Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we learn about the separation between Avram and his nephew Lot. Because of their immense wealth and the vast size of their flocks, the land cannot support them staying together, which leads to fighting between Avram's shepherds and Lot's shepherds. Avram, seeking to avoid strife with his kinsman, generously offers Lot the choice of where to settle, prompting Lot to choose the fertile plain of the Jordan near the wicked city of Sodom.

Once the separation is complete, Hashem speaks to Avram, telling him to look out in every direction. Hashem promises to give all of this land to Avram and his children forever, and to make his offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth. Avram then travels through the land and builds an altar to Hashem in Hebron.

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

וְגַםAnd alsoלְלוֹטto Lotהַהֹלֵךְwho wentאֶתwithאַבְרָםAvramהָיָהthere wasצֹאןflocksוּבָקָרand herdsוְאֹהָלִים׃and tents

רַשִׁ״י

ההלךwho wentאתwithאברם.Avramמִיwhoגָרַםcausedשֶׁהָיָהthat there wasלוֹto himזֹאת?thisהֲלִיכָתוֹhis goingעִםwithאַבְרָם:Avram

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְלֹאand notנָשָׂאsupportedאֹתָםthemהָאָרֶץthe landלָשֶׁבֶתto dwellיַחְדָּוtogetherכִּיforהָיָהwasרְכוּשָׁםtheir possessionרָבgreatוְלֹאand notיָכְלוּthey were ableלָשֶׁבֶתto dwellיַחְדָּו׃together

רַשִׁ״י

ולאAnd notנשאboreאתם.themלֹאnotהָיְתָהwas itיְכוֹלָהableלְהַסְפִּיקto provideמִרְעֶהpastureלְמִקְנֵיהֶם,for their cattleוְלָשׁוֹןand a phrasingקָצָרshortהוּא,it isוְצָרִיךְand it needsלְהוֹסִיףto addעָלָיו,upon itכְּמוֹlikeוְלֹאand notנָשָׂאboreאוֹתָםthemמִרְעֵהthe pasture ofהָאָרֶץ,the landלְפִיכָךְthereforeכָּתַבit wroteוְלֹאand notנָשָׂאboreבִּלְשׁוֹןin the tongue ofזָכָר:masculine

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיְהִיAnd there wasרִיבa quarrelבֵּיןbetweenרֹעֵיthe herders ofמִקְנֵהthe livestock ofאַבְרָםAvramוּבֵיןand betweenרֹעֵיthe herders ofמִקְנֵהthe livestock ofלוֹטLotוְהַכְּנַעֲנִיand the Canaaniteוְהַפְּרִזִּיand the Perizziteאָזthenיֹשֵׁבdweltבָּאָרֶץ׃in the land

רַשִׁ״י

ויהיAnd there wasריב.a quarrelלְפִיbecauseשְׁהָיוּthat they wereרוֹעִיםshepherdsשֶׁלofלוֹטLotרְשָׁעִיםwicked menוּמַרְעִיםand they grazedבְּהֶמְתָּםtheir cattleבִּשְׂדוֹתin fields ofאֲחֵרִים,othersוְרוֹעֵיand the shepherds ofאַבְרָםAvramמוֹכִיחִיםwould rebukeאוֹתָםthemעַלforהַגֶּזֶל,the robberyוְהֵםand theyאוֹמְרִיםwould sayנִתְּנָהwas givenהָאָרֶץthe landלְאַבְרָם,to Avramוְלוֹand to himאֵיןthere is noיוֹרֵשׁ,heirוְלוֹטand Lotיוֹרְשׁוֹ,is his heirוְאֵיןand there is noזֶהthisגֶּזֶל,robberyוְהַכָּתוּבand the Scriptureאוֹמֵרsaysוְהַכְּנַעֲנִיand the Canaaniteוְהַפְּרִזִּיand the Perizziteאָזthenיֹשֵׁבdweltבָּאָרֶץ,in the landוְלֹאand notזָכָהhad acquiredבָהּitאַבְרָםAvramעֲדַיִןyetב"·:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidאַבְרָםAvramאֶלtoלוֹטLotאַלlet notנָאpleaseתְהִיthere beמְרִיבָהstrifeבֵּינִיbetween meוּבֵינֶיךָand between youוּבֵיןand betweenרֹעַיmy herdersוּבֵיןand betweenרֹעֶיךָyour herdersכִּיforאֲנָשִׁיםmenאַחִיםbrothersאֲנָחְנוּ׃we are

