************************************************************* THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org] In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag ************************************************************* PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH A WIFE FROM 'TOLDOT TERACH' "YICHUS" [family lineage] has always been an important consideration when selecting one's spouse. Nevertheless, Avraham's insistence that his 'chosen' son marry specifically a descendant of his brother NACHOR requires explanation. In this week's shiur, we return to our discussion of the "toldot" in Sefer Breishit in order to answer this question. INTRODUCTION As you surely must have noticed, the phrase "Eileh TOLDOT..." appears numerous times in Sefer Breishit. In our shiur on Parshat Noach, we explained how these "toldot" [genealogies] form the 'backbone' of Sefer Breishit. In that shiur, we also explained how Sefer Breishit divided into two distinct sections. The first eleven chapters included three units that began with "toldot", each unit containing a primary story relating to God's dissatisfaction with mankind's behavior: Adam's sin in Gan Eden (and Cain's sin) /chapters 2->4, The corruption of Dor Ha-MABUL / the Flood -chps. 5->9 The story of Migdal Bavel & their dispersion / chps 10->11. After that incident - the Torah begins the 'second (and primary) section of Sefer Breishit - introduced by "toldot Shem" (see 11:10). From this point and onward, the focus of the Sefer shifts to God's choice of Avraham Avinu to become the forefather of His model nation [what we refer to as the "bechira" process]. Each unit of this section is introduced by "toladot" as well, be it "toldot Yishmael" or "toldot Yitzchak" etc, concluding with the story of Yosef and his brothers - introduced by "eileh toldot Yaakov" (see 37:2). Sefer Breishit ends, as of ALL Yaakov's offspring are chosen to become Am Yisrael - God's special nation. Our introduction as noted the rather obvious 'linear' progression of "toladot" in Sefer Breishit. We begin our shiur, by noting the existence a 'parallel' progression as well, which will highlight the significance of the pasuk that introduces "toldot Terach". Afterward, we will show how the nation of Israel stems not only from Avraham Avinu, but from Terach as well. [And we'll try to explain why.] CHARTING THE TOLDOT The following chart illustrates the progression of these "toldot" in Sefer Breishit. The chart lists the names that follow the phrase "eileh toldot..." and highlights the parallel in their progression in each of the two sections described above. [The '*' star symbol represents the phrase "eileh toldot".]] Study this chart carefully. SEFER BREISHIT - UNITS OF "EILEH TOLDOT..." CHAPTERS 1->11 CHAPTERS 11->50 * ADAM (see 5:1) * SHEM (see 11:10) ten generations to: ten generations to: * NOACH (6:9) * TERACH (11:27) 3 sons: 3 sons: Shem, Cham, & Yefet AVRAHAM, Haran, & Nachor | | *YISHMAEL (25:12-rejected) * BNEI NOACH (10:1) * YITZCHAK (26:1) | | * ESAV (36:1- rejected) | * YAAKOV (37:1-2) | | 70 nations (10:1-32) 70 nefesh" become God's Nation As you study this chart, note how the chart divides according to the two sections described above. Note also how the "bechira" process includes a "dechiya" [rejection] stage together with each "bechira" stage. Finally, note how each section concludes with seventy! [Additional parallels will be noted as we continue.] 'TEN GENERATIONS' - TWICE! As the chart shows, each 'section' begins with a detailed listing of 'ten generations' Section One: - 5:1-32 / from Adam to Noach) Section Two - 11:10-26 / from Shem to Terach [Technically speaking one may be 9 generations, but it’s the overall pattern that is very similar.] This opening 'structural' parallel supports the thematic parallel between these two sections, which we discussed in our shiur on Parshat Breishit. In that shiur, we explained how the second section of Sefer Breishit begins with "toldot SHEM", and hence the story of Avraham's "bechira". As God's choice of his offspring was for the purpose of lead mankind in the direction of God - it was significant that this section began with the "SHEM", whose name reflects man's purpose - to call out "be-'SHEM HASHEM". Strikingly, this structural parallel extends beyond the similarity of these two 'ten-generation' units. Note from the above chart how the middle and conclusion of each list bear a remarkable resemblance as well: Most obvious is how we find the number 70 at the conclusion of each unit. But more intriguing is the parallel that emerges in the middle! Note how: *Toldot ADAM concludes with NOACH, after which we find TOLDOT NOACH, & the story of his 3 sons SHEM, CHAM, & YEFET. (See 5:28-32; 6:9) * TOLDOT SHEM concludes with TERACH, after which we find TOLDOT TERACH, & the story of his 3 sons AVRAM, NACHOR, & HARAN. (See 11:24-26; 11:27) Furthermore, the three sons of Noach, like the three sons of Terach receive either a special blessing or curse: * Avraham, like Shem, is blessed with the privilege of representing God. * Haran's son Lot, like Cham's son Canaan, is involved in a sin relating to incest. * Nachor's offspring Rivka, Rachel & Leah return to 'dwell within the tent' of the children of Avraham, just as Yefet is destined to dwell within the 'tent of SHEM’. [See 9:24-27 /"yaft Elokim l'Yefet ve-yishkon be-ohalei Shem".] Even though the meaning of these parallels requires further elaboration, for our purposes here the parallel itself calls our attention to the significance of "toldot Terach". TOLDAT TERACH vs. TOLDAT AVRAHAM In fact, the phrase "toldot Terach" appears right where we may have expected to find a unit beginning with "toldot Avraham"! To our surprise, even though we later find units that begin with "toldot Yitzchak" and "toldot Yaakov" [and even "toldot Yishmael" & "toldot Esav"], we never find a unit that begins with "toldot Avraham! Instead, at the precise spot where we would expect to find a unit beginning with "toldot Avraham", we find a unit that begins with "toldot Terach". This alone already hints to the fact that there must be something special about Terach. This observation also explains why Sefer Breishit dedicates so much detail to the