Parshas Lech Lecha
10 Cheshvan 5769
November 8, 2008
Daf Yomi: Kiddushin 31
Guest Author:
Dov Broyde
National Council of Young Israel
In memory of my father, Rabbi Raphoel Yehuda Broyde, a talmid of the Mirrer Yeshiva in Poland.
In this week’s parashah, Avraham Avinu asks of HaShem: “How shall I know that I am entitled to inherit the land?” (Bereishis 15:8). One opinion of Chazal says: Shmuel taught that because of the four words (in the original words of the Torah) that Avraham uttered, Bnei Yisrael were punished with being regarded as strangers who can be forced into hard labor and slavery in Egypt (Nedarim 32a).
My father would ask a compelling question: “Why were Bnei Yisrael punished for Avraham’s words? Doesn’t the Torah teach: ‘Fathers shall not be put to death because of their sons, and sons shall not be put to death because of their fathers?’ (Devarim, Ki Teitzei, 24:16).
Moreover, what great comfort is it to Avraham to be promised that when his children leave Egypt they will do so with a great many possessions? (15:14). “As we say to the bee: I don’t want your honey nor do I want your sting” (Midrash Tanchuma Balak).
There are those who claim that the years of slavery imposed on Bnei Yisrael were bequeathed to them for reasons other than those four words of Avraham. In the G’mara, there are two additional reasons given for the slavery imposed on Bnei Yisrael.
My father, however, did not accept this line of thinking and believed that there was some sort of punishment for Avraham asking HaShem for an assurance that his children would inherit the land. What punishment was Avraham given for uttering these words? My father would prefer the opinion of Shmuel that we find in the G’mara, which states that since Avraham insisted on some sign from G-d as an assurance for His promise concerning Eretz Yisrael, Avraham’s children had to endure the 400 years, 210 of which were years of hard work in Egypt.
This compelling question that Avraham posed to HaShem has been a central one for many meforshim, who have offered various interpretations of what the question actually meant. Here are three:
KELI YAKAR says that Avraham was asking how one would know that his children would inherit the land since Avraham’s roots were from Shem ben Noach. It could be possible that other children of Shem might protest the inheritance and claim that they are also entitled to the land. Therefore, when HaShem responded with the answer involving the eglah m’shuleshes, “Take for me three heifers,” HaShem was assuring Avraham that he is the most worthy of Shem’s descendants to inherit the land and only his children will inherit Eretz Yisrael.
RABBI SAMSON RAPHAEL HIRSCH questions the very idea that Avraham’s request was meant to have HaShem give him
some sign of assurance that his children will truly inherit the land. This would be out of character for Avraham, because this very parasha describes Avraham as the most complete believer in HaShem. Therefore, Rav Hirsch suggests that we look at the last word in Avraham’s question - “irashena” - which implies taking action. This word is also used in the Torah to mean “to conquer.” Since Avraham declared war with the four kings and was victorious (Bereishis 14:14-16), he very well could have concluded that he or his descendants, upheld by the assistance of HaShem, would conquer the Promised Land in a similar way. Assuming this, Avraham asked, “How shall I know that the time has arrived for us to conquer the land?” Avraham wanted to know how to tell when the time came in accordance with the will of HaShem.
RAMBAN says that Avraham did not ask for a sign to assure him that he would inherit the land that HaShem promised to him.
Also, HaShem did not offer any direct signs to show Avraham. Avraham wanted to know what the inheritance would be. He thought that perhaps the Cannanim may do teshuvah (repentance) and be rewarded for it by remaining in Eretz Canaan. Therefore, in the Bris bein ha-besarim, HaShem made a treaty with Avraham ensuring that his children would receive the land — no matter what others may do or say.
In a concluding word: Avraham’s belief in HaShem was never in doubt. His question was not one that doubted HaShem’s words. Avraham’s only concern was for Bnei Yisrael, his descendants.
Shabbat Shalom.
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