Avram-to Avraham
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may
use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh:
1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC),
and 3. “Sefaria.org”
(SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is
my prefered version!
Colour coded details of
our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History &
Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls -
Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and
Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it
once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command
you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments ofיְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
Bereshit - Genesis Chapter 17..
With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
Introduction:
Genesis Chapter 17
marks the transition from the Covenant between the Parts
(which was a Divine promise of land) to the Covenant
of Circumcision (Brit Milah).
This chapter is the spiritual climax of Avraham’s
journey. Here, El Shaddai, the Almighty commands a
physical transformation to match a spiritual one. It is the moment when the
mission of the Jewish people shifts from a private relationship with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) to a perpetual,
multi-generational mission through the establishment of a “chosen” lineage.
YYYYYYY
1. “And when Avram was
ninety years old and nine, יְהוָה - the LORD appeared
to Avram, and said unto him: ‘I am אֱלֹהִים - Elohim Almighty; walk before Me,
and be thou wholehearted. 2. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee
exceedingly’. 3. And Avram
fell on his face; and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim talked with him, saying: 4. ‘As
for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations. 5. Neither shall thy name any more be called Avram, but thy name shall be Avraham;
for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. 6. And
I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings
shall come out of thee. 7. And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee
throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a אֱלֹהִים - Elohim unto thee and to thy seed after thee. 8. And
I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the
land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for
an everlasting possession; and I will be their אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’. 9. And אֱלֹהִים - Elohim said unto Avraham: ‘And as
for thee, thou shalt keep My
covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations. 10. This is My covenant, which
ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you
shall be circumcised. 11. And ye shall be
circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a
covenant betwixt Me and you. 12. And
he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout
your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any
foreigner, that is not of thy seed. 13 He that
is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be
circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh
for an everlasting covenant. 14. And the
uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that
soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My
covenant.' 15. And אֱלֹהִים - Elohim said unto Avraham: 'As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not
call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16. And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a
son of her; yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings
of peoples shall be of her’. 17. Then Avraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his
heart: ‘Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?' 18. And Avraham said unto אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: 'Oh that Ishmael might live before Thee!’ 19. And אֱלֹהִים - Elohim said: ‘Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son;
and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will
establish My covenant with him for an everlasting
covenant for his seed after him. 20 And as for
Ishmael, I have heard thee; behold, I have blessed him, and will make him
fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and
I will make him a great nation. 21. But My
covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this
set time in the next year’. 22. And He left off
talking with him, and אֱלֹהִים - Elohim went up from Avraham. 23. And Avraham took Ishmael
his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his
money, every male among the men of Avraham’s house,
and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim had said unto him. 24. And
Avraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was
circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 25. And
Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of
his foreskin. 26. In the selfsame day was Avraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 27. And
all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money
of a foreigner, were circumcised with him”.
YYYYYYY
Commentary re
this Chapter:
The depth of this
chapter lies in the themes of perfection and identity:
Walk before Me
and be thou whole (v. 1): It has been generally thought, that until this
point, Avraham was “imperfect”. The commandment of Milah suggests that humans
are partners with the Creator; אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who created the
world, but we must “finish” ourselves through our actions and obedience!
The Change of Names (v. 5, 15): The addition of the
letter ‘He’ ה from אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s own Name into Abram and Sarai’s names signifies a change in essence. They are no
longer just individuals; they are now the "father and mother of a
multitude of nations". This teaches us that destiny is not fixed by stars
or fate, but can be altered by Divine decree and human merit.
The Token of the Covenant (v. 11): Why the flesh?
Judaism rejects a purely abstract spirituality. The Brit (Covenant) must be etched into our very bodies,
reminding us that even our most physical drives must be sanctified and
dedicated to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s service.
Laughter of Faith (v. 17): When Avraham laughs, the ‘Onkelos’
translation notes it is a laugh of rejoicing, whereas Sarah’s later laugh (in Chapter 18) is
viewed differently. Avraham marvels at the suspension
of nature, accepting that with “El Shaddai”, the
impossible becomes inevitable.
Ishmael’s Blessing (v. 20): Even as Isaac is
designated as the spiritual heir of the specific covenant, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim acknowledges Avraham’s love for Ishmael. This shows the Divine attribute
of mercy (Chesed) extending even beyond the
specific boundaries of the Bris.
YYYYYYY
My Closing Thoughts:
This chapter concludes
with the 99-year-old Avraham performing the
commandment immediately. This teaches us the principle of זְרִיזוּת - Zrizut - meaning (“eager”, “speed
in action”, and “diligently in performing a mitzvah”. Avraham
did not debate or delay; he brought himself, his son, and his entire household
into the covenant on that very day. It reminds us that our connection to the “Eternal”
is not merely a matter of the mind, but a tangible, lifelong commitment that
binds the generations together!
YYYYYYY
Please
Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!
This site
was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and
wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or
three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us,
especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very
much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember
what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will
return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
YYYYYYY
“Hebraic Studies”
motto is as follows;
He
is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with
you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Enter ...
http://www.hebraicstudies.net/Site-Index.htm
Enter
...
https://www.hebraicstudies.net
-hebraicstudies.net-
Email the Rabbi
If the
email link does not open - You can also copy the link and use it.
Although the author
does not believe in having to copyright “Hebraic Studies” commenced in the mid
1980’,
but there have been occasions
where there parts of his studies have been taken and quoted out
of context
under my name, and thus he has
been misquoted by those who have their own reasons for doing so.
Thus, it is only for
this reason these works are fully covered under strict ...
Copyright
© 2025 - “Hebraic Studies” - All rights reserved.