The Book of Genesis Parshat Vayeira A free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's new Chumash Breishis/Book of Genesis with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com. For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc.
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The Book of Genesis
Parshat VayeiraA free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's new Chumash Breishis/Book of Genesis with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com.
For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc.
THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEMIDBAR
Kehot Publication Society
Order Department:
THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEREISHIT
WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION
AND COMMENTARY BASED ON THE WORKS OF
THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE
by
Chabad of California
Kehot Publication Society
Order Department:
Published in the United States of America
The Book of Genesis
Parshat Vayeira
GENESISBereishit
NoachLech Lecha
VayeiraChayei Sarah
ToldotVayeitzei
VayishlachVayeishev
MikeitzVayigash
Vayechi
EXODUSShemot
VaeiraBo
BeshalachYitro
MishpatimTerumahTetzaveh
Ki TisaVayakheil
Pekudei
LEVITICUSVayikra
TzavShemini
TazriaMetzora
Acharei MotKedoshim
EmorBehar
Bechukotai
NUMBERSBemidbar
NasoBeha’alotecha
ShelachKorachChukat
BalakPinchas
MatotMasei
DEUTERONOMYDevarim
Va’etchananEikevRe’eh
Ki TeitzeiKi Tavo
NetzavimVayeilechHa’azinu
Vezot Habrachah
4
P arashat Vayeira is the second of the two parashiot devoted exclusively to the life parashat
Noach, and his later years are chronicled in parashat Chayei Sarah, he appears in these parashiot Noach, we see him buck the degenerate trend of human history that preceded him and thereby merit God’s call to begin the history of the chosen people; in Chayei Sarah, we see him ensure the perpetuation of his heritage by passing it on to his successor. Only the parashiot of LechLecha and Vayeira focus directly on Abraham’s life itself.
The fact that Abraham’s life per se is chronicled in two parashiot indicates that it com--prised two distinct phases. In fact, if we examine the events recorded in these two para--shiot parashat Vayeira virtually everything he did in parashat Lech Lecha. Both parashiot open with him experiencing a rev--elation of God and receiving the promise of progeny; in both parashiot, his wife Sarah is abducted by a gentile king; in both parashiot, he fathers a son, banishes Hagar, and enters into treaties; in both parashiot, his righteous behavior is contrasted with the immoral behavior of his nephew Lot; in both parashiot, he defends the cities of the plain—in LechLecha against human assailants, and in Vayeira against the Divine decree brought about by the cities’ own corruption. It is as if Abraham had to repeat everything he experienced
parashahinfuse his past accomplishments with a new level of Divine consciousness.
Since, as we know, the name of every parashah embodies the essence of its content, the
parashah describing that phase.The event that divides Abraham’s life into two distinct spiritual periods is his circum--
cision. This event is related at the very end of parashat Lech Lecha, so that Abraham begins his life as a circumcised Jew only in parashat Vayeira. It follows, therefore, that Abraham’s life prior to circumcision is one of lech lechacircumcision is one of vayeira parashat Lech Lecha, Abraham progresses on his own, steadily ascending the ladder of spiritual progress as far as human
parashat Vayeira, God appears to him and elevates him to a level of
Vayeira
Overview
OVERVIEW OF VAYEIRA
True, God appeared to Abraham three times in parashat Lech Lecha,1 but these appear--ances were veiled and vague in comparison to His appearance in parashat Vayeira.2 The reason for this is straightforward enough: until circumcision, Abraham’s progress, as we said, was limited by the constraints of his own human nature. He could only go as far as his own mind and heart could take him. It was therefore impossible for God to reveal
of his own being.What was it about circumcision that changed all this, that enabled Abraham to tran--
scend the limitations of his own humanity and experience a direct revelation of God?
response to God’s explicit directive. The Torah and its traditions were known even before
servant’s compliance with the will of his master. This is precisely why Abraham did not circumcise himself before God called upon him to do so, even though he observed the rest of the Torah’s commandments: since circumcising oneself, unlike all the other command--ments, can only be performed once, once he circumcised himself on his own, he would never be able to do so in compliance with an explicit directive from God.
