Vayera: Chapter 9

"And, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son"

Synopsis

When we do not pursue spiritual growth for the purpose of drawing close to The Creator, our true Father, we behave as disrespectful, uncaring children. Therefore, recognizing the Creator as our true Father should be motivation for spiritual growth and transformation.

Relevance

A child cannot truly grow and develop to its fullest without the tenderness, care, and nurturing that a loving parent provides. When we live life without appreciation or comprehension of the Creator, we cannot grow and develop spiritually. The influences of this passage arouse an awareness of the Creator, our true source and origin, along with all the other precious qualities found in children who seek security and comfort from a parent.

Abraham Hagar Isaac Sarah

141. "And, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son" (Beresheet 18:10). HE ASKS, Why does the verse not read, 'And, lo, you shall have a son?' AND HE REPLIES, So that he may not assume that he will be born to Hagar as before. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion by saying, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master" (Malachi 1:6). The words "A son honors his father" refer to Isaac honoring Abraham.

141. וְהִנֵּה בֵן לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתְּךָ. מ"ט לָא כְתִיב וְהִנֵּה בֵן לְךָ, אֶלָּא בְּגִין דְּלָא יַחֲשׁוֹב דְּהָא מִן הָגָר אִיהוּ, כִּדְבְקַדְמֵיתָא. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן פָּתַח וְאָמַר, בֵּן יְכַבֵּד אָב וְעֶבֶד אֲדוֹנָיו. בֵּן יְכַבֵּד אָב, דָּא יִצְחָק לְאַבְרָהָם.

Abraham Altar Isaac Lambs Sacrifice Year

142. When did he honor him? Isaac was 37 years old when Abraham bound him on the altar and offered him as a sacrifice. Abraham was so old that he could not have countered an attack from Isaac - not even a kick with one foot. But Isaac honored his father, who bound him like a lamb, AND SHOWED NO RESISTANCE, in order to fulfill his father's will.

142. אֵימָתַי כַּבֵּיד לֵיהּ, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דַּעֲקַד לֵיהּ עַל גַּבֵּי מַדְבְּחָא, וּבְעָא לְמִקְרַב לֵיהּ קָרְבָּנָא, וְיִצְחָק בַּר תְּלָתִין וּשְׁבַע שְׁנִין הֲוָה, וְאַבְרָהָם הֲוָה סָבָא, דְּאִילוּ הֲוָה בָּעִיט בְּרַגְלָא חַד, לָא יָכִיל לְמֵיקַם קַמֵיהּ, וְאִיהוּ אוֹקִיר לֵיהּ לַאֲבוֹי, וַעֲקַד לֵיהּ כְּחַד אִימְרָא, בְּגִין לְמֶעְבַּד רְעוּתֵיהּ דַּאֲבוֹי.

Abraham Eliezer Haran

143. An example of a servant honoring his master is Eliezer to Abraham, whom Abraham sent to Charan. There, Eliezer honored Abraham by fulfilling his wishes, as it is written, "And Hashem has blessed my master greatly..." (Beresheet 24:35), as well as "And he said, I am Abraham's servant" (Ibid. 34). He did all of this to show respect to Abraham.

143. וְעֶבֶד אֲדוֹנָיו: דָּא אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְאַבְרָהָם. כַּד שַׁדַּר לֵיהּ לְחָרָן, וַעֲבַד כָּל רְעוּתֵיהּ דְּאַבְרָהָם, וְאוֹקִיר לֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִכְתִיב וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אֲדוֹנִי וגו'. וּכְתִיב וַיֹּאמֶר עֶבֶד אַבְרָהָם אָנֹכִי. בְּגִין לְאוֹקִיר לֵיהּ לְאַבְרָהָם.

Abraham Camels Eliezer Gold Silver Stones

144. Eliezer is a man who carried silver, gold, precious stones, and camels. He himself was good looking and impressive in appearance. Nevertheless, he did not say that he was a dear friend or a relative of Abraham. Instead, he said, "I am Abraham's servant," in order to raise the esteem of Abraham and make them respect him.

