Parashat Vayeira
7th November 2025
Week of 2-8 November 2025
Torah portion : Gen. 18 :1-22 :24 Haftarah : 2 Kgs. 4 :1-23
Theme : Abraham and the LORD
The Parasha for this week is packed with narratives of all kinds which The Women’s Commentary heads as « Between Laughter and Tears ». It is divided into four large sections according to The Women’s Commentary, each having varying numbers of subsections. The four large sections are : I. Sarah becomes a Mother ; II. First Threat to Isaac ; III. Second Threat to Isaac ; and IV. Preparation for the Future.
Abraham’s faith journey has brought him courage and deep trust in the LORD he obeys. In order to see this I choose one narrative from the Parasha : Genesis 18 :16-33 : Abraham’s pleading with the LORD to save Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of the few innocent inhabitants.
Verse 16 « The men », (three) to whom Abraham and Sarah had given hospitality, leave accompanied by Abraham to bid ‘farewell’. Since the beginning of this Parasha, there has been an interplay of ‘three visitors/ men’, ‘angels’ and ‘the LORD’. Verse 17 presents the LORD ‘thinking’ about whether he should conceal from Abraham his plan for the evil cities. The LORD reminds himself of his choice of Abraham and what his future plans are for him as the leader of many nations. Then the LORD reveals to Abraham the demand for his justice because of the sins of the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. ‘The men’ leave Abraham before the LORD. Abraham then intercedes for the innocent people who might be in these two cities. He starts bargaining with the LORD for a possible fifty innocent people. Abraham reminds the LORD that he is a just judge who will not punish the innocent because of the wicked. Abraham goes right down to a possible ten innocent people and the LORD replies : « For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it. » The LORD departs and Abraham returns to his place. This passage has echoes in the rest of the Torah especially as we see Moses’ relationship with the LORD as the leader of the Israelites out of Egypt and to the brink of the Promised Land.
Fox (p.74) states that in this narrative more than anywhere else in the Abraham cycle (except maybe for c.22 ‘The Akedah’), Abraham appears as the worthy father of his people. « Without this story, Abraham would be a man of faith, but not a man of compassion and moral outrage, a model consistent with Moses and the Prophets of Israel. »
For Reflection and Discussion:
1. I have always admired Abraham’s courage in his approach to bargaining with the LORD. This is an example of a special relationship with the LORD. Would you agree? 2. Fox has given me a new insight into the character of Abraham. What do you think of his opinion?”
Bibliography: Eskenasi, The Torah, A Women’s Commentary (NY 2008); Fox, Everett. The Five Books of Moses (New York: 1997).
This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Bernadette Teresa Chellew, South Africa, Bat Kol Alumna: 2008
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