5 – Parashat Chayei Sarah ( חַיֵּי שָֹרָה) — “Life of Sarah”

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 23:1 thru 25:18

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 23

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.
And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Chevron in the land of Canaan: and Avraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
And Avraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,
I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
And the children of Heth answered Avraham, saying unto him,
Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.
And Avraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Avraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,
Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
And Avraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
And Ephron answered Avraham, saying unto him,
My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
And Avraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Avraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
And the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure
Unto Avraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.
And after this, Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Chevron in the land of Canaan.
And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Avraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 24

And Avraham was old, and well stricken in age: and Yahuah had blessed Avraham in all things.
And Avraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
And I will make thee swear by Yahuah, the Elohai of heaven, and the Elohai of the earth, that thou shalt not take a woman unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a woman unto my son Yitschaq.
And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
And Avraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
Yahuah Elohai of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a woman unto my son from thence.
And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his adoniy, and sware to him concerning that matter.
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his adoniy, and departed; for all the goods of his adoniy were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
And he said O Yahuah Elohai Adonai of Avraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my adoniy Avraham.
Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Yitschaq; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my adoniy.
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rivqah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the woman of Nahor, Avraham’s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
And she said, Drink, my adonaiy: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether Yahuah had made his journey prosperous or not.
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father’s house for us to lodge in?
And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped Yahuah.
And he said, Blessed be Yahuah Elohai Adoniy of Avraham, who hath not left destitute my adoniy of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, Yahuah led me to the house of my adoniy’s brethren.
And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.
And Rivqah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rivqah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Yahuah; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s feet that were with him.
And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
And he said, I am Avraham’s servant.
And Yahuah hath blessed my adoniy greatly; and he is become great: and He hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
And Sarah my adoniy’s woman bare a son to my adoniy when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.
And my adoniy made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a woman to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
But thou shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a woman unto my son.
And I said unto my adoniy, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
And he said unto me, Yahuah, before whom I walk, will send His angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a woman for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s house:
Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Yahuah Elohai Adonai of Avraham, if now Thou do prosper my way which I go:
Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom Yahuah hath appointed out for my adoniy’s son.
And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rivqah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
And I bowed down my head, and worshipped Yahuah, and blessed Yahuah Elohai Adonaiy of Avraham, which had led me in the right way to take my adoniy’s brother’s daughter unto his son.
And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my adoniy, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Yahuah: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
Behold, Rivqah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy adoniy’s son’s woman, as Yahuah hath spoken.
And it came to pass, that, when Avraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped Yahuah, bowing himself to the earth.
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rivqah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my adoniy.
And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.
And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Yahuah hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my adoniy.
And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
And they called Rivqah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
And they sent away Rivqah their sister, and her nurse, and Avraham’s servant, and his men.
And they blessed Rivqah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed את possess the gate of those which hate them.
And Rivqah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rivqah, and went his way.
And Yitschaq came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the Negev.
And Yitschaq went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
And Rivqah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitschaq, she lighted off the camel.
For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my adoniy: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.
And the servant told Yitschaq all things that he had done.
And Yitschaq brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rivqah, and she became his woman; and he loved her: and Yitschaq was comforted after his mother’s death.

Bere’shiyth (Genesis) 25:1-18

Then again Avraham took a woman, and her name was Keturah.
And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.
And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
And Avraham gave all that he had unto Yitschaq.
But unto the sons of the concubines, which Avraham had, Avraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Yitschaq his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
And these are the days of the years of Avraham’s life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
Then Avraham gave up his ruach, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
And his sons Yitschaq and Yishma’el buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
The field which Avraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Avraham buried, and Sarah his woman.
And it came to pass after the death of Avraham, that Elohiym blessed his son Yitschaq; and Yitschaq dwelt by the well Lahairoi.
Now these are the generations of Yishma’el, Avraham’s son, whom Hagar the Mitsriym, Sarah’s handmaid, bare unto Avraham:
And these are the names of the sons of Yishma’el, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Yishma’el, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:
These are the sons of Yishma’el, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.
17 And these are the years of the life of Yishma’el, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Mitsrayim, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

Haftarah Parashat Chayei Sarah ( חַיֵּי שָֹרָה) — “Life of Sarah” – April 27th thru May 3rd

1 Kings (1 Melekiym) 1:1-31

Now king Da’vid was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my adoniy the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my adoniy the king may get heat.
So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.
And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.
And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.
But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to Da’vid, were not with Adonijah.
And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bath-Sheva the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and Da’vid our adoniy knoweth it not?
Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.
Go and get thee in unto king Da’vid, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my adoniy, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Shalomah thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?
Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.
And Bath-Sheva went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.
And Bath-Sheva bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?
And she said unto him, My adoniy, thou swarest by the Yahuah Elohai unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Shalomah thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.
And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my adoniy the king, thou knowest it not:
And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Shalomah thy servant hath he not called.
And thou, my adoniy, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my adoniy the king after him.
Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my adoniy the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Shalomah shall be counted offenders.
And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.
And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
And Nathan said, My adoniy, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?
For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.
But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Shalomah, hath he not called.
Is this thing done by my adoniy the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my adoniy the king after him?
Then king Da’vid answered and said, Call me Bath-Sheva. And she came into the king’s presence, and stood before the king.
And the king sware, and said, As the Yahuah liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,
Even as I sware unto thee by the Yahuah God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Shalomah thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.
Then Bath-Sheva bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my adoniy king Da’vid live for ever.

Brit Ha’Dasha Parashat Chayei Sarah ( חַיֵּי שָֹרָה) — “Life of Sarah” – April 27th thru May 3rd

Yochanon (John) 4:3-14

3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.

4 And he must needs go through Samaria.

5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Ya’aqov gave to his son Yoseph.

6 Now Ya’aqov’s well was there. Yahusha therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Yahusha saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Yahusha answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Ya’aqov, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Yahusha answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

5 – Parashat Chayei Sarah ( חַיֵּי שָֹרָה) — “Life of Sarah” – April 27th thru May 3rd