Study Desk

But Avram answered the king of S'dom, "I have raised my hand in an oath to Adonai , El ‘Elyon, maker of heaven and earth,

But the word of Adonai came to him: "This man will not be your heir. No, your heir will be a child from your own body."

He brought him all these, cut the animals in two and placed the pieces opposite each other; but he didn't cut the birds in half.

Birds of prey swooped down on the carcasses, but Avram drove them away.

But I will also judge that nation, the one that makes them slaves. Afterwards, they will leave with many possessions.

Now Sarai Avram's wife had not borne him a child. But she had an Egyptian slave-girl named Hagar;

Avram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she conceived. But when she became aware that she was pregnant, she looked on her mistress with contempt.

Sarai said to Avram, "This outrage being done to me is your fault! True, I gave my slave-girl to you to sleep with; but when she saw that she was pregnant, she began holding me in contempt. May Adonai decide who is right — I or you!"

Your name will no longer be Avram [exalted father], but your name will be Avraham [father of many], because I have made you the father of many nations.

God answered, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you are to call him Yitz'chak [laughter]. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.

But as for Yishma‘el, I have heard you. I have blessed him. I will make him fruitful and give him many descendants. He will father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

But I will establish my covenant with Yitz'chak, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year."

The men turned away from there and went toward S'dom, but Avraham remained standing before Adonai .

Avraham answered, "Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to A donai.

But he kept pressing them; so they went home with him; and he made them a meal, baking matzah for their supper, which they ate.

But before they could go to bed, the men of the city surrounded the house — young and old, everyone from every neighborhood of S'dom.

Look here, I have two daughters who are virgins. Please, let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them what seems good to you; but don't do anything to these men, since they are guests in my house."

But the men inside reached out their hands, brought Lot into the house to them and shut the door.

Lot went out and spoke with his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up and leave this place, because Adonai is going to destroy the city." But his sons-in-law didn't take him seriously.

But he dallied, so the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand and the hands of his two daughters — Adonai was being merciful to him — and led them, leaving them outside the city.