רַשִׁ״י

אנשיםmenאחים.brothersקְרוֹבִים,relativesוּמִדְרַשׁand the Midrashicאַגָּדָהexpositionדּוֹמִיןthey resembledבִּקְלַסְתֵּרin the features ofפָּנִים:face

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

הֲלֹאIs notכָלall ofהָאָרֶץthe landלְפָנֶיךָbefore youהִפָּרֶדseparateנָאpleaseמֵעָלָיfrom upon meאִםifהַשְּׂמֹאלthe leftוְאֵימִנָהthen I will go rightוְאִםand ifהַיָּמִיןthe rightוְאַשְׂמְאִילָה׃then I will go left

רַשִׁ״י

אםIfהשמאלthe leftואימנה.then I will go rightבְּכָלin allאֲשֶׁרthatתֵּשֵׁב,you will dwellלֹאnotאֶתְרַחֵקwill I distance myselfמִמְּךָfrom youוְאֶעֱמֹדand I will standלְךָfor youלְמָגֵןas a shieldוּלְעֵזֶר,and as a helperוְסוֹףand the end ofדָּבָרthe matterהֻצְרַךְhe was in needלוֹ,of himשְׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidוַיִּשְׁמַעAnd he heardאַבְרָםAvramכִּיthatנִשְׁבָּהwas taken captiveאָחִיוhis brotherוְגוֹ':etc.

רַשִׁ״י

ואימנה.and I will go to the rightאַיְמִיןI will direct to the rightאֶת—עַצְמִי,myselfכְּמוֹjust asוְאַשְׂמְאִילָהand I will go to the leftאַשְׂמְאִילI will direct to the leftאֶת—עַצְמִי.myselfוְאִםand ifתֹּאמַרyou will sayהָיָהit wasלוֹfor itלִנָּקֵדto be punctuatedוְאַיְמִינָה,and I will go to the rightכָּךְsoמָצִינוּwe foundבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאַחֵרanotherאִםifיֵשׁthere isלְהֵמִיןto turn to the rightשמואלShmuelבIIי"ד14וְאֵיןand it is notנָקוּדpunctuatedלְהַיְמִין:to turn to the right

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיִּשָּׂאAnd he liftedלוֹטLotאֶת—עֵינָיוhis eyesוַיַּרְאand he sawאֶת—כָּלall ofכִּכַּרthe plain ofהַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanכִּיthatכֻלָּהּall of itמַשְׁקֶהwas well wateredלִפְנֵיbeforeשַׁחֵתthe destroying ofיְהוָהHashemאֶת—סְדֹםSodomוְאֶתand —עֲמֹרָהGomorrahכְּגַןlike the garden ofיְהוָהHashemכְּאֶרֶץlike the land ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimבֹּאֲכָהas you come toצֹעַר׃Tzoar

רַשִׁ״י

כיthatכלהall of itמשקה.was well wateredאֶרֶץa land ofנַחֲלֵיstreams ofמַיִם:water

רַשִׁ״י

לפניbeforeשחתdestroyedה'Hashemאת—סדוםSodomואתand —עמרה.Gomorrahהָיָהwasאוֹתוֹthatמִישׁוֹר:plain

רַשִׁ״י

כגןlike the garden ofה'.Hashemלָאִילָנוֹת:in respect of trees

רַשִׁ״י

כארץlike the land ofמצרים.Mitzrayimלַזְּרָעִיםfor seedsבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

