Parsha Lech Lecha

(12,1) Adonoy said to Avram, Go from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, [and go] to the land that I will show you.

(12,2) I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you and make your name great; and you will be a blessing [and you will be blessed].

(12,3) I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you, I will curse; and through you [and because of you], will be blessed all the families of the earth.

(12,4) Avram went as Adonoy had told him, and Lot went with him. Avram was seventy-five years old when he left Charan.

(12,5) Avram took his wife Sarai, Lot, his brother’s son, all their possessions they had acquired, and the souls [people] that they had made [converted] in Charan, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. They came to the land of Canaan.

(12,6) Avram passed [traveled] through the land until the place of Shechem, until the Plain of Moreh. The Canaanites were then in the land.

(12,7) Adonoy appeared [became revealed] to Avram and said: To your descendants I will give this land. There he built an altar to [before] Adonoy Who had appeared [been revealed] to him.

(12,8) From there he moved [ascended] to the mountain that was east of Beis-Eil and set up his tent. Beis-Eil was to the west and Ai was to the east. There he built an altar to [before] Adonoy, and he proclaimed the Name, [and he prayed in the Name,] Adonoy.

(12,9) Avram journeyed, traveling steadily southward.

(12,10) There was a famine in the land. Avram went down to Egypt to live there temporarily, for the famine was severe in the land.

(12,11) As he came near and was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, Behold, I now realize that you are a woman of beautiful appearance.

(12,12) It will happen when the Egyptians see you that they will say: This is his wife. They will kill me and let you live.

(12,13) Please [Now] say [therefore] that you are my sister, so that it will go well with me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you [through your words].

(12,14) And it was when Avram was entering Egypt, that the Egyptians beheld the woman, because she was very beautiful.

(12,15) Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh. The woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house.

(12,16) He treated Avram well for her sake. He thus acquired sheep, oxen, donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys and camels.

(12,17) Adonoy afflicted Pharaoh with severe plagues [brought severe plagues upon Pharaoh], and also his household, because of Sarai, Avram’s wife.

(12,18) Pharaoh summoned Avram and said: What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she is your wife?

(12,19) Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I should take her to myself for a wife? Now here is your wife, take [her] and go.

(12,20) Pharaoh assigned men to him and they escorted him and his wife and all that was his.

(13,1) Avram went up from Egypt; he, his wife, and all that he had, together with Lot into the south.

(13,2) Avram was very wealthy in livestock, silver and gold.

(13,3) He continued on his travels from the south to Beis-Eil, until the place where he originally had [set up] his tent, between Beis-Eil and Ai.

(13,4) To the site of the altar which he made there at first; and there Avram called [prayed] in the Name of Adonoy.

(13,5) Lot who accompanied Avram also had sheep, cattle and tents.

(13,6) The land was unable to support them that they might dwell together, for their wealth was so great that they were unable to dwell together.

(13,7) There was a quarrel between the herdsmen of Avram’s flocks and the herdsmen of Lot’s flocks. The Canaanites and the Perizzites were then living in the land.

(13,8) Avram said to Lot: Please [Now], let there not be strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.

(13,9) Is not all the land before you? Please [Now] separate from me, if [you go] to the left [north], I [will go] to the right [south], and if [you go] to the right [south], I [will go] to the left [north].

(13,10) Lot raised his eyes and saw the entire Jordan Plain, that it was [an] abundantly watered [place]; before Adonoy destroyed Sedom and Amorah, it was like Adonoy’s garden, like the land of Egypt, going towards Zoar.

(13,11) Lot chose for himself the entire Jordan Plain; Lot journeyed from the east [before], and they separated one from another.

(13,12) Avram lived in the land of Canaan; and Lot lived in the cities of the Plain, setting up his tents as far as Sedom.

(13,13) The people of Sedom were wicked [with their property] and sinful [with their bodies] towards [before] Adonoy, exceedingly.

