CHAMISHOH MI YODEI'A - FIVE QUESTIONS ON THE WEEKLY SEDRAH - PARSHIOS VA'YEIRO 5767 - BS"D
1) Ch. 18, v. 1: "Va'yeiro eilov Hashem" - How was Avrohom capable of
receiving a prophetic vision of Hashem's visitation? Prophecy does not come upon a
person when he is sad. Avrohom was in considerable pain on the third day after
his circumcision.
2) Ch. 18, v. 5: "Kein taa'seh kaasher dibarto" - Shouldn't the verse have
said "kein Naa'seh kaasher dibarto," - We will do as you have spoken?
3) Ch. 19, v. 12: "V'chole asher l'cho bo'ir" - If the angels allowed him to
rescue any items he had in the city why did they rush him (verse 15) and tell
him to not save his property (Rashi on verse 17)?
4) Ch. 21, v. 17: "Baasher hu shom" - The gemara R.H. 16b says that Hashem,
in judging Yishmo'eil, only took into consideration his present merits and
demerits, but not future misdeeds. Why do we not apply this same rule to the "ben
sorer umoreh"?
5) Ch. 22, v. 1: "V'hoElokim nisoh es Avrohom" - What were Avrohom's ten
tests?
ANSWERS:
#1
1) Simultaneously with Hashem's appearance, Avrohom was healed. (Ramban)
2) Hashem sent an angel to heal him ahead of His appearance. (Rabbeinu
Zecharioh)
This seems to be contrary to Rashi on the next verse but seems to be in line
with Targum Yonoson ben Uziel, who mentions that the three angels were each
sent for a different assignment, and leaves out healing Avrohom.
3) This was an exception to the rule, as Hashem wanted to be "m'va'keir
choleh." (Mo'ore Ho'a'feiloh)
4) Hashem's appearance was through the medium of the three angels mentioned
in the following verse. (Rabbeinu Bachyei)
It seems that since they appeared like Arabs, in a human form, this is a low
level prophecy, which even one who is sad is capable of receiving.
5) He might have been very uncomfortable, but nevertheless, was very happy,
as he had just recently fulfilled this great mitzvoh. (Nirreh li)
#2
1) They saw that Avrohom was weak and in pain. They said that they would
agree to be his guests, but added that he should ONLY do as he has spoken, to
only bring a loaf of bread, and not a big spread. (Rabbi Yaakov Neiman)
2) They did not actually eat. The word "va'yocheilu" of verse 8 is explained
in the gemara B.M. 86b to mean that they appeared to be eating. So as not to
lie they said, "Do as YOU said," and not "WE will do as you said." (Binyan
Shlomo)
#3
1) He delayed beyond their expectations because he spent much time
attempting to convince his sons-in-law to escape. (Nirreh li)
2) They were only aware of members of his family in his home, as evidenced
by their saying, "mi l'cho FOH." He also had sons-in-law who were away from his
home with whom he spoke, "VA'YEITZEI Lote va'y'da'beir el chasonov." This
took much longer, so they told him there was no time left, and only lives could
be saved. (Nirreh li)
#4
1) The "ben sorer umoreh" had actually begun to sin in the realm of sin that
would eventually be culpable for the death penalty. (Baalei Tosfos)
2) The "ben sorer umoreh" himself would sin. It was only the descendants of
Yishmoeil, and not he himself, who would bring about death by thirst. (Baalei
Tosfos)
3) The "ben sorer umoreh" was a product of an undesirable, albeit permitted,
union. (Rabbi Menachem Azarioh of Panu in Asoroh Maamoros)
#5
The tests are not necessarily in chronological order, as I have mostly
followed the order as they are listed in the commentaries.
1) Ovos d'Rebbi Noson 33:2 - Ur Kasdim - Lech L'cho - famine - Soroh taken to
Paroh - battle with 4 kings and save Lot - bris bein habsorim - bris miloh -
send away Hogor - send away Yishmoel - Akeidoh.
2) Pirkei d'Rebbi Eliezer 26-31 - Shortly after birth Nimrod wanted to kill
him and he went into hiding for 13 years - in jail for 10 years and Ur Kasdim -
L. L. - famine - Soroh to Paroh - 4 kings and Lot - bris bein habsorim - bris
miloh - send away H. and Y. - Akeidoh.
3) "Krovitz" of "Imroscho tz'rufoh" by Rabbi Shimon haGodol - same as #2, but
without jail for 10 years included with Ur Kasdim.
4) Piyut (poem) of Shacharis 2nd day of Rosh Hashono "Asher mi yaa'seh"
attributed to Rebbi Eliezer of Kalir - Same as #2, except that the 5th test
includes Soroh's being taken by Avimelech, king of Gror.
5) Rabbi Ovadioh miBartenuroh on Pirkei Ovos 5:3 - Ur Kasdim - L. L. - famine
- Soroh to Paroh - Lot - bris bein habsorim - bris miloh - Soroh to Avimelech
- send away H. and Y. - Akeidoh.
6) Rambam on P. O. 5:3 - L. L. - famine - Soroh to Paroh - Lot - taking Hogor
as a wife - bris miloh - Soroh to Avimelech - send away Hogor - send away
Yishmoel - Akeidoh.
7) Rabbeinu Yonah on P. O. 5:13 - Ur Kasdim - L. L. - famine - Soroh to Paroh
- 4 kings - bris Miloh - Soroh to Avimelech - send away H. and Y. - Akeidoh -
purchase burial plot for Soroh.
8) M'iri in Beis Habchiroh on P. O. 5:3 - Either Nimrod wanted to kill
Avrohom shortly after birth and he hid for 13 years, or Ur Kasdim, but not both - L.
L. - bris bein habsorim - famine - Soroh to Paroh - Lot - bris miloh -
fearing Avimelech king of Gror, and Soroh being taken by Avimelech - send away H.
and Y. - Akeidoh.
9) The M'iri brings a variation by a commentary who counts the battle with
the 4 kings and Lot separately, but does not list the rest.
10)Medrash Shochar Tov on T'hilim 18, "Imras Hashem tz'rufoh" - Ur Kasdim -
L. L. - Soroh to Paroh - Soroh to Avimelech - taking Hogor as a wife - send
away Yishmoel - 4 kings - bris miloh - bris bein habsorim - Akeidoh.
11) Medrash Shochar Tov on T'hilim 95 - Ur Kasdim - L. L. - leaving Choron
(see Tosfos, Shabbos 10b d.h. "v'shel S'dom," and Tosfos Avodoh Zoroh 9a d.h.
"ugmiri") - famine -Soroh to Paroh - Soroh to Avimelech - bris miloh - bris
bein habsorim - Akeidoh - send away Yishmoel.
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