Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we learn about the final years of Avraham Avinu's life on this world. After the marriage of Yitzchak, Avraham takes another wife named Keturah, who bears him more children. We see how Avraham carefully arranges his legacy, giving everything he owns to Yitzchak, while sending the other sons away to the East with gifts so they would not interfere with Yitzchak's inheritance.

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

וַיֹּסֶףAnd he addedאַבְרָהָםAvrahamוַיִּקַּחand he tookאִשָּׁהa wifeוּשְׁמָהּand her nameקְטוּרָה׃Keturah

רַשִׁ״י

קטורה.Keturahזוֹthis isהָגָר,Hagarוְנִקְרֵאתand she was calledקְטוּרָהKeturahעַלbecauseשֶׁנָּאִיםthat were beautifulמַעֲשֶׁיהָher deedsכִּקְטֹרֶתlike incenseבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah,וְשֶׁקָּשְׁרָהand because she boundפִּתְחָהּ,her openingשֶֶׁלֹאso that notנִזְדַּוְּגָהshe coupledלְאָדָםto any manמִיּוֹםfrom the dayשֶׁפֵּרְשָׁהthat she separatedמֵאַבְרָהָם:from Avraham

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַתֵּלֶדAnd she boreלוֹto himאֶת—זִמְרָןZimranוְאֶתand —יָקְשָׁןYokshanוְאֶתand —מְדָןMedanוְאֶתand —מִדְיָןMidianוְאֶתand —יִשְׁבָּקYishbakוְאֶתand —שׁוּחַ׃Shuach

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְיָקְשָׁןAnd Yokshanיָלַדbegotאֶת—שְׁבָאShebaוְאֶתand —דְּדָןDedanוּבְנֵיand the sons ofדְדָןDedanהָיוּwereאַשּׁוּרִםAsshurimוּלְטוּשִׁיםand Letushimוּלְאֻמִּים׃and Leummim

רַשִׁ״י

אשוריםAshurimולטושים.and Letushimשֵׁםthe name ofרָאשֵׁיheads ofאֻמּוֹתclansבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah,וְתַרְגּוּםand the translationשֶׁלofאֻנְקְלוֹסOnkelosאֵיןthere is notלִיto meלְיַשְּׁבוֹto settle itעַלuponלְשׁוֹןthe wording ofהַמִּקְרָאthe verseשֶׁפֵּרֵשׁfor he explainedלְמַשִּׁירְיָן,as campsלְשׁוֹןan expression ofמַחֲנֶה,campוְאִםand ifתֹּאמַרyou will sayשֶׁאֵינוֹthat it is notכֵןsoמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהָאָלֶ"ףthe Alephשֶׁאֵינָהּwhich is notיְסוֹדִית,a root letterהֲרֵיbeholdלָנוּwe haveתֵּבוֹתwordsשֶׁאֵיןthat there is notבְּרֹאשָׁםat their beginningאָלֶ"ףan Alephוְנִתּוֹסְפָהand there was addedאָלֶ"ףan Alephבְּרֹאשָׁם,at their beginningכְּמוֹlikeחוֹמַתa wall ofאֲנָךְanachעמוסAmosז7שֶׁהוּאwhich isמִןfromנְכֵהstricken ofרַגְלַיִם,feetוּכְמוֹand likeאָסוּךְa flask ofשָׁמֶןoilמ"בMelachim IIד4,שֶׁהוּאwhich isמִןfromוְרָחַצְתְּand wash yourselfוָסַכְתְּ:and anoint yourself

רַשִׁ״י

ולטושם.And Letushimהֵםthey areבַּעֲלֵיowners ofאֹהָלִיםtentsהַמִּתְפַּזְרִיםwho spread outאָנֶהhereוָאָנָהand thereוְנוֹסְעִיםand travelאִישeach manבְּאָהֳלֵיin the tents ofאַפַּדְנוֹ,his palaceוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysוְהִנָּםand behold theyנְטֻשִׁיםwere spreadעַלuponפְּנֵיthe face ofכָלallהָאָרֶץthe landשמואלShmuelאIל'30שֶׁכֵּןfor indeedלָמֶ"דLamedוְנוּ"ןand Nunמִתְחַלְּפוֹתinterchangeזוֹthisבְּזוֹwith this:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וּבְנֵיAnd the sons ofמִדְיָןMidianעֵיפָהEphahוָעֵפֶרand Epherוַחֲנֹךְand Enochוַאֲבִידָעand Abidaוְאֶלְדָּעָהand Eldaahכָּלallאֵלֶּהtheseבְּנֵיwere descendants ofקְטוּרָה׃Keturah

