Avrohom’s Good-Bye Party
To describe Yaakov’s departure from Be’er Sheva the
Torah uses the word VaYetzei. Rashi famously
comments that a tzaddik’s departure makes an impact
as he takes with him the beauty, glory, and luster of the
place. When Avrohom left his father’s house it says,
“Lech Licha,” why did it not say,VaYeitzei?
The Chassam Sofer answers that Yaakov left a city
steeped in Torah and Yiras Shamayim, that were the
hallmarks of all those that came far and wide to be under
the influence of Avrohom and Yitzchok. These good
people appreciated Yaakov, and therefore, his departure
was a blow to the entire atmosphere of the city.
However, when Avrohom left his city, it was almost
entirely under the influence of Nimrod and his heretical
beliefs. Avrohom was a pariah. Therefore, his leaving did
not impact anyone in the city. In fact, they were quite
happy to see him go.
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What Happened To All Of Avrohom’s Geirim?
“VaYikach Avraham … ViEs Kol HaNefesh Asher Asu Bi
Charan; Avraham took all the souls that he made in
Charan to the Land of Canaan.” Rashi explans that
Avraham converted the men, and Sarah converted the
women. All these Geirim were brought to Eretz Yisrael.
Pirkei Drabbi Elazar asks, “What happened to the
descendents of these Geirim? Have you ever heard of
someone saying that he is a descendent of Avraham’s
Geirim?” He answers that when Avraham died these
Geirim went “off the derech” and back to their old ways.
Pardas Yosef explains that this was because they did
not respect Yitzchok as much as Avraham and,
therefore,”cooled off” in their Yiddishkeit.
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Was Avrohom a Gift Taker or Not?
Despite the fact that Avrohom earned all the bounty from
Sedom because of his victory over the 4 kings, still, he
told the King of Sedom that he will not take any bounty
since he didn’t want the king to say he made Avrohom
rich. This begs the question of how Avrohom took sheep
and cattle from Paroh when he didn’t even deserve it.
Rav Yehonoson Eibishitz suggests that Avrohom didn’t
actually take anything from Paroh. Paroh may have
appointed him to an important position in his court and,
therefore, he earned a great fortune through his position.
He points out that the pasuk doesn’t say that Paroh gave
him cattle, rather it says, “He was good to Avrohom
because of Sarah,” and as a result of this goodness the
pasuk,continues, “He had sheep and cattle.” There is
never any indication that the sheep and cattle came from
Paroh.
The Netziv says that Avrohom knew the personalities of
the two Kings. When Paroh offered him riches he felt
that Paroh was doing this to make himself feel important
and not to feel superior to Avrohom. It was a gift offering
to a royal personage. However, Avrohom felt that the
King of Sedom was giving this as charity to Avrohom, so
he refused to accept.
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as good to Avrohom
because of Sarah,” and as a result of this goodness the
pasuk,continues, “He had sheep and cattle.” There is
never any indication that the sheep and cattle came from
Paroh.
The Netziv says that Avrohom knew the personalities of
the two Kings. When Paroh offered him riches he felt
that Paroh was doing this to make himself feel important
and not to feel superior to Avrohom. It was a gift offering
to a royal personage. However, Avrohom felt that the
King of Sedom was giving this as charity to Avrohom, so
he refused to accept.
Embarassed, Lot Sneaks Away
When Lot departed from Avraham and chose to live in
the cities of the Kikar HaYarden, the pasuk says,
“VaYisa Lot MiKedem; And Lot traveled from East to
west.” If one looks at a map of Eretz Yisrael, one will
notice that the Yarden is the eastern border of Eretz
Yisrael. If so, how was Lot traveling to cities of Kikar
HaYarden in a direction from east to west, he should
have been traveling from west to east?
The Taz answers that Lot was embarrassed to show
Avraham that he wanted to live among the evil people of
Sdom. He therefore tried to fool Avraham into thinking
that he was headed in the opposite direction (westward).
When Avraham was out of sight, he turned around and
headed eastward towards the Kikar HaYarden!
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Why A Major War Over Lot?
Kidorlaomer and his allies invaded Eretz Yisroel and
quickly defeated the local kingdoms. Avrohom then took
a few men and decided to fight the mighty forces. Rav
Yechiel Michel Feinstein points out that Avrohom should
have been happy that the locals were defeated. Rashi in
the beginning of the Parsha (12:6) says that Eretz
Yisroel was given to Shem but the Kenani chased them
out. Kidorlaomer a descendant of Shem, was rightful
heir to Eretz Yisroel and his conquest should have been
welcome.
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He answers that the Avrohom initially didn’t have a
problem with the war. He only became involved when
Lot was
captured. Chazal tell us that the entire campaign
planned and executed by the four kings was for one
reason only, to capture Lot.
Why was this so important to them? A that time the
world’s ideology was one of kefira. The only one to
challenge this was Avrohom who started a movement to
rally the people towards a single Hashem. These four
Milachim, one of which was Avrohom’s old nemesis
Nimrod wanted to stem the success of Avrohom. Lot
was a perfect vehicle for this. Lot had drifted away from
Avrohom’s ideology and moved to the sin city of Sedom.
We also know (Rashi 13:8) that Lot looked like
Avrohom. The four kings wanted to kidnap Lot and have
him admit that Avrohom’s ideology is flawed, and claim
the kings were right. They would claim that Lot was
Avrohom and put an end to his ideology.
Although Avrohom didn’t get involved over the possibility
of the four kings ruling over Eretz Yisroel, the Chilul
Hashem that their stunt would have caused was worth
him going to war over.

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