## Or HaChaim on Genesis Chapter 17 ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:5:1 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:5:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:5:1) **וְלֹא יִקָּרֵא וְגוֹ׳ וְהָיָה שִׁמְךָ וְגוֹ׳.** בְּמִדְרַשׁ בְּרֵאשִׁית רַבָּה אָמְרוּ (בראשית רבה מד,ד) וְזֶה לְשׁוֹנוֹ: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם הֵן לִי״, אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר יִצְחָק: הַמַּזָּל דּוֹחֲקֵנִי וְאוֹמֵר לִי: אַבְרָם, אֵין אַתָּה מוֹלִיד. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: כִּדְבָרֶיךָ – אַבְרָם אֵינוֹ מוֹלִיד, אַבְרָהָם מוֹלִיד, שָׂרַי לֹא יָלְדָה, שָׂרָה תֵּלֵד, עַד כָּאן לְשׁוֹנוֹ. קָשֶׁה, הֲרֵי מָצִינוּ שֶׁיָּלַד אַבְרָהָם אֶת יִשְׁמָעֵאל קֹדֶם שֶׁנִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ אַבְרָהָם! **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** **ולא יקרא שמך עוד אברם, your name will no longer be Abram, but Abraham.** Bereshit Rabbah 44,10 already stated that when Abram cited that he had seen in his horoscope that he would not father any children, G'd agreed with him and told him that he was correct, that as Abram he would not father children but that as Abraham he would. The same would apply to Sarai as compared to Sarah. This *Midrash* is very difficult since the Torah reports **Abram** as siring Ishmael, not Abraham! ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:5:2 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:5:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:5:2) **עוֹד** צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת אָמְרוֹ ״שָׂרַי לֹא יָלְדָה״ וְכוּ׳, נִדְרַשְׁתִּי לְלֹא שָׁאָלוּ, שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא טָעַן אֶלָּא אַבְרָם, לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לְהָשִׁיב אֶלָּא ״אַבְרָם״ וְכוּ׳, כִּי שָׂרַי מִי הִזְכִּירָהּ? **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** Besides, why did the Midrash mention that Sarai did not bear children when Abraham had never even raised the problem of Sarai not having children? ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:5:3 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:5:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:5:3) **וְנִרְאֶה** לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁעִקַּר בָּנִים שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם הֵם אֲשֶׁר תּוֹלִיד לוֹ שָׂרָה, דִּכְתִיב ״כִּי בְיִצְחָק״ וְגוֹ׳ (בראשית כא:יב), וְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם יָדַע זֶה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ כִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא בֵּרוּרֵי פְּסֹלֶת שֶׁל יִצְחָק, וְרָאָה בַּמַּזָּל כִּי עִקַּר זַרְעוֹ לֹא יֵצֵא לָעוֹלָם, כִּי מִן הַסְּתָם לֹא יַגִּיד הַמַּזָּל אֶלָּא עַל אִישׁ עִם בַּת זוּגוֹ, וְלָזֶה אָמַר, אַבְרָם אֵינוֹ מוֹלִיד, כִּי לֵידַת יִשְׁמָעֵאל אֵינוֹ לֵידָה, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״כִּי בְיִצְחָק יִקָּרֵא לְךָ זָרַע״. וּבָזֶה יִתְיַשֵּׁב לָמָּה בִּתְשׁוּבַת ה׳ אֵלָיו הִזְכִּיר שָׂרָה כִּי הִיא עִקַּר לֵידַת אַבְרָהָם. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** We must conclude therefore that Abraham already knew at that time or at least surmised that any meaningful seed of his could only be conceived through Sarah because (presumably) whatever he had foreseen in his horoscope applied to himself in conjunction with his wife. G'd confirmed this when He told him that his seed would be known through Isaac. This is why the *Midrash* included the name Sarah when describing a prophecy primarily directed at Abraham. Abraham realised that the need for Ishmael to be his son was to rid his sperm of any residual contamination of the original serpent. Fathering Ishmael then was not fathering in the true sense of the word. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:18:1 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:18:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:18:1) **וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָהָם וְגוֹ׳ לוּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל וְגוֹ׳.