Thus, by circumcising himself in response to God’s explicit command, Abraham entered into an entirely new type of relationship with Him. By nullifying his own will
beforehand. His own ego could now dissolve and cease to interpose between God, on the one hand, and his own mind and heart, on the other.
Yet, although circumcision was the only one of the Torah’s commandments that God
before this, such as leaving his father’s home and moving to the Land of Israel, traveling throughout the land, and performing the rites associated with the Covenant between the Halves. In each case, Abraham always heeded God’s word. What was it about circumci--
The answer to this question may be found in the way in which God phrased His com--3 Circumci--
sion is unique among all the commandments in that it alters the body itself. The body’s 4 circumcision granted
Abraham control over his erotic drive. Thus, through circumcision, the body can join the
individual’s relationship with Him.
As we have noted, Abraham began the reversal of the degenerative process that had begun with the sin of Adam and Eve and that had continued through the succeeding gen--erations. The process he set in motion would culminate seven generations later with the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
In order to lay the groundwork for the world’s transformation into God’s home through the Giving of the Torah, Abraham had to set an example by his own life. In this
what would later transpire on a national scale at Mount Sinai. In living out the transition
1. Genesis 12:7, 15:1, 17:1. 2. Zohar 1:88b, 98a. 3. Genesis 17:13. 4. On 17:1.
OVERVIEW OF VAYEIRA
people whose purpose would be to elevate reality above its natural limitations by reveal--
Once Abraham’s personal transformation became the cornerstone of the national iden--tity of the Jewish people, it became, in turn, the inheritance of each individual Jew. We are all challenged to learn from Abraham’s life. Abraham aspired throughout his lifetime to make himself into an ever-more-transparent vehicle for expressing God’s presence in
there was still more to accomplish—that he had not yet reached true and absolute self-
him—through the commandment of circumcision—to free himself from the constraints of human ego.
We, too, should always strive toward higher levels of relationship with God and never
we should, in parallel, train ourselves to consider them merely a hazy, imperfect version of what we ultimately aspire to. When we live our lives this way, we know that God will respond to our endeavors and reveal Himself in our lives commensurately.5
5. Likutei Sichot, vol. 10, pp. 49-54.
RASHI
[1] To pay a visit to the sick: The Talmud informs us12
-
-
-
-
13
-
-
(14
15
-
-
-
16
17
FIRST READING
218
18:1
10
God revealed Himself to Abraham: As mentioned
11
11. 12. Rosh HaShanah 13. Commentary on the Torah 14. See Ta’amei HaMitzvot on this 15. 16. See Zohar 17. Likutei Sichot Sefer HaSichot 5750
VAYEIRA
219
Genesis 18:1
The Promise of Isaac’s Birth18:1 th 1 G appeared to in the Plains of Mamre
had made the heat of the day.
1 God appeared to him: -
-Tzemach Tzedek
Tzemach Tzedek told him thatk
-
Creator.--
-
2
-
fall.3
4
5
-
--
6
Zohar7 indi-
Arizal
-9
-
-
-
1. 2. Likutei Sichot 3. 4. Yalkut Shimoni Vayeira 5. SeeOr HaChaim 6. Sefer HaSichot 5752 Hitva’aduyot 57507. 8. Ta’amei HaMitzvot Re’eh mitzvat tzedakah. 9. 10. Likutei Sichot,
RASHI
FIRST READING
220
2
3
4
-
--
-
24
2 -
-
25
-
-
26
24. Sefer HaSichot 5750 25. See Shulchan Aruch HaRav Orach Chaim 26. Likutei Sichot
VAYEIRA
221
Genesis 18:2-4
2
19
-
he
3he
said to all three 20
4
[4]
in sukot21
sukahthe sukah
22
sukah --
-
-
-sukah
-detaches us from the
-sukah
connected -
-
-23
18. Likutei Sichot 19. 20. Likutei Sichot 21. Bereishit Rabbah22. Sukah 23. Reshimot 62.
RASHI
FIRST READING
222
5
6
7
8
32
P -
holiness.33 -
-
-
-
-ment of
34)
-
35
[8]
36
-
-
three -
37
VAYEIRA
223
Genesis 18:5-8
5
and it would
27 with food water
29
30
6 Abrahamthree se’ah
and use the . Knead and make three loaves
7 one tender and choice calfthem to
. Ishmael8
and when the calf that Ishmael had prepared for
tree .they ate.
