Vayeira 18:19 · unit 5

כִּ֣י יְדַעְתִּ֗יו לְמַ֩עַן֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו וְאֶת־בֵּיתוֹ֙ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת צְדָקָ֖ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט לְמַ֗עַן הָבִ֤יא יְהֹוָה֙ עַל־אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֖ר עָלָֽיו׃

For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of Hashem by doing righteousness and justice, so that Hashem may bring upon Avraham that which He has spoken concerning him.

Source Citation

צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט. דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי, מַאי דִּכְתִיב הוֹלֵךְ צְדָקוֹת וְדֹבֵר מֵישָׁרִים? הוֹלֵךְ צְדָקוֹת זֶה אַבְרָהָם, דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנָיו וְאֶת בֵּיתוֹ אַחֲרָיו וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה׳ לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט.

“Righteousness and justice.” Rabbi Simlai expounded: What is the meaning of the verse “He who walks in righteousness and speaks uprightly”? “He who walks in righteousness” refers to Avraham, as it is written of him, “For I have known him… to do righteousness and justice.”

On the daf / in context: In the list of those who fulfill the ideal of Yeshayahu 33:15, Avraham is identified as the archetype of “walking in righteousness” on the strength of this verse.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. A later prophetic phrase is anchored in the description of Avraham.

What Is Learned

Avraham is the model of “one who walks in righteousness”; the Torah itself describes him as commanding his household to practice tzedakah and mishpat.

Vayeira 18:19 · unit 5

The Complete Passuk

Source Citation

Type of Learning

What Is Learned