באכהas you goצער.to Zoarעַדuntilצֹעַר.Zoarוּמִדְרַשׁand the Midrashicאַגָּדָהexpositionדוֹרְשָׁהּinterprets itלִגְנַאי,to discreditעַלbecauseשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereשְׁטוּפֵיaddicted toזִמָּהlewdnessבָּחַרchoseלוֹfor himselfלוֹטLotבִּשְׁכוּנָתָם:their neighborhood

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיִּבְחַרAnd he choseלוֹfor himselfלוֹטLotאֵת—כָּלall ofכִּכַּרthe plain ofהַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanוַיִּסַּעand journeyedלוֹטLotמִקֶּדֶםfrom the eastוַיִּפָּרְדוּand they partedאִישׁeach manמֵעַלfrom from uponאָחִיו׃his brother

רַשִׁ״י

ככר.Kikarמִישׁוֹר,a plainכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:as its translation

רַשִׁ״י

מקדם.From the eastנָסַעhe journeyedמֵאֵצֶלfrom nearאַבְרָםAvramוְהָלַךand wentלוֹfor himselfלְמַעֲרָבוֹto the westשֶׁלofאַבְרָם;Avramנִמְצָאit is foundנוֹסֵעַjourneyingמִמִּזְרָחfrom eastלְמַעֲרָב.to westוּמִדְרַשׁand the Midrashאַגָּדָהexplanationהִסִּיעַhe removedעַצְמוֹhimselfמִקַּדְמוֹנוֹfrom the Originatorשֶׁלofעוֹלָם;the universeאָמַרhe saidאִיthere is noאֶפְשִׁיdesire for meלֹאnotבְּאַבְרָםin Avramוְלֹאand notבֵאלֹהָיו:in his God

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

אַבְרָםAvramיָשַׁבsettledבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofכְּנָעַןKenaanוְלוֹטand Lotיָשַׁבsettledבְּעָרֵיin the cities ofהַכִּכָּרthe Plainוַיֶּאֱהַלand pitched tentעַדuntilסְדֹם׃Sedom

רַשִׁ״י

ויאהל.And he pitched tentsנָטָהhe stretched outאֳהָלִיםtentsלְרוֹעָיוfor his shepherdsוּלְמִקְנֵהוּand for his cattleעַדuntilסְדוֹם:Sedom

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וְאַנְשֵׁיAnd the men ofסְדֹםSodomרָעִיםwere wickedוְחַטָּאִיםand sinnersלַיהוָהagainst Hashemמְאֹד׃exceedingly

רַשִׁ״י

ואנשיAnd the men ofסדוםSodomרעים.were wickedוְאַףand evenעַל·פִּיthoughכֵןsoלֹאnotנִמְנַעdid refrainלוֹטLotמִלִּשְׁכֹּןfrom dwellingעִמָּהֶם.with themוְרַבּוֹתֵינוּand our Rabbisלָמְדוּlearnedמִכָּאןfrom hereיומאYomaל"ח38bוְשֵׁםand the name ofרְשָׁעִיםwicked onesיִרְקָבshall rotמשליMishleiי'10:

רַשִׁ״י

רעים.wickedבְּגוּפָם:with their bodies

רַשִׁ״י

וחטאים.and sinnersבְּמָמוֹנָםwith their wealthסנה'Sanhedrinק"ט109:

רַשִׁ״י

לה'to Hashemמאד.exceedinglyיוֹדְעִיםthey knewרִבּוֹנָם,their Masterוּמִתְכַּוְּנִיםand intentionallyלִמְרֹדrebelledבּוֹ:against Him

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיהוָהAnd HashemאָמַרsaidאֶלtoאַבְרָםAvramאַחֲרֵיafterהִפָּרֶדthe parting ofלוֹטLotמֵעִמּוֹfrom with himשָׂאraiseנָאpleaseעֵינֶיךָyour eyesוּרְאֵהand lookמִןfromהַמָּקוֹםthe placeאֲשֶׁרwhereאַתָּהyou areשָׁםthereצָפֹנָהnorthwardוָנֶגְבָּהand southwardוָקֵדְמָהand eastwardוָיָמָּה׃and westward