31
8nonetheless:
-
imagine he
-
-
27. 28. 29. 30. Likutei Sichot 31. Likutei Sichot113-114. 32. Likutei Sichot 33. See Torah Or 11d. 34. Zohar 35. Likutei Sichot36. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 37. Likutei Sichot
RASHI
224
SECOND READING
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
45. Likutei Sichot
45
VAYEIRA
225
Genesis 18:9-15
9
his-
39
10
11.40 they deeply internalized their experiences.41
life.12
too old
42
13 G said to Abra-
14
43 At the 44 at
will have a sonSecond Reading 15
to her did
38. Likutei Sichot 39. Likutei Sichot 40. Likutei Sichot 41. Likutei Sichot42. Likutei Sichot 43. Likutei Sichot 44.
RASHI
226
SECOND READING
16
17
18
19
-53
18nation:
-
-54
blessed:
55
19
[16] To escort them: -
-
-
56
53. Likutei Sichot Mishneh Torah Avel 54. Sefer HaSichot 5704 55. Sefer HaSichot 5704 56. Mish-neh Torah Avel
VAYEIRA
227
Genesis 18:16-19
1646 The men
.47 -
-
-
it.49
-
Abraham walked with them to escort them.
Abraham Argues with God17 G -
50
18 Abraham
19 be-
Gwill
16 Abraham walked with the men to escort them: The Talmud51
-
52
46. 47. 48. 49. Likutei Sichot 50.51. Sotah 52. Bava Metzia
RASHI
228
SECOND READING
20
21
22
23
all in need.
-
--
69
and70
and life.71
23
Him: -
loved 72 It there-
-ment if the other methods failed.
-
-
68. Torah Or 69. Sefer HaMa’amarim Yiddish 70. See Likutei Sichot 71. Likutei Sichot 72. Isa-Sotah 31a.
VAYEIRA
229
Genesis 18:20-23
20 G said -
21 57 in order to demonstrate that
them then what less-
22The men
-.
23 He came forward
59
-
60
A-
Hineni— 61
-62
63
-
-
answered.64
-
-
-
65
66
-
67
To keep G[tzedakah]
Name Havayah -
-
tzedakah) to
57. 58. 59. Likutei Sichot 60. HaYom Yom 61. 62.63. Devarim Rabbah 64. Berachot 65. Bava Batra Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer 26. 66. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5700 Sefer
HaMa’amarim Bati L’Gani Bati L’Gani 5711 Likutei Sichot 67. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5710Tanya
RASHI
230
SECOND READING
24
25
26
277
-
75
-Here we see another one of
-
-
76
-77 the
( )
-79
27 --
of-
dust and ashes
ashes is used to ritu-
-dust
-
-
-
75. Likutei Sichot 76. Bereishit Rabbah 77. 78. Bereishit Rabbah 79. Sefer HaMa’amarim 568680. 81. Sotah 17a. 82. 83. 84. Sotah
VAYEIRA
231
Genesis 18:24-27
24the city -
if their merit is not rest -73
74
25 -
also be sacrile-
this
26 G
--
and its them
27 SoI
and to ashes
demand -
73. Likutei Sichot 74.
RASHI
232
SECOND READING
28
29
30
31
32
-
-
-
◆
-
◆-
-
-
-
-
is life90
91
85. 86. See Sefer HaMa’amarim 5689 87. 88. 89. Shabbat 116a. 90. -91. Likutei Sichot
VAYEIRA
233
Genesis 18:28-32
28 That would
destroy the entire city
-
29there
forty
30 Then
31 further to my G on
-
32this one last
RASHI
234
THIRD READING
33
19:1
2
3
4
VAYEIRA
235
Genesis 18:33-19:4
33 Gdeparted
The Destruction of the Cities of the PlainThird Reading 19:1 92 arrived in
-93
94
-
95
2
-
96
wanted their feet to remain
97
3 They
He made a feast for them and
he baked matzos for them,m and they ate.4
-
99
92. 93. 94. Hitva’aduyot 5747 95. Likutei Sichot96. 97. 98. 99.
