1)

Which 'souls' did Avraham and Sarah 'make' in Charan?

1.

Rashi #1, Targum Onkelus and Targum Yonasan: The Pasuk is referring to the people that they brought under the wings of the Shechinah, 1 and who accompanied them to Eretz Kena'an. 2 Avraham taught the men, and Sarah taught the women (Rashi). 3

2.

Rashi #2: It refers simply to the Avadim and Shefachos that they purchased.

1

Chochmah u'Musar (Vol. 2, p. 369): The verse also discusses Lot; he too brought people to serve HaSh-m.

2

However, refer to 12:8:3:2*.

3

Gur Aryeh: Rashi initially interprets the verse in this way because it is impossible to "make" souls in the literal sense. It must mean that Avraham converted them.

2)

Why does the Torah find it necessary to tell us that Avraham "set out to go to the Land of Kena'an," and that he "arrived in the Land of Kena'an"?

1.

Seforno: Already then, Eretz Kena'an was known to have special qualities, which enabled a person to serve HaSh-m in a more intense way. The Torah is therefore informing us here that, unlike his father Terach, 1 Avraham concluded what he set out to do.

1

Refer to 11:31:2:1.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

KIH Logo
D.A.F. Home Page
Sponsorships & Donations • Readers' Feedback • Mailing Lists • Talmud Archives • Ask the Kollel • Dafyomi Weblinks • Dafyomi Calendar • Other Yomi calendars