144. דְּהָא בַּר נָשׁ דַּהֲוָה מַיְיתֵי כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב, וְאַבְנֵי יְקָר וּגְמַלִּין, וְאִיהוּ כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, שַׁפִּיר בְּחֵיזוּ, לָא אֲמַר דְּאִיהוּ רְחִימָא דְּאַבְרָהָם, אוֹ קָרִיבָא דִּילֵיהּ. אֶלָּא אֲמַר, עֶבֶד אַבְרָהָם אָנֹכִי, בְּגִין לְסַלְּקָא בְּשִׁבְחָא דְּאַבְרָהָם, וּלְאוֹקִיר לֵיהּ בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ.

Ishmael

145. Therefore, the verse reads, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master," - but you Yisrael, my children, you are ashamed to say that I am your father or that you are My servants. So "...if then I am a father, where is my honor...?" (Malachi 1:6). Thus, it is written, "And, lo...a son." This is definitely the son, who unlike Ishmael properly honors his father.

145. וְעַל דָא בֵּן יְכַבֵּד אָב וְעֶבֶד אֲדוֹנָיו. וְאַתּוּן יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּנַי, קְלָנָא בְּעֵינַיְיכוּ לוֹמַר דַּאֲנָא אֲבוּכוֹן, אוֹ דְּאַתּוּן עֲבָדִין לִי. וְאִם אָב אָנִי אַיֵּה כְבוֹדִי וגו'. בְּגִין כָּך וְהִנֵּה בֵן: דָּא הוּא בֵּן וַדַּאי, וְלָא יִשְׁמָעֵאל. דָּא הוּא בֵּן דְּאוֹקִיר לַאֲבוֹי כִּדְקָא חָזֵי.

Altar Children Female Isaac Judgment Rosh Hashanah Sarah Soul, The Suffering Women

146. "And, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son," as she died because of him, WHEN SHE HEARD OF HIM BEING BOUND UPON THE ALTAR. And because of him, she suffered anguish in her soul until she bore him. "And, lo, Sarah...shall have a son" MEANS THAT she was exalted on his account when the Holy One, blessed be He, sat in Judgment on the world - because at that time, ON ROSH HASHANAH, WHEN ISAAC WAS BORN, "Hashem visited Sarah..." Clearly, He remembered Sarah for the sake of Isaac. This is why "Sarah...shall have a son." ANOTHER EXPLANATION OF "And, lo, Sarah your wife shall have a son" is that BECAUSE the woman receives the child from the man, THE FEMALE HAS THE CHILD. THEREFORE, THE VERSE SAYS, "AND, LO, SARAH...SHALL HAVE A SON."

146. וְהִנֵּה בֵן לְשָׂרָה אִשְׁתֶּךָ. בֵּן לְשָׂרָה, דִּבְגִינֵיהּ מִיתַת, דִּבְגִינֵיהּ כְּאִיבַת נַפְשָׁהּ, עַד דְּנַפְקַת מִינָהּ. וְהִנֵּה בֵן לְשָׂרָה. לְאִסְתַּלָּקָא בְּגִינֵיהּ, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא יָתִיב בְּדִינָא עַל עָלְמָא. דִּכְדֵין וַה' פָּקַד אֶת שָׂרָה וגו'. דְּהָא מַדְכְּרֵי לְשָׂרָה בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּיִצְחָק. וְעַל דָא אִיהוּ בֵּן לְשָׂרָה. וְהִנֵּה בֵן לְשָׂרָה. דְּהָא נוּקְבָא נָטְלָא לִבְרָא מִן דְּכוּרָא.

