when the men of the city, the men of Sedom, surrounded the house - young and old alike - all the people from one end [of the city] to the other end.

5 Vayikre'u el-Lot vayomru lo ayeh ha'anashim asher-ba'u eleycha halailah hotzi'em eleynu venede'ah otam.
They called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them."

6 Vayetze alehem Lot hapetchah vehadelet sagar acharav.
Lot went out to them in front of the entrance, shutting the door behind him.

7 Vayomar al-na achai tare'u.
He said, "My brothers, please do not act wickedly.

8 Hineh-na li shtei vanot asher-lo yade'u ish otziah-na ethen aleychem va'asu lahen katov be'eyneychem rak la'anashim ha'el al-ta'asu davar ki-al-ken ba'u betzel korati.
Behold! I have two daughters who have never known a man, I will bring them out to you, and do with them as you please; only do nothing to these men, since after all, they came under the shelter of my roof."

9 Vayomru gesh-hal'ah vayomeru ha'echad ba-lagur vayishpot shafot atah nara lecha mehem vayiftzeru va'ish beLot me'od vayigshu lishbor hadalet.
They said, "Step back out of the way!" They said, "This one came s an immigrant, and now he wants to be a judge. We will now deal worse with you than with them." They pushed hard against Lot, and came near to break the door.

10 Vayishlechu ha'anashim et-yadam vayavi'u et-Lot aleihem habaytah ve'et-hadelet sagaru.
The men put out their hands, and pulled Lot to them, into the house, and closed the door.

11 Ve'et-ha'anashim asher-petach habayit hiku basanverim mikaton ve'ad-gadol vayil'u limtzo hapatach.
The men who were at the entrance of the house, they struck with blindness - young and old alike - so that they wearied themselves trying to find the entrance.

12 Vayomeru ha'anashim el-Lot od mi-lecha foh chatan uvaneycha uvnoteycha vechol asher-lecha ba'ir hotze min-hamakom.
The men said to Lot, "Who else do you have here - a son-in-law, your sons, your daughters? Whoever you have in the city, bring them out of his place.

13 Ki-mashchitim anachnu et-hamakom hazeh ki-gadlah tza'akatam et-penei HASHEM vayeshalchenu HASHEM leshachatah.
We are going to destroy this place, for the wailing concerning them has become great in the presence of HASHEM; and HASHEM has sent us to destroy it."

14 Vayetze Lot vayedaber el-chatanav lokechei venotav vayomer kumu tze'u min-hamakom hazeh ki-mashchit HASHEM et-ha'ir vayehi chimetzachek be'eynei chatanav.
Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law who had married his daughters. He said [to them], Get up! Get out of this place, for HASHEM is going to destroy the city! He appeared as a comedian in the eyes of his sons-in-law.

15 Uchemo hashachar alah vaya'itzu hamal'achim beLot lemor kum kach et-ishtecha ve'et-shtei venoteycha hanimtza'ot pen-tisafeh ba'avon ha'ir.
At the break of dawn, the angels urged Lot on, saying, " Get up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the iniquity of the city."

16 Vayitmahmah vayachaziku ha'anashim beyado uveyad-ishto uveyad shtei venotav bechemlat HASHEM alav vayotzi'uhu vayanichuhu michutz la'ir.
He hesitated, and the men grabbed his hand and the hand of his wife and two daughters, for HASHEM had pity on him. They brought him out and placed him outside the city.

17 Vayehi chehotzi'am otam hachutzah vayomer himalet al-nafshecha al-tabit achareycha ve'al-ta'amod bechol-hakikar haharah himalet pen-tisafeh.
When they were brought out [of the city], he [the angel] said, "Escape for your life! Do not look back! Do not remain anywhere in the valley. Escape to the mountain, lest you be swept away."

18 Vayomer Lot alehem al-na Ad-nai.
Lot said to them, "Please, not so my Master.

19 Hineh-na matza avdechah chen-be'eyneicha vatagdel chasdecha asher asita imadi lehachayot et-nafshi ve'anochi lo uchal lehimalet haharah pen-tidbakani hara'ah vamati.
Behold your servant has found favor in Your eyes. Great is your kindness that you have done with me, to spare my life. I cannot escape to the mountain, lest the evil attach itself to me and I die.

20 Hineh-na ha'ir hazot kerovah lanus shamah vehi mitz'ar imaletah na shamah halo mitz'ar hi utechi nafshi.
Behold, please, this city is near [enough] to flee there. It is insignificant. Let me escape there! Is it not insignificant, and my life will be saved."


Revi'i


21 Vayomer elav hineh nasati faneycha gam ladavar hazeh levilti hofki et-ha'ir asher dibarta.
He said to him, "See I have also given you consideration regarding this. I will not overturn the city that you mentioned.

22 Maher himalet shamah ki lo uchal la'asot davar ad-boacha shamah al-ken kara shem-ha'ir Tzo'ar.
Hurry, escape there, for I can do nothing until you get there." The city was therefore called Tzoar.