** יְכַוֵּן בִּתְפִלָּה זוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה יִשְׁמָעֵאל הוֹלֵךְ בְּצֶדֶק לִפְנֵי ה׳, וְזֶה הוּא **יִחְיֶה לְפָנֶיךָ** שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים קְרוּיִים חַיִּים. וְאָמְרוֹ **לְפָנֶיךָ** עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרוֹ ״וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּה׳״ וְגוֹ׳ (דברים ד:יא), וְהֻצְרַךְ לִתְפִלָּה לְפִי שֶׁרָאָה בּוֹ סִימָנִים לֹא טוֹבִים, שֶׁעַל כָּל פָּנִים לֹא תִּהְיֶה רִשְׁעַת הָרָשָׁע נֶעֱלֶמֶת מֵעֵינֵי הַצַּדִּיק וּמַה גַּם בְּנוֹ, לָזֶה הִתְפַּלֵּל עָלָיו שֶׁיִּהְיֶה צַדִּיק, וְגִלָּה דַּעְתּוֹ כִּי הוּא זֶה מְבֻקָּשׁוֹ וּכְמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי בְּפָסוּק (בראשית טו:ג) ״הֵן לִי״. וְהִבְטִיחוֹ ה׳ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה זַרְעוֹ כַּכּוֹכָבִים וְשׁוֹאֵל שֶׁתִּתְקַיֵּם הַבְטָחָה זוֹ בְּיִשְׁמָעֵאל. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** **ויאמר אברהם…לו ישמעאל יחיה לפניך. Abraham said…. "if only Ishmael will live (a righteous life) before You."** Abraham prayed that Ishmael should enjoy divine assistance to live as a righteous person. The term "to live before You" is the source for the righteous being called "alive" in our rabbinic literature. Abraham "borrowed" a phrase from Deut. 4,11 where the Torah describes the fact that the Jewish people were "alive" at that time as due to their having cleaved to G'd. Abraham saw the need to pray for this as he had observed negative character tendencies in Ishmael (who was still a minor). Had Ishmael been truly wicked at that time, Abraham, though prejudiced as his father, would have been aware of such wickedness, just as any other righteous person could perceive such things. We have explained in connection with 15,2-3 that Abraham had worried about a son of his not being worthy because G'd described his seeds as comparable to dust. At this point Abraham prayed that Ishmael would turn out to be worthy. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:19:1 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:19:1) **וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים אֲבָל שָׂרָה וְגוֹ׳** – צָרִיךְ לָדַעַת טַעַם אָמְרוֹ ״אֲבָל״, כִּי אֵין לָהּ מַשְׁמָעוּת. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** **ויאמר אלוקים אבל שדה אשתך יולדת לך בן. G'd said: "But your wife Sarah will bear a son for you."** Why did G'd add the word "but?" ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:19:2 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:19:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:19:2) **וְנִרְאֶה** שֶׁנִּתְכַּוֵּן לוֹמַר אֵלָיו: אִין, הָכִי נַמִּי, אִם הַנְּתִינָה הִיא בִּשְׁבִילְךָ לְבַד, יֵשׁ לְךָ פֶּה לוֹמַר שֶׁאַתָּה מִסְתַּפֵּק בְּיִשְׁמָעֵאל, אֲבָל שָׂרָה אִשְׁתְּךָ יוֹלֶדֶת, פֵּרוּשׁ: לְצַד שֶׁתֵּלֵד שָׂרָה אֵינְךָ רַשַּׁאי לְוַתֵּר בְּשֶׁל הַזּוּלַת. וְדִקְדֵּק לוֹמַר ״לְךָ״, פֵּרוּשׁ: שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהּ בֵּן מִמְּךָ כִּתְפִלָּתָהּ, שֶׁכָּל בָּנִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לָהּ יִהְיוּ מִמְּךָ. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** G'd may have wanted to explain to Abraham that if the gift of a son was something intended only for Abraham, it would suffice to grant his prayer and assist Ishmael to become worthy. However, there was another person to be considered, his wife Sarah. Inasmuch as Sarah was destined to bear a son, he, Abraham, had no right to waive the gift of a son by Sarah in order for Ishmael to grow up worthy of his father. The Torah was very particular using the word לך, "for you," in connection with the son Sarah would bear. She would bear this son in answer to **her prayer.** ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:19:3 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:19:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:19:3) עוֹד אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר כִּי ה׳ הִקְפִּיד עַל שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ ״יִשְׁמָעֵאל״, שֶׁבָּחַר בְּיִשְׁמָעֵאל. וְאֶפְשָׁר כִּי זֶה הָיָה סִבָּה שֶׁנִּתַּן לוֹ יִצְחָק מִסִּטְרָא דְּנוּקְבָּא, וְהוּא אָמְרוֹ ״שָׂרָה יוֹלֶדֶת״, וְנִצְטַעֵר הַרְבֵּה מִצַּד זֶה כְּשֶׁעָקַד אוֹתוֹ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, כִּי עַל יְדֵי הָעֲקֵדָה נִתְּנָה לוֹ הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַיּוֹלֶדֶת וְנוֹלְדָה לוֹ אָז רִבְקָה בַּת זוּגוֹ. