Why does the Torah switch from plural ("Avosecha") to singular ("Vayivchar be'Zar'o")?
Targum Yonasan: Because, although Hashem also loved Avraham and Yitschak, it was the offspring of Ya'akov whom He chose as His nation. 1
"Oznayim la'Torah: Because Yishmel and the B'nei Keturah (the sons of Avraham) and Eisav (the son of Yitzchak) rejected the Torah and the inheritance of Eretz Yisrael - See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'Vayivchar be'Zar'o ... ', who elaborates.
What are the connotations of the word "be'Fanav"?
Rashi and Rashbam: It means that Hashem led Yisrael in front of Him 1 - like a person leads his son in front of him. 2
Rashi #2: It means that He took them out of Egypt in front of the Avos. 3 (Gur Aryeh - he showed them (the Avos) the exodus).
Seforno: It has connotations of 'in a miraculous way' - as opposed to 'me'Achorav', which implies 'by natural means'.
Targum Onkelos: It means 'with His word (by His command)'.
Targum Yonasan: It means 'with a Shining Face (with goodwill).
Oznayim la'Torah: It means 'Not via an a Mal'ach and not via a Shali'ach ... ', but Hashem Personally.
As if the Torah had written 'le'Fanav' - with a 'Lamed' - See Sifsei Chachamim). Rashbam: See Beshalach, Sh'mos 14:19 13:21, and Bo, Sh'mos 12:12.
Refer to Sh'mos, 14:20:1:1*.
Rashi: As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim, 78:12.
Why does the Torah switch from plural ("Avosecha") to singular ("Vayivchar be'Zar'o")?
Targum Yonasan: Because, although Hashem also loved Avraham and Yitschak, it was the offspring of Ya'akov whom He chose as His nation. 1
"Oznayim la'Torah: Because Yishmel and the B'nei Keturah (the sons of Avraham) and Eisav (the son of Yitzchak) rejectthe inheritance of Eretz Yisrael and the Torah - See Oznayim la'Torah DH 'Vayivchr be'Zar'o ... ', who elaborates.
