Study Desk

Avraham called his son, born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Yitz'chak.

Avraham circumcised his son Yitz'chak when he was eight days old, as God had ordered him to do.

(v) Avraham was one hundred years old when his son Yitz'chak [laughter] was born to him.

And she said, "Who would have said to Avraham that Sarah would nurse children? Nevertheless, I have borne him a son in his old age!"

Avraham became very distressed over this matter of his son.

God heard the boy's voice, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What's wrong with you, Hagar? Don't be afraid, because God has heard the voice of the boy in his present situation.

He lived in the Pa'ran Desert, and his mother chose a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

(vi) At that time Avimelekh and Pikhol the commander of his army spoke to Avraham. They said, "God is with you in everything you do.

When they made the covenant at Be'er-Sheva, Avimelekh departed with Pikhol the commander of his army and returned to the land of the P'lishtim.

Avraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, together with Yitz'chak his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering, departed and went toward the place God had told him about.

On the third day, Avraham raised his eyes and saw the place in the distance.

Avraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you."

Avraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on Yitz'chak his son. Then he took in his hand the fire and the knife, and they both went on together.

Yitz'chak spoke to Avraham his father: "My father?" He answered, "Here I am, my son." He said, "I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

They came to the place God had told him about; and Avraham built the altar there, set the wood in order, bound Yitz'chak his son and laid him on the altar, on the wood.

Then Avraham put out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.

Avraham raised his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. Avraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering in place of his son.

So Avraham returned to his young men. They got up and went together to Be'er-Sheva, and Avraham settled in Be'er-Sheva.

‘Utz his firstborn, Buz his brother, K'mu'el the father of Aram,

His concubine, whose name was Re'umah, bore children also: Tevach, Gacham, Tachash and Ma‘akhah. Haftarah Vayera: M'lakhim Bet (2 Kings) 4:1–37 (A); 4:1–23 (S) B'rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Vayera: Luke 17:26 –37; Romans 9:6 – 9; Galatians 4:21–31; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 6:13–20; 11:13–19; Ya‘akov (James) 2:14–24; 2 Kefa (2 Peter) 2:4–10