(13,14) Adonoy said to Avram after Lot had separated from him: Raise your eyes and look about from the place where you are, to the north, to the south to the east and to the west.

(13,15) For all the land that you see I give to you and to your descendants forever.

(13,16) I will make your descendants [numerous] as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your descendants too will be countable [just as it is impossible for a man to count the dust of the earth, so too your descendants will not be countable].

(13,17) Rise, walk through the land—its length and breadth—for to you I will give it.

(13,18) Avram set up his tent, and he came and settled in the Plains of Mamrei which are in Chevron, and he built there an altar to [before] Adonoy.

(14,1) This happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar [Babylon], Aryoch, king of Elasar, Kedorlaomer, king of Ailam, and Tidal, king of Goyim [king of peoples].

(14,2) They waged war against Bera, king of Sedom, Birsha, king of Amorah, Shinav, king of Admah, Shemeiver, king of Tzevoyim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.

(14,3) All these joined together [assembled] at the valley of Siddim [the plain of the fields], which is [now] [the place of] the Salt Sea.

(14,4) [For] twelve years they had served Kedorlaomer, and for thirteen years they rebelled.

(14,5) In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer came together with the kings that were with him and they defeated the Rephaim [the mighty ones] in Ashteros Karnayim, the Zuzim [the powerful ones] in Ham, the Aimim [the ones that incite fear] at Shaveh Kiryasayim,

(14,6) And the Chorites in their hills of Seir, as far as Eil [the Plain of] Paran which borders [is next to] the wilderness.

(14,7) They turned back and came to Ein Mishpat [the plain of compromise] which is Kadeish [Rekem], and they struck all the territory of Amaleik, as well as the Emorites who lived in Chazazon Tamar [Ein Gedi].

(14,8) The king of Sedom set out, along with the king of Amorah, the king of Admah, the king of Tzevoyim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar, and engaged them in battle in the Valley of Siddim [in the plain of the fields].

(14,9) Against Kedorlaomer, king of Eilam, Sidal, king of Goyim [king of peoples], Amraphel, king of Shinar [Babylon], and Aryoch, king of Elasar; [there were] four kings against the five.

(14,10) The Valley of Siddim [The plain of the fields] was [full of] mortar pits [pits from which they raise up mortar]; [and when] the Kings of Sedom and Amorah fled they fell there [into the pits], while the remainder fled to the mountains.

(14,11) They took [captured] all the wealth of Sedom and Amorah and all their provisions and they went on their way.

(14,12) They took [captured] Lot and his wealth. [Lot was] Avram’s nephew. Then they went on their way. He had been living in Sedom.

(14,13) The one who had escaped came and told Avram the Ivri, who was living in the Plains of Mamrei the Emorite, the brother of Eshkol and Aneir. They were Avram’s allies.

(14,14) When Avram heard that his kinsman was taken captive, he armed his trained servants [lads] who were born in his household, three hundred and eighteen [men], and he pursued [them] until Dan.

(14,15) He divided [his men] against them at night, he and his servants and he attacked them. He pursued them until Chovah, which is to the left [north] of Damascus.

(14,16) He brought back all the property. His kinsman [His brother’s son] Lot and his possessions he also brought back, as well as the women and the people.

(14,17) The King of Sedom went out to meet him after his return from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, to the Valley of Shaveh which is the King’s Valley [to the barren plain, which is the place of the racetrack of the king].

(14,18) Malki Zedek, king of Shaleim [Yerushalayim], brought out bread and wine. He was a Kohein of [He was serving before] the Most High Almighty.

(14,19) He blessed him and said: Blessed be Avram to the Most High, Almighty Possessor of heaven and earth.

(14,20) And blessed be the Most High Almighty Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. [Avram] gave him a tenth of everything.

(14,21) The King of Sedom said to Avram: Give me the people, and take the possessions for yourself.

(14,22) Avram said to the King of Sedom: I have lifted my hand [in prayer] to [before] Adonoy [before] the Most High Almighty, Possessor of heaven and earth.