RASHI
236
THIRD READING
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
VAYEIRA
237
Genesis 19:5-15
5
678
9 -
himself
10 inside -
11 They100 and
12 The men insideor
sons and
13
14 -101
to his sons-in-law and
15 -
102
100. 101. See Likutei Sichot 102. Hitva’aduyot 5742
RASHI
RASHI
238
FOURTH READING
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
VAYEIRA
239
Genesis 19:16-22
16of G -
17
Do not look back nor stop anywhere in the plain103 104 so
Flee to
1819
die.
20small.
minor
Fourth Reading 21
spoke.22
105
The town was therefore called Tzoar .
22
106 -strued.107
103. 104. 105. 106. 107. Sichot Kodesh 5733
RASHI
RASHI
240
FOURTH READING
24 23
25
26
277
28
299
Tohu -Tikun
117
TohuTikun at that time.
[continued...]
117. 118. Likutei Sichot
VAYEIRA
241
Genesis 19:23-29
2324 G made
109
25 four110
111
-112
26 wife looked behind him -came a pillar of salt .113
27114 and went to the place where he had stood before G .
28
29Abraham
115 and
.
ashes:-
Tohu
-
116 -
the world of Tohuworld of Tikun
ruins.
108. 109. 110. 111. 112. Likutei Sichot113. 114. Berachot 115. 116. See Avot
RASHI
242
FOURTH READING
30
31
32
33
34
35
37 36
38
VAYEIRA
243
Genesis 19:30-38
Lot and his Daughters30
-
31The older
manner.32 -
33he was not aware that it was she when
she lay down . when she arose.119
34
35
-
he was not aware that she had lain down or arisen.36
-
37
38
day.
wasson.
119. Likutei Sichot
RASHI
244
FOURTH READING
20:1
2
3
4
5
6
with an innocent heart And I am with blameless hands6
. It I knew
VAYEIRA
245
Genesis 20:1-6
Abraham in Philistia20:1
-
A b r a h a m
from therein that same
to the
thenb e t w e e n Kadesh and
to so-the
of Gerarf (see .
2 120
121 Abra-
-
122
well as of the ears and the nostrils).123
3-
an4
5 Did
120. 121. 122. 123.
RASHI
246
FOURTH READING
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
-126
VAYEIRA
247
Genesis 20:7-13
7for
he is a prophet. He will therefore
8 -
9
-
10
11
12 can my sister: she is theof my fatherrshe is not of my motherr
124 125 and she became my wife.13
11In this state-
-
-
-
-
us-
-
124. 125. Likutei Sichot 126. Hitva’aduyot 5743
RASHI
248
FOURTH READING
14
15
16
17
18
21:1
2
[1] G -nant…. And G
remembered
did134
VAYEIRA
249
Genesis 20:14-21:2
127. Likutei Sichot 128. 129. 130. 131.132. 133. Likutei Sichot 134. See
135. Biurei HaZohar (Tzemach Tzedek
14 Avimelech 127 He
them to Abraham
15please.
16
as a cover the eyes of.
And for anyone
as proof17
his wife and bondwomen
18 for G.
The Birth of Isaac21:1 Ghad 129 she
.And G
130 .2 -ed time of which God had spoken 131 the 15th .132
-
-
-
135
2 The baby looked exactly like Abraham: -
133 - panim -
RASHI
250
FIFTH READING
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
-
-
140
141
6 for me and happy r withme:
at
to our ideals.
142
140. See Tanya 141. Likutei Sichot
VAYEIRA
251
Genesis 21:3-9
3
4God had commanded him.
5to him.6 136 -
hears will be happy for me and happy r with
-
137
7
8All the esteemed leaders of the
Abraham Banishes Hagar and Ishmael9 -
soleboth -
the son had also fallen into idol wor-
-
-
(chesed gevurah
-
ents.139
-
-
136. 137. Likutei Sichot 138. 139. See Eduyotad loc.
RASHI
252
FIFTH READING
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
149
150
-
151
146. Biurei HaZohar (Admor HaEmtza’i 147. 148. Bava Batra 149. Likutei Torah150. 151. Likutei Sichot
VAYEIRA
253
Genesis 21:10-16
10 she-
both11 He was
over his son .12 -
. forr 143 it is descendants who with
.13
144 for he is also14
-ham placed the food on away.
