Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we see the finalization of the purchase of Me'aras HaMachpelah. The field, the cave, and all the surrounding trees are formally established as Avraham's permanent possession in front of the Bnei Ches. Immediately following this, Avraham buries Sarah there, cementing the site as a sacred family burial plot in the land of Canaan.

We then move into the next major parsha of Avraham's life. Now advanced in years, Avraham summons his trusted servant, Eliezer, and charges him with a crucial mission. He makes Eliezer swear a solemn oath not to take a wife for Yitzchak from the local Canaanites, but rather to travel back to Avraham's homeland to find a suitable shidduch.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיָּקָםAnd aroseשְׂדֵהthe field ofעֶפְרוֹןEphronאֲשֶׁרwhichבַּמַּכְפֵּלָהwas in Machpelahאֲשֶׁרwhichלִפְנֵיwas beforeמַמְרֵאMamreהַשָּׂדֶהthe fieldוְהַמְּעָרָהand the caveאֲשֶׁרwhichבּוֹwas in itוְכָלand allהָעֵץthe treesאֲשֶׁרwhichבַּשָּׂדֶהwere in the fieldאֲשֶׁרthatבְּכָלwere in allגְּבֻלוֹits boundaryסָבִיב׃all around

רַשִׁ״י

ויקםAnd aroseשדהthe field ofעפרון.Ephronתְּקוּמָהa risingהָיְתָהthere wasלוֹ,to itשֶׁיָּצָאthat it went outמִיַּדfrom the hand ofהֶדְיוֹטa commonerלְיַדto the hand ofמֶלֶךְ;a kingוּפְשׁוּטוֹand the simple meaningשֶׁלofמִקְרָאthe verseוַיָּקָםand aroseהַשָּׂדֶהthe fieldוְהַמְּעָרָהand the caveאֲשֶׁרthatבּוֹis in itוְכָלand allהָעֵץthe treesלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamלְמִקְנָהas a possessionוגו':etc.

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

לְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamלְמִקְנָהas a possessionלְעֵינֵיin the eyes ofבְנֵיthe children ofחֵתChesבְּכֹלamong allבָּאֵיthose who enterשַׁעַרthe gate ofעִירוֹ׃his city

רַשִׁ״י

בכלbefore allבאיthose who enterשערthe gate ofעירו.his cityבְּקֶרֶבin the midst ofכֻּלָּםall of themוּבְמַעֲמַדand in the presence ofכֻּלָּםall of themהִקְנָהוּhe transferred ownershipלוֹ:to him

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְאַחֲרֵיAnd afterכֵןthisקָבַרburiedאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאֶת—שָׂרָהSarahאִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeאֶלinמְעָרַתthe cave ofשְׂדֵהthe field ofהַמַּכְפֵּלָהMachpelahעַלfacingפְּנֵיthe front ofמַמְרֵאMamreהִואit isחֶבְרוֹןChevronבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofכְּנָעַן׃Kenaan

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיָּקָםAnd aroseהַשָּׂדֶהthe fieldוְהַמְּעָרָהand the caveאֲשֶׁרthatבּוֹin itלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamלַאֲחֻזַּתfor a possession ofקָבֶרburialמֵאֵתfromבְּנֵיthe sons ofחֵת׃Ches

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְאַבְרָהָםAnd Avrahamזָקֵןwas oldבָּאadvancedבַּיָּמִיםin yearsוַיהוָהand Hashemבֵּרַךְhad blessedאֶת—אַבְרָהָםAvrahamבַּכֹּל׃with everything

רַשִׁ״י

ברךblessedאת—אברהםAvrahamבכל.in allבַּכֹּלin allעוֹלֶהrisesבְּגִימַטְרִיָּאin gematriaבֵּן,sonוּמֵאַחַרand sinceשֶׁהָיָהthat there wasלוֹto himבֵּןa sonהָיָהhe wasצָרִיךְneededלְהַשִּׂיאוֹto marry himאִשָּׁה:a wife

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאֶלtoעַבְדּוֹhis servantזְקַןthe elder ofבֵּיתוֹhis householdהַמֹּשֵׁלwho ruledבְּכָלover allאֲשֶׁרthatלוֹwas hisשִׂיםplaceנָאpleaseיָדְךָyour handתַּחַתunderיְרֵכִי׃my thigh

רַשִׁ״י

זקןthe elder ofביתו.his houseלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהוּאthat it isדָּבוּקin constructנָקוּדit is punctuatedזְקַן:Zekan