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** It is also possible that the Torah here hinted at G'd's displeasure that Abraham was satisfied with Ishmael, someone who contained residual poisonous material from the original serpent. Had it not been for Abraham's prayer regarding the future of Ishmael, his son Isaac might not have originated in what kabbalists know as the סטרא דנוקבא, an emanation on the left and female side of the emanations. Had Isaac originated in the other side of the emanations he might never have fathered an Esau. This matter had ramifications at the time of the עקדה, when Isaac received the soul who would bear children for him, i.e. the moment at which Rebeccah his life-partner was born. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:20:1 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:20:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:20:1) **וּלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ וְגוֹ׳.** הַכַּוָּנָה לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁאַבְרָהָם לֹא הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל יִשְׁמָעֵאל אֶלָּא לְצַד שֶׁהוּא לְבַדּוֹ זַרְעוֹ, מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן אַחַר שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ ה׳ זֶרַע מִשָּׂרָה, אָז לֹא יְבַקֵּשׁ עוֹד עַל יִשְׁמָעֵאל. לָזֶה אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא ״וּלְיִשְׁמָעֵאל שְׁמַעְתִּיךָ״, פֵּרוּשׁ קִבַּלְתִּי דְּבָרֶיךָ, וְהוּא עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (מכות יא.) קִלְלַת חָכָם אֲפִלּוּ עַל תְּנַאי מִתְקַיֶּמֶת, וּמְרֻבָּה מִדָּה טוֹבָה מִמִּדַּת וְכוּ׳. וּלְפִי מַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי שֶׁתְּפִלַּת אַבְרָהָם עַל יִשְׁמָעֵאל הָיְתָה שֶׁיִּהְיֶה צַדִּיק, רָמַז לוֹ ה׳ שֶׁיַּחְזֹר בִּתְשׁוּבָה, כְּאָמְרוֹ ״הִנֵּה בֵּרַכְתִּי אוֹתוֹ״ שֶׁיַּחְזֹר בִּתְשׁוּבָה, שֶׁהַבְּרָכָה הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נִכְלָל בְּבָרוּךְ, וּבָרוּךְ הוּא מְקוֹר הַקְּדֻשָּׁה. וְאָמַר לְשׁוֹן עָבָר **בֵּרַכְתִּי** וְגוֹ׳, הוּא מַה שֶׁרָמַז בְּאָמְרוֹ (בראשית טו:טו) ״תִּקָּבֵר בְּשֵׂיבָה טוֹבָה״, וְכֵן הָיָה, כְּאָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (בראשית רבה נט:ז) שֶׁעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** **ולישמעאל שמעתיך, "Concerning (your prayer for) Ishmael, I have listened to you, etc."** Inasmuch as the only reason Abraham had prayed for Ishmael was because he was at that time his only son, and he had not prayed for him again after Sarah had born Isaac, G'd listened to his prayer. We can understand this according to the principle postulated in *Makkot* 11 that even the conditional curse of a Torah scholar comes true. We have another principle that a blessing is much stronger than a curse, i.e. has far wider ramifications. G'd told Abraham that Ishmael would eventually become a בעל תשובה since Abraham had prayed for Ishmael to develop into a G'd-fearing person. This is the meaning of G'd's words: "Here I have blessed him." G'd used the past tense to hint that when He promised that Abraham would die in a ripe old age, He had already made provisions for Ishmael's conduct not to cloud Abraham's departure from this earth. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:1 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:23:1) **וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָהָם וְגוֹ׳.** לֶהֱיוֹת שֶׁיִּשְׁמָעֵאל הָיָה גָּדוֹל בֶּן י״ג שָׁנָה, לָזֶה הֻצְרַךְ לְקַחְתּוֹ בִּדְבָרִים לְהִתְרַצּוֹת לוֹ. וְגַם לִילִידֵי בֵיתוֹ וּמִקְנַת כַּסְפּוֹ, כִּי הָיָה בָּהֶם גְּדוֹלִים, וּלְקָחָם בְּפִיּוּס, כִּי רָצָה שֶׁכֻּלָּם יְקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם בִּרְצוֹנָם מִצְוַת הַמֶּלֶךְ. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** **ויקח אברהם את ישמעאל בנו. Abraham took his son Ishmael, etc.** Inasmuch as Ishmael had attained maturity, (he was 13 years of age) Abraham had "to take him," i.e. convince him, not merely order him to submit. The same applied to all the other members of his household who were no longer minors. Abraham was anxious that G'd's commandment to become circumcised would be accepted willingly. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:2 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:23:2) **כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר וְגוֹ׳.** צָרִיךְ לָנוּ לָדַעַת לָמָּה הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר ״כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר״ וְגוֹ׳, רוֹאֶה אֲנִי כִּי כֵן עָשָׂה. וְאוּלַי שֶׁיְּכַוֵּן לוֹמַר שֶׁאוֹתוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁלָּקַח אוֹתָם בְּרִצּוּי הוּא כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ אֱלֹהִים. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** **כאשר דבר אתו אלוקים, as G'd had told him to.