Parasha: Lech Lecha – Go to yourself
Torah: Bereishit 12:1 – 17:27
Terach was the father of Avraham and Sarah. For an unknown reason he wanted to move his family to Canaan. So Terach,his three sons and a host of relatives and slaves began the trip from Turkey to Canaan.
They stopped short of his goal and settled in Charan, a town located in what is now known as Syria.
31 And Terach took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur Katzim, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran, and dwelled there. 32 And the days of Terach were two hundred and five years: and Terach died in Haran. (Bereishit 11:31-32)
The reason for Terach’s death isn’t given but it seems like the rest of the family wasn’t motivated to finish the journey to Canaan. Let’s pick up the story in this week’s Torah portion:
1 Now Avinu had said to Avram, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you: 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Avram departed, as Avinu had spoken to him; and Lot went with him: and Avram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Charan. 5 And Avram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Bereishit 12:1-5)
There are many examples of Avinu replacing someone who for various reasons couldn’t finish the mission that they were assigned. Maybe Terach’s “Mission” was to bring his son, Avram, to a place where Avinu could bring him into Canaan when the situation was better suited for success.
As for Avram marrying his “sister”:
And Avraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.” (Ge 20:2)
Said he not to me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands have I done this. (Ge 20:5)
And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. (Ge 20:12)
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