* PARSHA Q&A *  
In-Depth Questions on the Parsha with Rashi  
Parshas Lech Lecha
For the week ending 10 Cheshvan 5755, 14 & 15 October 1994
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Parsha Questions

1.  What benefits did Hashem promise Avram if he would leave his home?
2.  In what three ways does travel negatively affect a person?
3.  What were the Canaanites doing in the land of Canaan when Avram came 
    there?
4.  Why did Avram build an altar at Ai?
5.  Why did Lot choose to move to Sodom?
6.  In what way will the Jewish People be like the dust of the Earth?
7.  Who was Amraphel?
8.  Who told Avram that Lot had been captured by the four kings?
9.  What did the person who informed Avram of Lot's capture hope to achieve?
10. Who accompanied Avram into battle against the four kings?
11. Who was Malki-Tzedek, King of Shalem?  What is the current name of 
    Shalem?
12. Why did Avram give Malki-Tzedek a tenth of the spoils?
13. When did the decree of four hundred years of exile begin?
14. What did Hashem indicate with his promise to Avram that he would "come 
    to his ancestors in peace?" (15:15)
15. How did Hashem fulfill his promise to Avram, that he would be buried in 
    "a good old age?" (15:15)
16. Why was Avram told that "the fourth generation would return to [Eretz 
    Canaan]" but not earlier?
17. Who was Hagar's father?
18. How old was Yishmael when he was circumcised?
19. Why did Avram fall on his face when Hashem appeared to him?
20. When did Avraham circumcise himself?

Bonus QUESTION:
Rashi, 14:13, says that the one who told Avram that Lot had been captured 
was Og.  In what manner does the Torah hint to this?

I Did Not Know That!
Hashem told Avram twice that he would be an "av hamon" (father of many 
nations).  The numerical value of "av hamon" is 104.  Twice 104 is 208.  
The numerical value of the name of Avraham's son, Yitzchak, is also 208!
Ba'al HaTurim

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Answers to this Week's Questions 
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise 
stated

1.  12:1 - He would become a great nation, and his excellence would become 
    known to the world.
2.  12:2 - It disrupts his family life, reduces his wealth, and lessens his 
    reputation.
3.  12:6 - They were in the process of conquering the land from the 
    descendants of Shem.
4.  12:8 - He foresaw that in the days of Yehoshua the Jewish People would 
    be defeated at Ai due to the sin of Achan (Yehoshua, ch. 7).  He built 
    an altar there to pray on their behalf.
5.  13:10 - He was attracted by their immorality.
6.  13:16 - They will be too numerous to count.
7.  14:1 - Nimrod.
8.  14:13 - Og.
9.  14:13 - He hoped that Avram would fall in battle so that he himself 
    could marry Sarai.
10. 14:14 - His servant, Eliezer.
11. 14:18 - Malki-Tzedek is also known as Shem ben Noach.  Shalem is now 
    called Jerusalem.
12. 14:20 - He was giving ma'aser (tithe) because Malki-Tzedek was a Kohen.
13. 15:13 - With the birth of Yitzchak.
14. 15:15 - That his father, Terach, repented and became righteous.
15. 15:15 - Avram lived to see his son, Yishmael, repent and become 
    righteous, and he died before his grandson, Esau, became wicked.
16. 15:16 - The Jewish People needed to wait until the Amorites had sinned 
    sufficiently to deserve expulsion from Eretz Canaan.
17. 16:1 - Pharaoh.
18. 16:16 - Thirteen.
19. 17:3 - Because he was as yet uncircumcised.
20. 17:26 - The day before his 99th birthday.

Bonus ANSWER:
The Torah says, "The one who escaped came and told Avram." (14:13)  The use 
of the definite article `the' suggests that this was someone who was 
already known as "the one who escaped."  This is Og, King of Bashan, who 
escaped the punishment of the Dor HaMabul (Generation of the Flood).
Gur-Aryeh

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