story of Lot. Since the phrase "toldot Terach" forms the header for parshiot Lech Lecha, Vayera and Chayei Sarah, this unit must include not only the story of Avraham, but the story of the children of Nachor and Haran (Lot), as well. Thus, in addition to the life story of Avraham himself, these "parshiot" also discuss: * Lot's decision to leave Avraham Avinu, preferring the 'good life' in Sdom (13:1-18( * Avraham's rescue of Lot from the four kings (14:1-24) * God's sparing of Lot from destruction of Sdom (19:1-24) * The birth of Lot's two sons - Ammon & Moav (19:30-38) * The 12 children of Nachor (22:20-24) [8 sons from his wife and 4 from his pilegesh (Sounds familiar?)] * Avraham's marrying off his son to Nachor's granddaughter Hence, Parshat Chayei Sarah forms a most appropriate conclusion for this unit that began with "toldot Terach". Avraham makes a point of selecting a daughter-in-law specifically from the family of his brother, Nachor, thus bringing the history of "toldot Terach" full circle. As we will show in our shiur, all of Terach's offspring may have potential for "bechira". Therefore, if Yitzchak is to be married, his wife should be chosen from the family in which this potential lies. Herein may also lie the reason why Nachor and Avraham themselves married 'within the family' - the daughters of Haran (see 11:29 and Rashi's identification of Yiskah as Sarah). WHY TERACH? What was so special about Terach that he 'deserves' his own "toldot"? It is really hard to know since the Torah tells us so little about him. On the one hand, Sefer Yehoshua introduces Nachor as almost a paradigm for the life of an idolater (see Yehoshua 24:2). Yet, as the end of Parshat Noach teaches us, Terach was the first person to recognize the spiritual importance of Eretz Canaan. He set out to 'make aliya' even BEFORE God had commanded Avraham to do so (see 11:31 & Seforno's explanation). Even though this may sound a bit too 'zionistic', considering that this is the ONLY detail we find in the Torah concerning Terach - one could suggest that Terach's merit lay simply in his having been the first person to move his family towards Eretz Canaan. [In the 'spirit' of "ma’aseh avot siman la-banim" - Terach could actually be considered the first 'Zionist' (in a modern day sense). Like any good Zionist, Terach plans to 'make aliya' and even encourages his family to do so, but he himself never makes it there.] We may suggest, however, a more thematically significant approach. Terach and his offspring may represent a certain aspect of the "bechira" process - wherein there lies a potential to be chosen - but only if worthy. Terach's initiative in this regard may have granted the possibility of becoming part of 'chosen family' to any of his offspring who prove themselves deserving of this distinction. Avraham Avinu not only follows his father's lead and continues to Eretz Canaan, but also follows faithfully God's command throughout. He then becomes the progenitor of God's special nation. Nachor, however, stays behind. Lot (Haran's son) had the opportunity to remain with Avraham, but detaches himself by choosing the 'good life' in Kikar Ha-yarden (see shiur on Parshat Lech Lecha). However, Nachor's granddaughter, Rivka, and great-granddaughters, Rachel & Leah, prove themselves worthy of joining the distinctive nation, and work their way back into the family of Avraham. In fact, this may explain the reason for the Torah's minute detail of Rivka's hospitality - in the story of how she was chosen to become the wife for Yitzchak. Even though the "bechira" process at times may appear random and indiscriminate, the framework of "toldot Terach" may reflect the importance of personal commitment in earning that "bechira". Once again, a lesson from which we can remind ourselves that our nation was note chosen simply to receive divine privilege, but rather towards the destiny of an eternal responsibility. shabbat shalom menachem ========= FOR FURTHER IYUN 1. See Ramban on 15:18 where he beautifully reviews each of God's promises to Avraham Avinu in Parshat Lech Lecha, and the nature of their progression, and most important - how each additional promise reflected some type of reward to Avraham for his idealistic behavior. Relate the underlying concept behind this Ramban to the main points of the above shiur. See also Seforno on 26:5 in relation to God's promise to Yitzchak, and the need of the Avot to 'prove' that they were worthy of their "bechira". 2. 'Ten' generations - in our shiur, we noted that there were ten generations from Adam to Noach, and ten as well from Shem to Terach. To be more precise, there are really ten from Noach to Avraham (as Pirkei Avot mentions) and only eight from Shem to Terach, but we used the 'phrase' ten generations to reflect the common pattern of continuous list of a succession of toldot from one generation to the next beginning with one statement of "eileh toldot" and ending with a final statement of "eileh toldot". The parallel remains the same; for the sake of uniformity, we simply refer to this pattern as 'ten' generations. 3. TOLDOT AVRAHAM We saw earlier that every chosen individual in Sefer Breishit receives his own 'eileh toldot' EXCEPT Avraham! If indeed the header "toldot" reflects this bechira process, then certainly Avraham himself deserves one. Yet, for some reason, the Torah includes the story of Avraham's "bechira" within the category of Toldot Terach. This enigma may suggest something unique about either Avraham's own "bechira" or his ability to have children (or both). In other words, Avraham's lack of "toldot" [remember: literally, offspring] may relate to his infertility. He and Sarah have a child only after a long and exasperating process. Avraham and Sarah's names must be changed and a miracle must be performed simply for the child to be born. Even then, the process has yet to be completed - the child must return to Hashem at the Akeida. Thus, the lack of any mention of 'toldot Avraham' could reflect the difficult travails Avraham must endure in order to father and raise his child. [This may also explain why "Avraham HOLID et Yitzchak" is added to "eileh toldot Yitzchak[." Nonetheless, the question still remains stronger than the answer.