EXTRA on Lech Lecha 13:11

EXTRA · Rashi on Genesis 13:11, citing Bereshit Rabbah 41:7 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Passuk 13:11

Complete Passuk

וַיִּבְחַר־ל֣וֹ ל֗וֹט אֵ֚ת כׇּל־כִּכַּ֣ר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן וַיִּסַּ֥ע ל֖וֹט מִקֶּ֑דֶם וַיִּפָּ֣רְד֔וּ אִ֖ישׁ מֵעַ֥ל אָחִֽיו׃

So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they parted from each other.

Source

Rashi on Genesis 13:11, citing Bereshit Rabbah 41:7 for the midrashic reading of “מִקֶּדֶם.”

Sefaria — Rashi on Genesis 13:11

Sefaria — Bereshit Rabbah 41:7

Core Text of Rashi

Core Text

וַיִּסַּע לוֹט מִקֶּדֶם — הִסִּיעַ עַצְמוֹ מִקַּדְמוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אָמַר: אִי אֶפְשִׁי לֹא בְאַבְרָהָם וְלֹא בֵאלֹהָיו.

English: Lot journeyed from the east (mikedem) — he removed himself from the Ancient One of the world; he said: I want neither Avraham nor his God.

On the daf / in context: Rashi’s midrashic reading of מִקֶּדֶם turns a compass direction into a spiritual departure: Lot’s choice of the Jordan plain is simultaneously a choice away from Avraham’s path.

Type of Learning: Rashi’s midrashic wordplay

What Is Learned: Geographic separation from Avraham is framed as theological separation; the later fate of Sodom is already foreshadowed in the direction of the journey.

Supplementary classical material not listed by Torah Temimah under this exact passuk.

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