Torah Trivia for Parshah Vayera
1.) Where (in what geographic location) is Avraham located when the Angels of Adonai approach his tent, and where (in what immediate location) do the Angels of Adonai eat Avraham’s offerings?
Answer: Avraham is located within the Plains of Mamre, and the Angels eat beneath the shade of the tree; Bereshit 18:1, 8.
2.) What is the number of innocent people, required for the survival of Sodom, that Avraham is able to negotiate?
Answer: Adonai agrees to preserve Sodom for the sake of 10 innocent people; Bereshit 18:32.
3.) How many times does Avraham approach Adonai on behalf of the innocent people in Sodom?
Answer: Avraham approaches Adonai 6 times: for the sake of 50 innocent people (Bereshit 18:23 – 25); 45 innocent people (Bereshit 18:27 – 28); 40 innocent people (Bereshit 18:29); 30 innocent people (Bereshit 18:30); 20 innocent people (Bereshit 18:31); and 10 innocent people (Bereshit 18:32).
4.) How many Angels approach Avraham at his tent, and how many Angels approach Sodom?
Answer: 3 Angels approach Avraham at his tent, and 2 Angels approach Sodom; Bereshit 18:2; Bereshit 19:1.
5.) What courtesy do Avraham and Lot both offer the “strangers”/Angels before eating?
Answer: Both Avraham and Lot offer water for the Angels to wash the Angels’ feet; Bereshit 18:4; Bereshit 19:2.
6.) How many daughters does Lot have?
Answer: Lot presumably has at least 4 daughters, 2 that are explicitly described. Lot first describes 2 of his daughters as virgins (Bereshit 19:8). Then, there is the description of Lot urging his sons-in-law to flee Sodom with him, indicating that he has at least 2 daughters who are married (Bereshit 19:14). There is the possibility of the 2 daughters, initially described, also being the minimum 2 daughters who are married (with either the daughters continuing to be virgins or Lot previously communicating a falsehood to quell the situation). There is also the possibility that Lot indeed has at least 2 additional daughters, who are married, and who remain with the sons-in-law in Sodom after his sons-in-law laugh at Lot. There is the description of Lot’s 2 daughters fleeing with him out of Sodom; Bereshit 19:15, 16, 30.
7.) What does Abimelech provide to Avraham for amends after the situation with Sarah?
Answer: Abimelech provides sheep, cattle, servants, 1,000 silver tokens, and the option for Avraham to settle wherever he chooses within Gerar; 20:14 – 16.
8.) Towards what direction (what geographic location) does Avraham send Hagar and Ishmael, and what does Avraham provide the 2 upon leaving?
Answer: Avraham provides Hagar and Ishmael with bread and a bag of water and the 2 leave towards Beer-Sheva; Bereshit 21:14.
9.) What does Avraham provide to Abimelech as part of a Peace treaty and settlement over the well at Beer-Sheva?
Answer: Avraham provides Abimelech with sheep and cattle (Bereshit 21:27), and with 7 additional sheep for a proof that Avraham previously digs the well in dispute; Bereshit 21:28 – 32.
10.) Within this Parshah of Vayera, how many altars does Avraham build to Adonai?
Answer: Avraham builds 2 altars: the tamarisk tree in Beer-Sheva (Bereshit 21:33), and the altar at Adonai Yir’eh (B’har Adonai Yerah) after receiving the ram in the thicket; Bereshit 22:13 – 14; this is in addition to the previous altars described in Parshah Lech Lecha.
11.) What is the response that Avraham similarly communicates to Elohim, Yitzak, and the Angel of Adonai?
Answer: Avraham responds, in each case, by saying, “Hineni,” (“Here I am”); Bereshit 22:1, 7, 11
12.) What relation is Rivkah to Avraham?
Answer: Rivkah is Avraham’s grandniece, daughter of Bethuel, son of Nachor, brother to Avraham (Bereshit 22:20 – 23); Rivkah is also Avraham’s grand grandniece, daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, daughter of Haran, brother to Avraham; Bereshit 11:27 – 29.
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Discussion Questions:
What is the nature of the communication between Avraham and Adonai amidst the experience of the Angels of Adonai? Bereshit 18:1 – 33.
Why does Avraham stop soliciting at the number of 10 innocent people? Bereshit 18:32
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