Vayeira 20:1 · EXTRA

EXTRA · Parashas Vayeira · Passuk 20:1

Supplementary classical material; Torah Temimah lists no citation under this passuk.

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּסַּ֨ע מִשָּׁ֤ם אַבְרָהָם֙ אַ֣רְצָה הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב בֵּין־קָדֵ֖שׁ וּבֵ֣ין שׁ֑וּר וַיָּ֖גָר בִּגְרָֽר׃

Avraham journeyed from there to the land of the Negev and settled between Kadesh and Shur, and he sojourned in Gerar.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Rashi on Genesis 20:1.

Sefaria — Rashi on Genesis 20:1

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיִּסַּע מִשָּׁם אַבְרָהָם. כְּשֶׁרָאָה שֶׁחָרְבוּ הַכְּרַכִּים וּפָסְקוּ הָעוֹבְרִים וְהַשָּׁבִים, נָסַע לוֹ מִשָּׁם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: לְהִתְרַחֵק מִלּוֹט, שֶׁיָּצָא עָלָיו שֵׁם רַע שֶׁבָּא עַל בְּנוֹתָיו.

English: “Avraham journeyed from there.” When he saw that the cities were destroyed and the passers-by had ceased, he left. Another explanation: to distance himself from Lot, upon whom a bad name had gone out that he had relations with his daughters.

On the daf / in context: After the destruction of the plain, traffic and hospitality opportunities disappeared; alternatively Avraham separated from the scandal surrounding Lot.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Rashi) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The move is motivated by either practical desolation or moral distancing.

What Is Learned

A place emptied of travelers no longer serves the mission of hospitality; distancing from scandal is also a legitimate reason for relocation.