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיִּתֵּןAnd he gaveאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאֶת—כָּלall ofאֲשֶׁרthatלוֹwas to himלְיִצְחָק׃to Yitzchak

רַשִׁ״י

ויתןAnd Abraham gaveאברהם·וגו'.etc.אָמַרsaidרַ'RabbiנְחֶמְיָהNehemiahבְּרָכָהthe blessingדִּיאַתִּיקֵי,as a legacyשֶׁאָמַרfor He saidלוֹto himהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneלְאַבְרָהָםto Avrahamוֶהְיֵהand beבְּרָכָה,a blessingהַבְּרָכוֹתthe blessingsמְסוּרוֹתare deliveredבְּיָדְךָin your handלְבָרֵךְto blessאֶת—מִיwhoeverשֶׁתִּרְצֶה,that you wishוְאַבְרָהָםand Avrahamמְסָרָןdelivered themלְיִצְחָקto YitzchakבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וְלִבְנֵיand to the sons ofהַפִּילַגְשִׁיםthe concubinesאֲשֶׁרthatלְאַבְרָהָםbelonged to AvrahamנָתַןgaveאַבְרָהָםAvrahamמַתָּנֹתgiftsוַיְשַׁלְּחֵםand he sent themמֵעַלaway fromיִצְחָקYitzchakבְּנוֹhis sonבְּעוֹדֶנּוּwhile he was stillחַיaliveקֵדְמָהeastwardאֶלtoאֶרֶץthe land ofקֶדֶם׃the East

רַשִׁ״י

הפילגשים.The concubinesחָסֵרdeficientכְּתִיב,it is writtenשֶׁלֹּאfor notהָיְתָהthere wasאֶלָּאbutפִּלֶגֶשׁconcubineאַחַת,oneהִיאshe isהָגָר,Hagarהִיאshe isקְטוּרָהKeturahבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah.נָשִׁיםWives areבִּכְתֻבָּה,with a ketubahפִּילַגְשִׁיםconcubines areבְּלֹאwithoutכְּתֻבָּה,a ketubahכִּדְאָמְרִינַןas we sayבְּסַנְהֶדְרִין,in Sanhedrinבְּנָשִׁיםregarding wivesוּפִילַגְשִׁיםand concubinesדְּדָוִד:of Dovid

רַשִׁ״י

נתןgaveאברהםAvrahamמתנות.giftsפֵּרְשׁוּexplainedרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisשֵׁםthe name ofטֻמְאָהimpurityמָסַרhe transmittedלָהֶםto themסנהדריןSanhedrinצ"א91.דָּ"אַanother explanationמַהthat whichשֶּׁנִּתַּןwas givenלוֹto himעַלonאוֹדוֹתaccount ofשָׂרָהSarahוּשְׁאָרand otherמַתָּנוֹתgiftsשֶׁנִתְּנוּthat were givenלוֹ,to himהַכֹּלall of itנָתַןhe gaveלָהֶם,to themשֶׁלֹּאbecause notרָצָהhe wantedלֵהָנוֹתto benefitמֵהֶם:from them

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וְאֵלֶּהAnd these areיְמֵיthe days ofשְׁנֵיthe years ofחַיֵּיthe life ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamאֲשֶׁרwhichחָיhe livedמְאַתone hundredשָׁנָהyearsוְשִׁבְעִיםand seventyשָׁנָהyearsוְחָמֵשׁand fiveשָׁנִים׃years

רַשִׁ״י

מאתA hundredשנהyearsושבעיםand seventyשנהyearsוחמשand fiveשנים.yearsבֶּןat the age ofק'one hundredכְּבֶןwas like one ofע'seventyוּבֶןand at the age ofע'seventyכְּבֶןwas like one ofה'fiveבְּלֹאwithoutחֵטְא:sin

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיִּגְוַעAnd he expiredוַיָּמָתand he diedאַבְרָהָםAvrahamבְּשֵׂיבָהin an old ageטוֹבָהgoodזָקֵןelderlyוְשָׂבֵעַand satisfiedוַיֵּאָסֶףand he was gatheredאֶלtoעַמָּיו׃his peoples