145 -sheba. -
15 -
16
she sat at a further
12 The de-
-
--
--
146
147 -
142. 143. 144. Likutei Sichot 145. Sichot Kodesh
RASHI
254
SIXTH READING
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
-the the land in which
VAYEIRA
255
Genesis 21:17-23
17
152
-
where he is.
18
19
20 God was with the boy
in the desert and became an archerr
desert and -
had said he would.153
21in the Paran
his mother took him a wife from .
Abraham in BeershebaSixth Reading 22
23
152. Tanchuma Yitro Eichah Rabbah 153.
RASHI
256
SIXTH READING
25 24
26
27
288
29
30
31
32
33
-
155
He proclaimed the name of G
--
155. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5686
VAYEIRA
257
Genesis 21:24-33
2425 -
26
27them made a treaty.2829
30 -is
31 That place was therefore called Beersheba two of them made an oath.32 this
33 opened an inn in Beersheba. He also planted an orchard in Beer-sheba . There he proclaimed the name of G also name of G .
eaten my
eaten my
33 He opened an inn…planted an orchard: -
-
-
An orchard: pardes
peshatremez derush -sod).154 -
-
154.
RASHI
258
SIXTH READING
34
Acknowledged: -
-
acknowledgedPraised:
Blessed: bareich -
--
the world.162
-ers.
-163 We inherit this trait
-
--
-
T
-
164
--
-son.
-
165
162. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5701 163. See Yevamot 79a. 164. Sefer HaMa’amarim Melukat 165. LikuteiSichot
VAYEIRA
259
Genesis 21:34
34 -tia for one year more
(2047-2073).
world ex nihilo -
-
-
-
156
-
157
my-
-
-
-
159 -
160
: The
161 acknowledged praisedand blessed
156. Likutei Torah 157. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5701 Likutei Sichot 158.159. Avot 160. Likutei Sichot, 161. Sotah
RASHI
260
SEVENTH READING
22:1
2
1 God tested Abraham:
-
-
-172
-
173
-
174
2As we saw when
175
-
-
-
173. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5700 174. Ma’amarei Admor HaZaken Parshiot HaTorah 175. Derech Mitzvotecha176.
VAYEIRA
261
Genesis 22:1-2
The Binding of IsaacSeventh Reading 22:1
166
-
167 and had
onewhole
all these words169 thatGod tested Abraham -
2 -
only one. both the
Moriah.170 hora’ah] will issue to the world.
mor].171
176
166. See Likutei Sichot 167. Likutei Sichot 168. Likutei Sichot169. Likutei Sichot 170. 171. ad loc. 172.
RASHI
262
SEVENTH READING
3
4
--
4 He saw the place from afar:-
---
190
[4] He saw the place from afar: -
--
-
Zohar191
hamakom
the place 192 -
the place193
194 in this
-
Isaac said to Abraham, his father: my fa-therr
Abraham replied, “Now, I am ‘my son’-
195
183. Likutei Sichot 184. Menachot Mishneh Torah Beit HaBechirah 185.Mishneh Torah loc cit. 186. 187. Guide to the Perplexed 188. Likutei Sichot
189. 190. 191. Or Torah 25 (9d). 192. V. 7. 193. Or Torah 26 (9d). 194. Tanchuma 195. IgrotKodesh Admor HaRayatz
VAYEIRA
263
Genesis 22:3-4
3 Abraham -177
saddled his donkeyrode
the wood and tools.
.
he -
4 on the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw
the place fromafar.
.
-
-
179
-
--
awe.-
-
-
177. Likutei Sichot 178. Likutei Sichot179. 180. Likutei Sichot 181. Torah Or 182. Or HaTorah Devarim
RASHI
264
SEVENTH READING
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
[11]
VAYEIRA
265
Genesis 22:5-12
5
6
.7
8 and if He does my son
and thus the two of.
9
10 At
-sion.196
11 then called to him from heaven and said
12him -
not
do nothingg
197
For now
from Me
196. Likutei Sichot 197. Likutei Sichot 198. Or Torah 30 (10d).
RASHI
266
SEVENTH READING
13
14
15
16
177
--
-
-willing to die
did
-
himself ready209
did
-
-
210
208. Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer Zohar 209. 210. Likutei Sichot Ma’amarei Admor HaZaken 5562 BeSha’ah Shehikdimu 5672 §62.
