Chumash with Chayenu

Eliezer and his caravan set out for Aram. They arrived at the well outside Charan, the city of Avraham’s brother, Nachor, when the women of the city were drawing water. Eliezer prayed to G-d to guide him toward Yitzchak’s proper match by having her respond generously to his request that she draw water for him and his entourage. The girl who gave water to Eliezer and his caravan was indeed Rivkah, Avraham’s grand-niece.

After burying Sarah, Avraham sent his servant, Eliezer, to his brother’s household in Aram to select a suitable wife for Yitzchak, having him swear that he would not seek a wife for Yitzchak among the Kena’anites. Avraham sent a sizeable gift along with Eliezer, as well as a document showing that he was transferring all his wealth to Yitzchak. All this was in order to impress the girl that Eliezer would ultimately choose, together with her family, with the fact that Avraham had designated Yitzchak as his exclusive heir, as well as to induce the girl’s family to allow her to return with him to the Land of Yisrael and marry Yitzchak.

When the news reached Sarah that Yitzchak was nearly sacrificed, the shock of his near loss coupled with the relief of his life being spared was too much for her to bear, and she died. Avraham purchased the Machpelah Cave and the surroundingfield from Efron, a local Chittite, for her burial grounds in Chevron. Efron offered to give the site to Avraham for free, but Avraham insisted on paying full price for it.

Abraham’s greatest challenge came 37 years after his son Issac was born. G-d commanded him to sacrifice Issac. Abraham prepared to do so, but at the last minute G-d told him that he had passed the test and should sacrifice a ram instead. After this, Abraham was told that his grandniece Rivkah had been born; Abraham realized that she was a suitable match for Issac.

After the birth of Issac, Abraham concluded a treaty with the local Pelishti king and opened an inn in Beersheba, where he taught wayfarers about monotheism.

After the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved from Hebron to the Land of the Pelishtim, and when he was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90, Sarah gave birth to their son Issac. In the meantime, Hagar’s son Ishmael was showing himself unreceptive to the moral education he was receiving in Abraham’s household. In order to prevent him from being a negative influence on Issac, Sarah insisted that Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham was reluctant to do so, but G-d validated Sarah’s judgment.

Not heeding the angels’ instructions not to look at the destruction of the cities, Lot’s wife looked and was turned into a pillar of salt. Thinking the whole world had been destroyed, Lot’s daughters seduced him and bore him two sons, Ammon and Moab. After the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved from Hebron to the Land of the Pelishtim. The agents of the Pelishti king, Avimelech, asked Abraham if Sarah was his wife or his sister. Seeing that they wanted to take her to the king, Abraham feared for his life and told them that she was his sister. When the truth was discovered, the king accused Abraham of lying. Abraham replied that since Sarah was his niece, she technically was a sort of “sister” of his, and that he had to call her his “sister” in order to save his own life.

Despite Abraham’s pleas, the wickedness of Sodom and its neighbors was so great that it could not be overlooked. The angels arrived at Lot’s house in order to rescue him from the impending destruction.

The kindness and hospitality practiced by Abraham in Hebron stood in stark contrast to the wickedness and inhospitality of the nearby cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbors. After the three angels visited Abraham, G-d informed Abraham that He was going to eliminate these cities. Knowing that Abraham practiced righteousness and justice, He wanted to give him the opportunity to plead on behalf of these cities.

On the third day of Abraham’s recovery after his circumcision, G-d appeared to him, paying a visit to the sick. Three angels disguised as travelling men then appeared, and Abraham hosted them in his tent. They promised Abraham a son within a year.

Ahead of G-d’s promise to Abraham and Sarai that they would bear a son who would be their true legacy, G-d informs Abraham of the Covenant of circumcision, and instructs Sarai to change her name (identity) to Sarah. Abraham circumcises himself, his other son Ishmael and all male servants of his household.

After promising him offspring, G-d reiterated to Abraham His promise of the Land of Israel. Abraham requested a sign from G-d that his offspring would inherit the land. G-d told Abraham that they would inherit the land in the merit of the sacrifices they would offer up and in the merit of the exile they would endure before re-entering it. Despite G-d’s promise of offspring, Abraham and his wife Sarai had not yet had any children. Sarai therefore asked her Egyptian bondwoman, Hagar, to bear a child by Abraham, hoping that in this merit she would also conceive. Hagar indeed quickly conceived. Concluding from this that her spiritual merits were greater than her mistress’s, Hagar mocked Sarai, who thereupon told Abraham to send her away. Hagar miscarried, but was told by G-d’s angel to return and submit humbly to Sarai, and that in thismerit she would conceive again. Hagar obeyed and gave birth to Abraham’s first son, Ishmael.

After his victory over the invading coalition, Abram was concerned that his miraculous victory in battle was his full compensation for his accrued merits, thereby supplanting the other rewards G-d previously promised him, namely: offspring and the Land of Israel. G-d thereupon reiterated His promises to Abram. But Abram replied that all this was useless unless G-d would give him a child who would continue his work of spreading Divine consciousness.

The Land of Yisrael was invaded by a coalition of nations who captured Abram’s nephew Lot, forcing Abram to pursue them in Lot’s defense. After Abram miraculously defeated the invaders, he gave a tenth of the spoils of war to his ancestor, Noah's son Shem, who was then known as Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem.

A quarrel broke out between Abram’s shepherds and those of his nephew, Lot. In order to avoid conflict, Abram suggested they part ways. Lot chose to settle in Sedom, while Abram settled in Hebron. After this, G-d reiterated His promises to Abram.

In Egypt, Abram’s wife Sarah (who was initially named Sarai) wasabducted by Par’oh (Pharaoh). Sarai resisted Par’oh’s overtures, and G-d miraculously protected her. After returning from Egypt, Abram stayed between Beis El and Ay.

Responding to Abram’s efforts to restore the world’s monotheism, G-d informs him that he has been selected to found the Jewish people, whose mission it will be to inspire and instruct the world in G-d’s ways. In order to have a setting in which to demonstrate the beauty of G-dly life to the rest of humanity, G-d also promises the Land of Israel to Abram and his descendants, and instructs him to settle there. The first challenge Avram faced in the Promised Land was the famine that set in immediately upon his arrival, forcing him to temporarily relocate to neighboring Egypt.

At G-d’s command, Noah and his family entered the ark and the Flood began. The rain lasted 40 days, during which all land life outside the ark perished.

Noah becomes intoxicated and exposed. His elder sons discreetly protect his privacy, while the younger one takes advantage. As a result they’re blessed and he is cursed.

G-d makes a covenant with Noah, that He would never again destroy all life on earth. The sign of this covenant is the rainbow.