Angels Door Faith Gates Grades Sarah Shechinah Tents

147. "And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him" (Beresheet 18:10). AND HE ASKS, What do the words "which was behind him" mean? Should it not have been written, 'and she was behind him,' AS IF TO SAY THAT SHE WAS BEHIND THE INFORMING ANGEL? HE REPLIES, There is a secret here. "And Sarah heard it" REFERS TO the words "tent door," which correspond to the lower grade, that is, the gate of faith, NAMELY THE SHECHINAH. "...which was behind him..." MEANS THAT the upper grade, WHO IS THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE, confirmed the declaration. Ever since Sarah came into the world, she did not hear anything from the Holy One, blessed be He, save at that moment.

147. וְשָׂרָה שׁוֹמַעַת פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו. מַאי וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו, וְהִיא אַחֲרָיו מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ. אֶלָּא רָזָא אִיהוּ, וְשָׂרָה שׁוֹמַעַת, מַה דַּהֲוָה אֲמַר פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, דָּא דַּרְגָּא תַּתָּאָה פִּתְחָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא. וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו. דְּאוֹדֵי לֵיהּ, דַּרְגָּא עִלָּאָה. מִן יוֹמָא דַּהֲוַת שָׂרָה בְּעָלְמָא, לָא שָׁמְעַת מִלָּה דְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, בַּר הַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא.

Abraham Door Sarah Shechinah Tents

148. Yet another explanation is that Sarah sat at the "tent door" in order to listen to their words. And she heard the good news that Abraham received. THIS IS WHY IT IS WRITTEN, "AND SARAH HEARD IT IN THE TENT DOOR, which (he) was behind him." IT MEANS THAT Abraham sat behind the Shechinah.

148. דָּבָר אֲחֵר, דַּהֲוַת יָתְבָא שָׂרָה פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל, בְּגִין לְמִשְׁמַע מִלִּין, וְהִיא שָׁמְעַת הַאי מִלָּה דְּאִתְבַּשַּׂר בָּהּ אַבְרָהָם. וְהוּא אַחֲרָיו. אַבְרָהָם, דַּהֲוָה יָתֵיב אַחוֹרוֹי דִּשְׁכִינְתָּא.

Abraham Hundred Sarah Year

149. "Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in days (lit. 'coming with days')..." (Beresheet 18:11). AND HE ASKS, What is meant by 'coming with days'? AND HE REPLIES, THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE 'COMING' to the end of their 'days.' Abraham was a hundred years old, and Sarah was ninety. They reached their fill of days, as is proper. 'Coming with days' can be read as 'for the day has come,' WHICH CAN MEAN THAT the day has ended. HERE, AS WELL, "COMING WITH THE DAYS" MEANS THAT THEIR DAYS WERE COMPLETED.

149. וְאַבְרָהָם וְשָׂרָה זְקֵנִים בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים. מַאי בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים. שִׁעוּרִין דְּיוֹמִין דְּאִתְחֲזֵי כְּדֵין לְהוֹ, חַד מֵאָה, וְחַד תִּשְׁעִים, עָאלוּ בְּיוֹמִין, שִׁעוּרָא דְּיוֹמִין, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת. בָּאִים בַּיָּמִים. כְּדָּבָר אֲחֵר כִּי בָא הַיּוֹם, דְּאִעֲרַב יוֹמָא לְמֵיעַל.

Abraham Sarah Women

150. "...And the manner of women ceased to be with Sarah..." At that hour, she suddenly saw herself having "pleasure" again, AS THE "MANNER OF WOMEN" REVIVED WITHIN HER. Thus she said, "...my lord being old also..." meaning that Abraham was too old to be able to beget children. HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT SAY THAT SHE HERSELF WAS TOO OLD.

150. חָדַל לִהְיוֹת לְשָׂרָה אֹרַח כַּנָּשִׁים. וְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא חָמַאת גַּרְמָהּ בְּעִדּוּנָא אָחֳרָא. וּבְגִין כָּךְ אָמְרָה וַאֲדוֹנִי זָקֵן. דְּהָא אִיהוּ לָא כְדַאי לְאוֹלָדָא, בְּגִין דְּאִיהוּ סָבָא.

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