VAYEIRA
267
Genesis 22:13-17
13
199 Abrahamraised his eyes 200
.
in a thicket.-
transferredconfer
replacement proxy.201
202
203
-nai.204
14
. had -
May G see and
so that it be said in allcan be seen on -
G 205
15 called to Abraham from heaven a second
16 -
17 and bless as
the stars of the sky and the 211
14The Torah usu-
removed from the altar.206
-
207
-
199. 200. Likutei Sichot 201. Likutei Sichot 202. Likutei Sichot203. 204. 205. 206.
207. See Igeret HaKodesh
RASHI
268
SEVENTH READING
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
213 bones -214
20 -
-
-
--
215
-
216
-
-
-
adults.217
24 The name Reumahreu mah).
213. 214. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5708 215. Likutei Sichot Hitva’aduyot 5749216. Hitva’aduyot 5749 Or HaTorah Bereishit 217. Hitva’aduyot 5749
VAYEIRA
269
Genesis 22:18-24
18
19Beersheba. Abraham remained for a short time in Beersheba.
20
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that Abraham was told There is no
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sons24
18 The word used here eikev
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-conceptualize
felt--
211. Likutei Sichot 212.
The for parashat Vayeira
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SEVENTH READING
218. 219. 220. Or HaTorah Nach 221. Keter Shem Tov 31. 222. Sefer HaMa’amarim 5720
219 220
Reumah
There was once a person who had many good qualities but was unfortunately also arrogant. His friends suggested
he would then be perfect! The man agreed and started act-ing humbly. At one point, when a fellow was pestering him,
“you are nothing compared to me! Do you know who I am? I not only have many good qualities, I also now possess humil-ity as well!”221
reumah
222
Vayeira
2 Kings 4:1-37
Parashat Vayeira recounts the second phase of career in the of Divine consciousness, inwhich he was aided by God’s supernatural help, the greatest expression of which was the birth of his son Isaacin his and Sarah’s old age. In the parashah, we witness the prophet Elisha dispensing Divine aid tothe widow of Obadiah and to the who, like Sarah, is blessed with a child through Divineintervention.
4:1 During the reign of the wicked KingAchav over the northern Israel,his righteous Obadiahsupported the prophets Whennecessary, Obadiah borrowed forthis purpose the king’s son,and paid back with interest.6
Achav died, a certain woman, the wife ofObadiah, who was one of the disciples ofthe prophets, cried out to Elisha, saying,“Your servant, my husband, is dead, andyou know that your servant feared GAnd now a creditor son ofAchav—has come to take my two childrento be his bondmen.”
2 Elisha said to her, “What can I do foryou? Tell me, what do you have in thehouse?” She replied, “Your maidservanthas nothing in the house, except for a jugof oil containing only enough oil to anointone person.”
3 He said, “Go and borrow vessels fromoutside, from all your neighbors. Do not
with just a few empty vessels.4 Then, go inside and close the doorbehind yourself and your children, for itis not respectful to God to a and pour oil your jug into all thosevessels, and set aside each full one. Do it this way rather than the jug vesselto vessel, for God will the jug like a spring, and a spring does not about.”
5 So she him, and closed the door behind herself and her children. They keptbringing her vessels and she kept pouring.
6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel,” but heanswered her, “There is no other vessel.” And the oil stopped.
7 She came and told the man of God, asking whether to sell now or wait until theprice rises. He said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your creditor now, for there is enough to pay
your debts even at the present price, and you and your sons will live on the remainderfor the rest of your lives.”