(14,23) Neither a thread nor a shoelace! And I will not take anything of yours, so you will not [be able] to say, I have made Avram wealthy.

(14,24) I am excluding myself; only what the lads have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me, Aneir, Eshkol and Mamrei, they may take their portion.

(15,1) After these events, the word of Adonoy came to Avram in a vision, saying: Fear not Avram, I am your shield [My Word is your strength], your reward is very great.

(15,2) Avram said: My Master, God, what will You give me since I continue to be childless, and the manager of my household [this supplier who is in my house] is Eliezer of Damascus.

(15,3) And Avram said: Behold, You have not given me children, and thus one of my household will be my heir.

(15,4) Suddenly the word of Adonoy came to him, saying: That one will not be your heir; only he that will come from within your body [a son that you will beget] will be your heir.

(15,5) He [then] took him outside and said: Look towards the heavens and count the stars if you are able to count them. He then said to him: So [numerous] will your descendants be.

(15,6) He believed in [the Word of] Adonoy, and this He accounted to him for righteousness.

(15,7) He said to him: I am Adonoy who brought you out of Ur Kasdim, to give to you this land as an inheritance.

(15,8) And he said: My Master, God, how will I know that I will inherit it?

(15,9) He said to him: Bring Me [Sacrifice before Me] three heifers, three goats and three rams, a dove, and a young pigeon.

(15,10) He brought [sacrificed] all these to [before] Him; he split them in the middle [into two equal parts], and placed each piece opposite the other. The bird, however, he did not split.

(15,11) Birds of prey [vultures] descended upon the carcasses, but Avram drove them away.

(15,12) As the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Avram; and behold, a dread of deep darkness fell upon him.

(15,13) And He [Adonoy] said to Avram: Know for sure that your descendants will be foreigners in a land that is not theirs. They will enslave them and oppress them [for] four hundred years.

(15,14) But also that nation whom they will serve I will judge; afterwards they will leave with great wealth.

(15,15) You will join your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.

(15,16) The fourth generation will return here, for the sin of the Emorites will not be complete until then [now].

(15,17) The sun set and it became very dark; and behold, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch had passed between these pieces.

(15,18) On that day Adonoy made a covenant with Avram, saying: To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the Euphrates.

(15,19) [The lands of] the Kenites [Shalmites], Kenizites, Kadmonites,

(15,20) The Chittites, Perizites, the Refa’im [the mighty ones],

(15,21) The Emorites, Canaanites Girgashites and Yevusites.

(16,1) Avram’s wife Sarai had not borne him children. She had an Egyptian handmaid whose name was Hagar.

(16,2) Sarai said to Avram: See now, Adonoy has restrained me from having children; pray [now], come to my handmaid perhaps I will be built-up through her. Avram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

(16,3) Sarai, the wife of Avram took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, at the end of ten years that Avram had lived in the Land of Canaan and gave her to Avram her husband to be his wife.

(16,4) He came to Hagar and she conceived. When she realized that she was pregnant, her mistress became slighted in her eyes.

(16,5) Sarai said to Avram: The insult against me is your fault [I have a judgment against you]. I gave my maid to you and when she saw that she had conceived, I became slighted in her eyes. Let Adonoy judge between me and you.

(16,6) Avram said to Sarai: [The fate of] your maid is in your hands, do with her as you see fit. Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she [Hagar] ran away from her.

(16,7) An angel of Adonoy found her by a spring of water in the desert, at the spring on the road to Shur [Chagar].

(16,8) And he said: Hagar, handmaid of Sarai, from where have you come and where are you going? She said: I am running away from my mistress, Sarai.

(16,9) The angel of Adonoy said to her: Return to your mistress and submit yourself to her.

(16,10) The angel of Adonoy said to her: I will greatly multiply your descendants that they can not be counted because of their great number.

(16,11) The angel of Adonoy said to her: Behold you will conceive, and give birth to a son. You shall name him Yishmael, for Adonoy has heard [accepted] your prayer.