רַשִׁ״י

תחתUnderירכי.my thighלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהַנִּשְׁבָּעthat one who swearsצָרִיךְneedsשֶׁיִּטֹּלthat he takeבְּיָדוֹin his handחֵפֶץan objectשֶׁלofמִצְוָה,mitzvahכְּגוֹןsuch asסֵפֶרa SeferתּוֹרָהTorahאוֹorתְּפִלִּיןtefillinשבועותShevuosל"ח38,וְהַמִּילָהand the circumcisionהָיְתָהwasמִצְוָהa mitzvahרִאשׁוֹנָהfirstלוֹto himוּבָאָהand it cameלוֹto himעַלthroughיְדֵיmeans ofצַעַרpainוְהָיְתָהand it wasחֲבִיבָהbelovedעָלָיוupon himוּנְטָלָהּ:and he took it

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וְאַשְׁבִּיעֲךָand I will swear youבַּיהוָהby HashemאֱלֹהֵיGod ofהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensוֵאלֹהֵיand God ofהָאָרֶץthe earthאֲשֶׁרthatלֹאnotתִקַּחyou shall takeאִשָּׁהa wifeלִבְנִיfor my sonמִבְּנוֹתfrom the daughters ofהַכְּנַעֲנִיthe CanaaniteאֲשֶׁרwhomאָנֹכִיIיוֹשֵׁבdwellבְּקִרְבּוֹ׃in his midst

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

כִּיbutאֶלtoאַרְצִיmy landוְאֶלand toמוֹלַדְתִּיmy birthplaceתֵּלֵךְyou shall goוְלָקַחְתָּand you shall takeאִשָּׁהa wifeלִבְנִיfor my sonלְיִצְחָק׃for Yitzchak

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidאֵלָיוto himהָעֶבֶדthe servantאוּלַיperhapsלֹאnotתֹאבֶהwill consentהָאִשָּׁהthe womanלָלֶכֶתto goאַחֲרַיafter meאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landהַזֹּאתthisהֶהָשֵׁבshall I indeed returnאָשִׁיבreturnאֶת—בִּנְךָyour sonאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatיָצָאתָyou came outמִשָּׁם׃from there

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidאֵלָיוto himאַבְרָהָםAvrahamהִשָּׁמֶרbewareלְךָfor yourselfפֶּןlestתָּשִׁיבyou returnאֶת—בְּנִיmy sonשָׁמָּה׃there

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

יְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיGod ofהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensאֲשֶׁרWhoלְקָחַנִיtook meמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofאָבִיmy fatherוּמֵאֶרֶץand from the land ofמוֹלַדְתִּיmy birthוַאֲשֶׁרand Whoדִּבֶּרspokeלִיto meוַאֲשֶׁרand Whoנִשְׁבַּעsworeלִיto meלֵאמֹרsayingלְזַרְעֲךָto your offspringאֶתֵּןI will giveאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landהַזֹּאתthisהוּאHeיִשְׁלַחwill sendמַלְאָכוֹHis angelלְפָנֶיךָbefore youוְלָקַחְתָּand you shall takeאִשָּׁהa wifeלִבְנִיfor my sonמִשָּׁם׃from there

רַשִׁ״י

ה'HashemאלהיGod ofהשמיםthe heavenאשרWhoלקחניtook meמביתfrom the house ofאבי.my fatherוְלֹאand notאָמַרdid he say"וֵאלֹהֵיand God ofהָאָרֶץ",the earthוּלְמַעְלָהwhereas aboveאָמַרhe saidוְאַשְׁבִּיעֲךָand I will make you swearוגו'?etc.אָמַרhe saidלוֹto himעַכְשָׁוnowהוּאHe isאֱלֹהֵיGod ofהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavenוֵאלֹהֵיand God ofהָאָרֶץ,the earthשֶׁהִרְגַּלְתִּיוbecause I made Him familiarבְּפִיin the mouth ofהַבְּרִיּוֹת,the creaturesאֲבָלbutכְּשֶׁלְּקָחַנִיwhen He took meמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofאָבִיmy fatherהָיָהHe wasאֱלֹהֵיGod ofהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavenוְלֹאand notאֱלֹהֵיGod ofהָאָרֶץ,the earthשֶׁלֹּאbecause notהָיוּwereבָּאֵיthose who enterעוֹלָםthe worldמַכִּירִיםacknowledgingבּוֹHimוּשְׁמוֹand His Nameלֹאnotהָיָהwasרָגִילfamiliarבָּאָרֶץ:on the earth