** We need to know why the Torah added these last few words. After all, anyone who reads the passage is aware that this is exactly what Abraham did. Perhaps the Torah wanted to tell us that the efforts Abraham made to have all the people concerned be circumcised willingly was what G'd had told him to do. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:3 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:23:3) **עוֹד** יְכַוֵּן לוֹמַר שֶׁלֹּא נִתְעַכֵּב מֵעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוַת ה׳ אֶלָּא תֵּכֶף וּמִיָּד, **כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר** פֵּרוּשׁ סָמוּךְ, וְזֶה לְהוֹדִיעַ זְרִיזוּתוֹ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** Possibly, the Torah testified to the fact that Abraham complied with G'd's instructions immediately, without any delay. The Torah credited Abraham with the manner in which he related to any of G'd's demands upon him. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:4 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:23:4) **עוֹד** יְכַוֵּן לוֹמַר עַל דֶּרֶךְ אָמְרָם זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה (עבודה זרה כז.) ״הַמָּל יִמּוֹל״ – שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַמָּל שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הוּא עַצְמוֹ נִמּוֹל. וְזֶה הוּא שֶׁאָמַר **כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ**, פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁקָּדַם הוּא וּמָל עַצְמוֹ תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ מָל הָאֲחֵרִים. וּכְפִי זֶה לֹא קָשֶׁה לָמָּה לֹא הִזְכִּיר הַכָּתוּב מִילַת אַבְרָהָם, כִּי מִשְּׁנֵי טְעָמִים יֵשׁ לוֹ לְהַקְדִּים עַצְמוֹ: בֵּין מִצַּד הַזְּרִיזוּת, קְשׁוֹט עַצְמְךָ וְכוּ׳, בֵּין מִצַּד כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּמוּל אוֹתָם כַּהֲלָכָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּהוּ ה׳ ״הַמָּל יִמּוֹל״. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** *Avodah Zarah* 27 understands the repetition of המול ימול in 17,13 to mean that he who circumcises others must himself first have been circumcised. Perhaps this is what is meant by the words: "as He commanded him to do," i.e. Abraham circumcised himself first before he circumcised anyone else. If we accept this explanation we do no longer have to search for a reason why the Torah did not specifically mention that Abraham circumcised himself. There were two reasons why it is assumed that Abraham was the first to circumcise himself. 1) It was his nature to comply with any commandment of G'd immediately. Besides, how could he have persuaded others to do something he himself appeared to be afraid of doing? 2) In order for his circumcision of the members of his household to be halachically valid, he himself had to be circumcised first. ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:5 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:23:5) וּמַה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב אַחַר כָּךְ: ״וְאַבְרָהָם בֶּן תִּשְׁעִים וָתֵשַׁע שָׁנָה״ וְגוֹ׳ (בראשית יז:כד), זֶה לְהוֹדִיעַ הַזְּמַן שֶׁבּוֹ נִמּוֹל, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָמַר ״וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל בֶּן שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה״, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן הִזְכִּירוֹ קֹדֶם. וּלְמַה שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי לֹא קָשֶׁה, כִּי הִשְׁמִיעָנוּ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהוּא מָל עַצְמוֹ תְּחִלָּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב ״כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אִתּוֹ״ וְגוֹ׳ עַל אוֹפֶן שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי. **Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:** When the Torah told us in verse 24 that Abraham was circumcised, this concerned only the time element. The Torah wanted us to know that just as Ishmael allowed imself to be circumcised at 13 years of age, so Abraham was 99 years of age. [The letter ו in the word ואברהם in that verse was necessary because it interrupts the story of Ishmael's circumcision. The Torah wanted to mention Abraham's circumcision before that of Ishmael; this is why it had to insert verse 24. Ed.] ###### Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:6 [Or HaChaim on Genesis 17:23:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Or%20HaChaim%20on%20Genesis/r/17:23:6) **חסלת פרשת לך לך**