23 Hashemesh yatza al-ha'aretz veLot ba Tzo'arah.
The sun had risen upon the earth, when Lot came to Tzoar.

24 Va'HASHEM himtir al-Sedom ve'al-Amorah gofrit va'esh me'et HASHEM min-hashamayim.
HASHEM caused to rain upon Sedom and 'Amorah - sulfur and fire - from HASHEM, from heaven.

25 Vayahafoch et-he'arim ha'el ve'et kol-hakikar ve'et kol-yoshvei he'arim vetzemach ha'adamah.
He overturned these cities, and the entire plain, and all those who lived in the cities and all that grew upon the ground.

26 Vatabet ishto me'acharav vatehi netziv melach.
His [Lot's] wife looked behind him; and she became a pillar of salt.

27 Vayashkem Avraham baboker el-hamakom asher-amad sham et-penei HASHEM.
Avraham got up early in the morning [to return] to the place where he had stood before the Presence of HASHEM.

28 Vayashkef al-penei Sedom va'Amorah ve'al kol-penei eretz hakikar vayar vehineh alah kitor ha'aretz kekitor hakivshan.
He [Avraham] stared at Sedom and 'Amorah, and the whole land of the plain, and he saw the heavy smoke rising from the earth like the smoke of a furnace.

29 Vayehi beshachet Elokim et-arei hakikar vayizkor Elokim et-Avraham vayeshalach et-Lot mitoch hahafecha bahafoch et-he'arim asher-yashav bahen Lot.
When G-d destroyed the cities of the plain; G-d remembered Avraham, and He sent Lot out of the upheaval when He overturned the cities in which Lot had lived.


The roots of Jewish monarchy


30 Vaya'al Lot miTzo'ar vayeshev bahar ushtei venotav imo ki yare lashevet beTzo'ar vayeshev bame'arah hu ushtei venotav.
Lot went up from Tzoar and lived in the mountain; and his two daughters went with him, for he was afraid to live in Tzoar. He lived in a cave, he and his two daughters.

31 Vatomer habechirah el-hatze'irah avinu zaken ve'ish ein ba'aretz lavo aleynu kederech kol-ha'aretz.
The older girl said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man [left] on earth who will come into us in the normal manner.

32 Lecha nashkeh et-avinu yayin venishkevah imo unechayeh me'avinu zara.
Come let us urge our father to drink wine, and sleep with him; that we may give life to seed [children] from our father."

33 Vatashkeynah et-avihen yayin balailah hu vatavo habechirah vatishkav et-aviha velo-yada beshichvah uvekumah.
They urged wine upon their father that night; and the older girl went in and slept with her father. He was not aware when she lay down or got up.

34 Vayehi mimachorat vatomer habechirah el-hatze'irah hen-shachavti emesh et-avi nashkenu yayin gam-halailah uvoy shichvi imo unechayeh me'avinu zara.
The next day, the older girl said to the younger, "Last night I slept with my father. Let us urge wine upon him tonight also, and you go in an sleep with him that we may give life to seed from our father."

35 Vatashkeynah gam balailah hahu et-avihen yayin vatakom hatze'irah vatishkav imo velo-yada beshichvah uvekumah.
That night also, they urged their father [to drink] wine. The younger went up and slept with him, and he was not aware when she lay down or got up.

36 Vatahareynah shtei venot-Lot me-avihen.
Lot's two daughters became pregnant from their father.

37 Vateled habechirah ben vatikra shmo Mo'av hu avi-Mo'av ad-hayom.
The older girl gave birth to a son and she named him Moav. He is the ancestor of the Moav nation even to this day.

38 Vehatze'irah gam-hi yaldah ben vatikra shmo Ben-'ammi hu avi venei-Ammon ad-hayom.
The younger girl also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-Ami. He is the ancestor of the people of Ammon even to this day.


Avraham in Gerar; Sarah is abducted


20:1 Vayisa misham Avraham artzah hanegev vayeshev bein-Kadesh uveyn Shur vayagar biGrar.
Avraham journeyed from there to the land of the Negev, and he lived between Kadesh and Shur. He lived for a while in Gerar.

2 Vayomer Avraham el-Sarah ishto achoti hi vayishlach Avimelech melech Grar vayikach et-Sarah.
Avraham said regarding Sarah, his wife, "She is my sister." Avimelech, king of Gerar sent [messengers] and took Sarah.

3 Vayavo Elokim el-Avimelech bachalom halailah vayomer lo hinecha met al-ha'ishah asher-lakachta vehi be'ulat ba'al.
G-d came to Avimelech in a dream at night, and said to him, "Behold, you shall die because of the woman you took, for she is a married woman."

4 Va'Avimelech lo karav eleiha vayomar Ad-nai hagoy gam-tzaddik taharog.
Avimelech had not come near to her. He said, "My Master, will You also kill an innocent nation?

5 Halo hu amar-li akchoti hi vehi-gam-hi amerah achi hu betom-levavi uvenikyon kapay asiti zot.
Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister?' And she also said, 'He is my brother.' With an innocent heart and clean hands I did this."





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