Abraham invited in three strangers into his tent, who turned out to be God’s angels, sent to tell him that Sarah was going to have a child.
After the guests left, Abraham learned of God’s plan to destroy the city of Sodom and pleaded with God not to destroy the city if there were at least 10 righteous people there.
After searching, there were not more than 10 righteous people in the city, so the angels told Lot to take his wife and daughters, leave the city and never look back.
While fleeing, Lot’s wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt, and then his daughters, wanting to give their father descendants, got Lot drunk and slept with him, later giving birth to sons named Moab and Ben-Ami.
Abraham and Sarah journeyed to the land of Abimelekh, and since they pretended to siblings, Abimelekh took Sarah as his wife, which angered God.
Abimelekh pleaded with God not to hurt him, since he did not know that Sarah and Abraham were married, and God showed mercy on Abimelekh, who then gave Abraham and Sarah much wealth and sent them on their way.
After giving birth to Isaac, Sarah could no longer stand being with Hagar and Ishmael, and when Abraham reluctantly sent them away, God reminded Abraham and Hagar that Ishmael will be the father of a great nation, and they will be looked after.
Abraham heard God’s voice asking him to take Isaac to a mountain and sacrifice him, as a way of testing Abraham’s devotion to God.
Abraham was about to kill his son, when God stopped him, explaining that he believed in Abraham’s commitment, and allowed him to sacrifice a lamb instead.
Abraham, Isaac and their servants returned to their home in Beer Sheva.
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Tags: 10-line torah portion, vayera
