Go forth! Lech Lecha
Hashem spoke to Avram (who later became Avraham), our forefather, and told him to leave his homeland and go to a new land that Hashem would show him.
Avram, together with his wife Sarai (later known as Sarah) and his nephew Lot, listened to Hashem’s command and left their home when Avram was 75 years old. They traveled to Shechem in the land of Canaan, which is now in the land of Israel. Hashem promised Avram that all of this land would belong to his descendants forever.
As Avram and Sarai arrived in Canaan, they faced a challenge. There was a famine in the land, which meant there was not enough food for everyone. So, they had to go to Egypt to find food. Avram was worried that the Egyptians would harm him because Sarai was very beautiful. To protect themselves, Avram told Sarai to say that she was his sister instead of his wife. This way, the Egyptians would not harm Avram to marry Sarai.
When they arrived in Egypt, the plan seemed to work, and Sarai was taken to the Pharaoh’s palace. However, Hashem sent plagues to the Pharaoh’s household because he had taken Sarai. The Pharaoh realized that Sarai was actually Avram’s wife and not his sister. He returned her to Avram along with gold, silver, and cattle and asked them to leave Egypt.
After leaving Egypt, Avram and Lot continued their journey. They had many animals and needed more space for them. Avram and Lot’s shepherds started arguing because there wasn’t enough land for all the animals. To prevent further conflict, Avram and Lot decided to separate. Avram allowed Lot to choose the land he wanted, and Lot chose the fertile plains of Sodom and Gomorrah.
A Lot of Problems
Lot separated from Avram and settled in an evil city named Sodom. Four mighty kings came to conquer Sodom and Gomorrah. They took all the goods, and food, and captured people including Avram’s nephew, Lot.
One of the men who escaped the kings ran to Avram and told him what had happened. Avram immediately set out with 318 trained men and recovered Lot, all of Lot’s possessions, and all the other people the kings had captured.
When Avram returned, the king of Sodom met with him. Then Shem, Melchizedek (Righteous King) of Salem (later known as Jerusalem) and priest of Hashem, brought bread and wine to Avram and blessed Avram. Avram gave him a tenth of everything.
The king of Sodom spoke up and said, “Keep your goods, just give me your people.” But Avram refused, he only accepted some food and a share of the riches that belonged to the people who went with him.
A Promised Child
Sarai wanted to ensure Avraham would have a child, so she gave her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to Avraham to marry. Hagar became pregnant and gave birth to Ishmael. Hashem promised Hagar that Ishmael would have descendants too numerous to count, but that everyone would be against him, and he would be hostile towards everyone, including his brothers.
Hashem then spoke to Avram and promised him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Avram said to Hashem, “May Ishmael live under your blessing.” Hashem replied, “Yes, but also, your wife Sarai will bear a son and you will call him Isaac. It is through Isaac that I will have an everlasting covenant with him and his descendants.” Even though Sarai was 89 years old, and Avram was 99 years old and Sarai had not had any children, Avram still believed Hashem’s promise. Hashem changed Avram’s name to Avraham, which means “father of many nations,” and Sarai’s name to Sarah, which means “princess.”
Hashem reassured Avraham that he would have a son and his descendants would be as numerous as the dust on the earth. Hashem also told Avraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. As a sign of the covenant, all of Avraham’s household, everyone born in his household who is eight days old, and anyone bought from a foreigner, must be circumcised.
So all the males in Avraham’s household were circumcised including Ishmael who was 13 years old and Avraham who was 99 years old.
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