רַשִׁ״י

מביתFrom the house ofאבי.my fatherמֵחָרָן:from Charan

רַשִׁ״י

ומארץand from the land ofמולדתי.my nativityמֵאוּרfrom Urכַּשְׂדִּים:Kasdim

רַשִׁ״י

ואשרAnd whoדברspokeלי.to meלְצָרְכִּי;for my needכְּמוֹjust asאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֶּרHe spokeעָלַיconcerning meמלכיםKingsא'Iב'II,וְכֵןand likewiseכָּלeveryלִיto meוְלוֹand to himוְלָהֶםand to themהַסְּמוּכִיםthat are adjacentאֵצֶלnext toדִּבּוּרspeakingמְפֹרָשִׁיםare explainedבִּלְשוֹןin the language ofעַל,concerningוְתַרְגּוּםand the translationשֶׁלָּהֶםof themעֲלַי,concerning meעֲלוֹהִי,concerning himעֲלֵיהוֹן,concerning themשֶׁאֵיןfor notנוֹפֵלis appropriateאֵצֶלnext toדִּבּוּרspeakingלְשׁוֹןthe expression ofלִיto meוְלוֹand to himוְלָהֶם,and to themאֶלָּאbut ratherאֵלַי,to meאֵלָיו,to himאֲלֵיהֶם,to themוְתַרְגּוּםand the translationשֶׁלָּהֶםof themעִמִּי,with meעִמֵּיהּ,with himעִמְּהוֹן,with themאֲבָלbutאֵצֶלnext toאֲמִירָהsayingנוֹפֵלis appropriateלְשׁוֹןthe expression ofלִיto meוְלוֹand to himוְלָהֶם:and to them

רַשִׁ״י

ואשרand whoנשבעsworeלי.to meבֵּיןbetweenהַבְּתָרִים:the pieces

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְאִםAnd ifלֹאnotתֹאבֶהwill consentהָאִשָּׁהthe womanלָלֶכֶתto goאַחֲרֶיךָafter youוְנִקִּיתָthen you shall be clearמִשְּׁבֻעָתִיfrom my oathזֹאתthisרַקonlyאֶת—בְּנִיmy sonלֹאdo notתָשֵׁבtake backשָׁמָּה׃there

רַשִׁ״י

ונקיתthen you shall be clearמשבועתיfrom my oathוגו'.etc.וְקַחand takeלוֹfor himאִשָּׁהa wifeמִבְּנוֹתfrom the daughters ofעָנֵרAnerאֶשְׁכּוֹלEshcolוּמַמְרֵא:or Mamre

רַשִׁ״י

רקOnlyאת—בניmy sonוגו'.etc.רַקOnlyמִעוּטis a limitationהוּא;itבְּנִיmy sonאֵינוֹdoes notחוֹזֵר,returnאֲבָלbutיַעֲקֹבYaakovבֶּןthe son ofבְּנִיmy sonסוֹפוֹhis end isלַחֲזֹר:to return

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיָּשֶׂםAnd he placedהָעֶבֶדthe servantאֶת—יָדוֹhis handתַּחַתunderיֶרֶךְthe thigh ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאֲדֹנָיוhis masterוַיִּשָּׁבַעand he sworeלוֹto himעַלconcerningהַדָּבָרthe matterהַזֶּה׃this

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with the formal transfer of Ephron's field and cave to Avraham, followed by the burial of Sarah in Me'aras HaMachpelah. The Torah then transitions to Avraham's old age and his concern for Yitzchak's future. Avraham makes his senior servant swear by Hashem that he will not take a wife for Yitzchak from the Canaanites, but will instead go to Avraham's birthplace. When the servant asks what to do if the woman refuses to follow him back, Avraham strictly warns him never to bring Yitzchak back to Charan, assuring him that Hashem will send an angel to make the journey successful, and the servant then takes the oath.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us about the incredible emunah of Avraham Avinu. Think about the situation: Avraham is old, he just buried his wife Sarah, and now he needs to find a shidduch for Yitzchak. He sends Eliezer on a long journey with a strict condition: Yitzchak can never leave Eretz Yisrael. Eliezer immediately asks the obvious kasha: what if the woman doesn't want to come back with me? Lichoira, the natural response would be to worry and make a backup plan. But Avraham does not hesitate. He declares with absolute certainty that Hashem, who took him from his father's house and promised him this land, will send His malach before Eliezer to make the mission a success.

This is a massive yesod in our own avodas Hashem. When we are trying to build a Torah home, to do a mitzvah, or to make a decision based on yiras Shamayim, the yetzer hara immediately brings up all the doubts. We start asking, "But what if this happens? What if that goes wrong?" We get so caught up in the natural calculations that we forget Who is running the world. Avraham teaches us that when you are doing the ratzon Hashem, you do not let the "what-ifs" weaken your resolve. You do your part with complete bitachon, knowing that Hashem will send His help to guide your steps.

Today, when you face a worry or a doubt about a decision you made for the sake of Shamayim, stop and remind yourself of Avraham's bitachon. Say to yourself: "I am doing what Hashem wants, and mimeila, He will send His help to make it work."