Login

Fear not, Abraham | Discussion Page

Synopsis

Fear not, Abraham

The first dialogue between Abraham and G-D

ברית בין הבתרים 

ברית בין הבתרים 

א אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה,

 הָיָה דְבַר-יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, בַּמַּחֲזֶה, לֵאמֹר:

אַל-תִּירָא אַבְרָם, אָנֹכִי מָגֵן לָךְ-

-שְׂכָרְךָ, הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד.

 ב וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם, אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה מַה-תִּתֶּן-לִי,

וְאָנֹכִי, הוֹלֵךְ עֲרִירִי;

וּבֶן-מֶשֶׁק בֵּיתִי, הוּא דַּמֶּשֶׂק אֱלִיעֶזֶר.

 

 

בראשית טו’
The Covenant of the Pieces

The Covenant of the Pieces

Nach diesen Geschichten begab sich’s,
daß zu Abram geschah das Wort des HERRN im Gesicht und sprach:
Fürchte dich nicht Abram! Ich bin dein Schild und dein sehr großer Lohn.
2 Abram sprach aber:
HERR HERR, was willst du mir geben?
Ich gehe dahin ohne Kinder;
und dieser Elieser von Damaskus wird mein Haus besitzen.

Genesis 15:1-21

 

Interim Summary

The Discussion

x

Here are the texts for tomorrow’s meeting.

We have here  Abraham’s covenant and the Hagar covenant

Your are invited to share your initial remarks about them
(and the comparison between them)

x

I think what Axel said today was nothing short of brilliant, especially as it solves also the problems we’ve been working on in our former sessions.

G-d is trying to engage Avraham in a dialogue. But Avraham conceives him as someone to obey. This is why Avraham comments on the lack of fear of G-d in the Philistines. Instead of turning to G-d for deliverance he resorts to deception – always the weapon of the weak. But when G-d tells Avimelech to ask Avraham to pray for him he also speaks to Avraham through Avimelech: talk to me! I can and will grant your requests. After that experience, Avraham in our chapter – does just that: he answer “back”. There is a dialogue.

Now, G-d is “happy”. Avraham has learned to question G-d, while retaining his trust in Him – even when proof is as flimsy as the starlight.

G-d wants from Avraham more than silent obedience.

Dr. Hilda Nissimi

One comment
x

Thank you for a very moving learning together today.

If you are interested in Alterman poem
Here it is in Hebrew

and here in an English tranlation

Udi Lion

Last Posts

user profile image
Udi Lion
17.02.2017 16:44
Thank you for a very moving learning together today.

If you are interested in Alterman poem
Here it is in Hebrew

and here in an English tranlation

user profile image
Udi Lion
27.01.2017 14:07

Dear Axel,

Does  Hilda’s explenation reflect your thoughts?

Last Sources

Members