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיִּקְבְּרוּAnd they buriedאֹתוֹhimיִצְחָקYitzchakוְיִשְׁמָעֵאלand Yishmaelבָּנָיוhis sonsאֶלinמְעָרַתthe cave ofהַמַּכְפֵּלָהMachpelahאֶלinשְׂדֵהthe field ofעֶפְרֹןEphronבֶּןson ofצֹחַרZoharהַחִתִּיthe Hittiteאֲשֶׁרwhich isעַלfacingפְּנֵי·מַמְרֵא׃Mamre

רַשִׁ״י

יצחקYitzchakוישמעאל.and Yishmaelמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁעָשָׂהthat didיִשְׁמָעֵאלYishmaelתְּשׁוּבָהrepentanceוְהוֹלִיךְand ledאֶת—יִצְחָקYitzchakלְפָנָיו,before himוְהִיאand sheשֵׂיבָהold ageטוֹבָהgoodשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat was saidבְּאַבְרָהָםregarding AvrahamבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

הַשָּׂדֶהthe fieldאֲשֶׁרwhichקָנָהboughtאַבְרָהָםAvrahamמֵאֵתfromבְּנֵיthe sons ofחֵתChesשָׁמָּהthereקֻבַּרwas buriedאַבְרָהָםAvrahamוְשָׂרָהand Sarahאִשְׁתּוֹ׃his wife

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיְהִיAnd it wasאַחֲרֵיafterמוֹתthe death ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamוַיְבָרֶךְand blessedאֱלֹהִיםGodאֶת—יִצְחָקYitzchakבְּנוֹhis sonוַיֵּשֶׁבand settledיִצְחָקYitzchakעִםnearבְּאֵרBe'erלַחַיLachaiרֹאִי׃Roi

רַשִׁ״י

ויהיAnd it wasאחריafterמותthe death ofאברהםAvrahamויברךand He blessedוגו'.etc.נִחֲמוֹHe comforted himתַּנְחוּמֵיwith consolations ofאֲבֵלִים.mournersדָּ"אַAnother explanationאַעַ"פִּeven thoughשֶׁמָּסַרthat He entrustedהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessedאֶת—הַבְּרָכוֹתthe blessingsלְאַבְרָהָם,to Avrahamנִתְיָרֵאhe fearedלְבָרֵךְto blessאֶת—יִצְחָקYitzchakמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁצָּפָהthat he foresawאֶת—עֵשָׂוEsavיוֹצֵאcoming outמִמֶּנוּ,from himאָמַרhe saidיָבֹאlet comeבַּעַלthe Master ofהַבְּרָכוֹתthe blessingsוִיבָרֵךְand blessאֵת—אֲשֶׁרwhomיִיטַבit is goodבְּעֵינָיו,in His eyesוּבָאand cameהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessedוּבֵרְכוֹand blessed himסוטהSotahי"ד14:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah continues with the histalkus of Avraham Avinu at the age of one hundred and seventy-five. He is buried in Me'aras HaMachpelah by his sons Yitzchak and Yishmael, who show their respect and teshuvah by letting Yitzchak lead. Following Avraham's passing, Hashem blesses Yitzchak, who establishes his home near Beer-lahai-roi.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah tells us that Avraham Avinu gave everything he had to Yitzchak, "es kol asher lo." But lichoira, we see in the very next pasuk that he also gave gifts to the sons of the concubines and sent them away. The Chachamim in the Gemara ask, what is this inheritance that went b'davka to Yitzchak if there were still physical gifts left over for the others? Rashi brings down the beautiful Chazal that Avraham passed on the spiritual power of the berachah that Hashem had given him. Avraham said, "The key to all berachos is now in the hands of Yitzchak."

This is a massive chiddush in how we look at what we leave behind and what we build in our homes. A person can work his whole life to amass gashmius, physical assets and gifts to distribute. But the real inheritance, the "kol asher lo" that defines a Jewish home, is the ruchnius, the emunah, and the connection to Hashem. Avraham Avinu understood that physical gifts are just temporary things you send away to the East, but the true, everlasting berachah must be concentrated and handed down directly to the next generation to carry on the mesorah.

We sometimes get so busy worrying about providing the physical "gifts" for our children, making sure they have every material comfort, that we forget to focus on the main thing. The real legacy we give over is our own yiras Shamayim, our warmth for a mitzvah, and our d'veikus to Hashem. That is the ultimate berachah that sustains them long after we are gone, just as Hashem blessed Yitzchak immediately after Avraham passed away.

Today, when you sit down with your children or speak to a family member, don't just focus on their material needs. Spend five minutes sharing a warm vort, showing them your love for a mitzvah, or telling them how much you trust in Hashem, giving them the real, everlasting berachah of Avraham.