רַשִׁ״י

אחריAfterהפרדthe separating ofלוט.Lotכָּלallזְמַןthe timeשֶׁהָרָשָׁעthat the wicked oneעִמּוֹwas with himהָיָהwasהַדִּבּוּרthe Divine speechפּוֹרֵשׁwithdrawnמִמֵֶּנּוּ:from him

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

כִּיforאֶת—כָּלall ofהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatאַתָּהyouרֹאֶהseeלְךָto youאֶתְּנֶנָּהI will give itוּלְזַרְעֲךָand to your offspringעַדuntilעוֹלָם׃forever

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְשַׂמְתִּיAnd I will makeאֶת—זַרְעֲךָyour offspringכַּעֲפַרlike the dust ofהָאָרֶץthe earthאֲשֶׁרthatאִםifיוּכַלcanאִישׁa manלִמְנוֹתto countאֶת—עֲפַרthe dust ofהָאָרֶץthe earthגַּםalsoזַרְעֲךָyour offspringיִמָּנֶה׃will be counted

רַשִׁ״י

אשרthatאםifיוכלcanאיש.a manכְּשֵׁםjust asשֶׁאִיthat it is notאֶפְשָׁרpossibleלֶעָפָרfor the dustלְהִמָּנוֹתto be countedכָּךְsoזַרְעֲךָyour seedלֹאnotיִמָּנֶה:will be counted

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

קוּםAriseהִתְהַלֵּךְwalk aboutבָּאָרֶץin the landלְאָרְכָּהּthrough its lengthוּלְרָחְבָּהּand through its breadthכִּיforלְךָto youאֶתְּנֶנָּה׃I will give it

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַיֶּאֱהַלAnd he tentedאַבְרָםAvramוַיָּבֹאand he cameוַיֵּשֶׁבand he dweltבְּאֵלֹנֵיin the plains ofמַמְרֵאMamreאֲשֶׁרwhichבְּחֶבְרוֹןare in Chevronוַיִּבֶןand he builtשָׁםthereמִזְבֵּחַan altarלַיהוָה׃to Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

ממרא.Mamreשֵׁםthe name ofאָדָם:a man

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah begins with the quarreling between the shepherds of Avram and Lot, which leads Avram to propose that they separate peacefully. Lot chooses the well-watered plain of the Jordan and pitches his tents near the wicked people of Sodom, while Avram remains in the land of Canaan. Immediately after Lot departs, Hashem appears to Avram, reaffirming His promise to give the entire land to his descendants forever and to multiply his offspring like the dust of the earth, after which Avram moves his tent to Mamre in Hebron and builds an altar to Hashem.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is showing us a powerful yesod in how Hashem runs the world. Lichoira, Avram Avinu was the one who gave up the best land, telling Lot, "If you go left, I will go right." He chose peace over the prime real estate. Yet, immediately after Lot separates and takes the lush Jordan plain, Hashem appears to Avram and tells him, "Raise your eyes... all the land that you see, to you I will give it." By stepping back and refusing to fight over gashmiyus, Avram did not lose a single inch; mimeila, he inherited everything.

We often get caught up in a struggle for our livelihood, our honor, or what we think we deserve, feeling that if we do not push and fight, we will be left with nothing. The yetzer hara whispers that being mevater (yielding) makes you a loser. But the truth of Torah is exactly the opposite. When you make yourself like dust, refusing to engage in machlokes and trusting in Hashem's hashgacha, Hashem says, "Now I can give you the real bracha."

Today, if you find yourself in a situation of friction or a dispute over money, honor, or space, be the one to step back. Let the other person take the "better" portion, knowing with complete emunah that what is destined for you cannot be taken by anyone else.