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8 One day Elisha visited Shunem, wherethere lived a prominent woman, the sisterof Avishag of .7 She urged him topartake of a meal, and later, whenever hepassed by while visiting the city, he wouldstop there for a meal.9 She said to her husband: “I now perceivethat his man who is continually passingour way is a holy man of God. I never seea on his table, nor an of vitalseed on the sheets he has slept on. 10 Let usnow make a walled and set upfor him there a bed, a table, a chair, and alamp, so that whenever he comes to us hewill stay there.”11 One day he came there; he retired tothe and lay down there.12 He then said to his servant Geichazi,“Call that Shunamite woman.” He calledher and she stood before him.13 He said to Geichazi, “Tell her: ‘Look,you have gone to all this trouble for us.What can we do for you? Do you want aword spoken on your behalf to the king,or to the general of the army?’ ”She answered, “I live among my ownpeople. No one I have no needfor intercession with the king or the generalof the ” She14 He said to Geichazi, “What then can bedone for her?” Geichazi answered, “Thefact is, she has no son, and her husbandis old.”15 Elisha said, “Call her,” so Geichazicalled her, and she stood in the doorway.16 He said, “Just as you are alive now, so at this season next year you will be embracinga son.”She replied, “No, my master, man of God! Do not prove yourself unreliable to yourmaidservant by blessing with a son who will die during . Pray that he live.”Elisha did not respond to this.17 The woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same season the following year,as Elisha had told her.18 The child grew up, and one day he went out to his father among the reapers.19 He said to his father, “My head, my head! I sick in head!” The father said to hisservant, “Carry him to his mother.”
7. 1 Kings 1:3.
HAFTARAH FOR VAYEIRA
20 He carried him and brought him to hismother; he sat on her knees until noon,and he died. 21 She went up to thelaid him on the bed of the man of God,closed the door, and
22 She called her husband, and said,“Please send me one of the servants andone of the donkeys so I can hurry to theman of God and return.”
23 He said, “Why are you going to himtoday? It is neither the northe Sabbath, when we are togo hear the sages teach the Torah.”
She replied, “All is well.”
24 Then she saddled the donkey and saidto her servant, “Urge it ahead! Do notslow down for me unless I tell you to!”
25 She set out, and came to the man ofGod at Mount Carmel. When the manof God saw her from afar he said toGeichazi his servant: “Look, there is thatShunamite woman. 26 Now, please run tomeet her, and ask her, ‘Are you well? Isyour husband well? Is the child well?’ ”
Geichazi asked her all this, and sheanswered, “All is well.”
27 When she came to the man of God,at the mountain, she caught hold of hisfeet. Geichazi stepped forward to pushher away, but the man of God said, “Lether alone, for she is in distress, yetG has hidden it from me and has nottold me.”
28 Then she said, “Did I ask my masterfor a son?! Did I not say, ‘Do not prove yourself unreliable to your Do notmislead me?’ ”
29 Elisha understood what had happened. He said to Geichazi, “Gird yourself, take myin your hand, and go; if you meet any man do not greet him, and if any man greets
you do not reply, for if you do, they will ask you where you are going, and you will beto say, ‘to resurrect a dead person,’ and this is . When you arrive, place
my on the boy’s face.”
30 Elisha wanted to send the with Geichazi, but the boy’s mother said, “As Glives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you!”
So Elisha arose and followed her to .
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HAFTARAH FOR VAYEIRA
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31 Geichazi had gone on ahead of them,but he did not follow Elisha’s instructions.To everyone who greeted and askedwhere he was going, he said, “Myhas sent to resurrect a dead person.”When he had arrived, he had placed the
on the boy’s face, but there wasneither sound nor response. He returnedto meet Elisha and told him, “The boy hasnot awakened.”
32 Elisha came into the house, and therewas the boy, dead, laid out on his bed.33 So he went inside, closed the doorbehind the two of them, and prayed toGod. 34 Then he mounted the bed and layupon the child, placing his mouth uponthe child’s mouth, his eyes upon his eyes,and his palms upon his palms, and spreadhimself out over him. And the body of thechild became warm. 35 He stepped down,walked once up and down the room, thenmounted and again spread himself outover him. The boy sneezed seven times, and the boy then opened his eyes.
36 Elisha called Geichazi and said, “Call that Shunamite woman.” So he called her, andwhen she came to him he said, “Pick up your son.”
37 She came and fell at his feet and prostrated herself on the ground. She then pickedup her son and
HAFTARAH FOR VAYEIRA
Dedicated in honor of our children
Nathan, Yitzchok,Moshe Lev,and Gilana
May you continue to grow in the waysof our holy Torah
Yuri and Deana Pikover
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