(16,12) He will be a wild, uncivilized man [rebel against people]. His hand [will be] against everyone [He will need everyone] and everyone’s hand will be against him [and everyone’s hand will need him]; and in the presence of all his brothers he will dwell.

(16,13) She called [She prayed in] the Name Adonoy Who had spoken to her: [She said] You are Almighty Who sees [everything], for she said: Have I also seen here [a vestige] after my having seen? [Have I also began to see here [a vestige] after it was revealed to me?]

(16,14) Therefore the well was called: Be’er Lachai Ro’i [the well at which a living angel appeared]; it is between Kadeish [Rekem] and Bared [Chagar].

(16,15) Hagar bore Avram a son and Avram named his son, that Hagar bore him, Yishmael.

(16,16) Avram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Yishmael to Avram.

(17,1) When Avram was ninety-nine years old, Adonoy appeared [became revealed] to Avram and said to him: I am Almighty Shaddai, walk [worship] before Me and be perfect.

(17,2) I will give My covenant between Me [My Word] and you, and I will multiply you[r descendants] exceedingly.

(17,3) Avram fell on his face. Elohim spoke with him, saying:

(17,4) As for Me, here is My covenant with you; you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.

(17,5) No longer shall your name be called Avram, but your name shall be Avraham, for the father of a multitude of nations I have appointed you.

(17,6) I will make you exceedingly fruitful and I will make you into nations [assemblies]; and kings [who rule over nations] will descend from you.

(17,7) I will sustain My covenant between Me [My Word] and you, and between your descendants after you throughout their generations as an eternal covenant, to be a God to you, and to your descendants after you.

(17,8) I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your temporary residence, all the land of Canaan as an eternal possession, and I will be a God to them.

(17,9) Elohim said to Avraham: And as for you, you must preserve My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

(17,10) This is My covenant which you must preserve between Me [My Word] and you, and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.

(17,11) You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin. This shall be the sign of the covenant between Me [My Word] and you.

(17,12) At the age of eight days every male among you must be circumcised, throughout your generations; he that is a house-born [slave] or one that was bought with money from any stranger who is not your descendant.

(17,13) Your house-born slaves must be circumcised, and also those bought with your money. This shall be My covenant in your flesh as an eternal covenant.

(17,14) An uncircumcised male, who will not circumcise his foreskin, that soul [man] shall be cut off from its people; he has broken [changed] My covenant.

(17,15) And Elohim said to Avraham [As for] Sarai your wife, do not call her by the name Sarai, for Sarah is her name.

(17,16) I will bless her, and I will also give you a son through her. I will bless her, and she will be [a mother] of nations [assemblies], kings of peoples [who rule over nations] will descend from her.

(17,17) Avraham fell on his face and laughed [rejoiced]. He said in his heart: Can a hundred year old man have children? Shall Sarah, who is ninety years old give birth?

(17,18) And Avraham said to [before] Elohim: May it be granted that Yishmael live before You.

(17,19) Elohim said: Indeed, your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Yitzchok. I will establish My covenant with him as an eternal covenant to his descendants after him.

(17,20) And as for Yishmael, I have heard you [I have accepted your prayer]. I have blessed him, and I will make him fruitful, and will increase him exceedingly. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.

(17,21) But I will establish My covenant with Yitzchok, who Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.

(17,22) And when He finished speaking with him, [the Glory of] Elohim ascended from Avraham.

(17,23) Avraham took his son, Yishmael, and all those that were born in his household, and all that he had bought with his money, every male member of Avraham’s household, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskin on that very day as Elohim had said to him.

(17,24) Avraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

(17,25) And his son Yishmael was thirteen years old when he circumcised the flesh of his foreskin.

(17,26) On that very day Avraham and his son Yishmael were circumcised.

(17,27) All the men of his household, those born in his household, and bought with money from a stranger, were circumcised with him.