Ramazei DiOraysa: Hints in the Torah Volume 1 Issue 4

רמזי דאורייתא
Ramazei DiOraysa: Hints in the Torah
Volume 1 Issue 4

It is said (Bereishis 18:1) vayera eilav HaShem bieilonei mamre vihu yosheiv pesach haohel kichom hayom, HaShem appeared to him in the plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day. The Gemara (Eiruvin 19a) states that Avraham sits at the entrance of Gehinom and does not allow anyone who is circumcised to enter into Gehinom. The Baal HaTurim here mentions that there are a few hints to this Gemara in this verse. It is noteworthy that the first letters of the words pesach haohel are pey and hey, which equal in gematria 85, and the word milah, circumcision, also equals in gematria 85. Furthermore, the word mamre can be interpreted to mean speech, similar to the word maamar. It is said (Tehillim 119:162) sas anochi al imrasecho kimotzei shalal rav, I rejoice over your word, like one who finds abundant spoils. The Gemara (Shabbos 130a) interprets the word imrasecho to be alluding to the mitzvah of milah.

The Medrash (Tanchumah Vayera §4) states that in the merit of Avraham having the angels recline under the tree, his descendants merited the mitzvah of Sukkah. It is noteworthy that it is said that HaShem appeared to Avraham in elonei mamre, and the word bieilonei is equal in gematria to the word bisukkoh (93). Furthermore, the word bieilonei can also mean a tree.

The word kichom hayom, meaning heat of the day, in at bash (where aleph is taf, bais is shin etc.) is in gematria 100. Perhaps this alludes to the idea that Rashi writes later (18:10) that the angels promised Avraham that in exactly a year from now he would have a son born to him. Avraham circumcised himself when he was ninety years old, and Yitzchak was born when Avraham was one hundred years old. Thus, the verse is stating that when Avraham will be kichom, one hundred years old, he will have a son, exactly one year from “this day.”

There are numerous allusions to Matan Torah in the beginning of the parashah. One interesting allusion is that the word maher, hurry, appears three times (18:6 and in verse 7) and the word maher can also be read as meihar, from the mountain (see Rashi Taanis 29a s.v. viamar Rabbi Chanina). This alludes to the giving of the Torah which was in the third month, Sivan. Another allusion to this idea is because it is said (Bereishis 18:6) mahari shelosh siim kemach, hurry! Three se’ahs of meal. The word kemach alludes to sustenance, as the Mishna (Avos 3:17) states im ein kemach ein Torah, if there is no flour, i.e. sustenance, there is no Torah.

It is said (Bereishis 18:7) viel habakar ratz Avraham, then Avraham ran to the cattle. The Baal HaTurim writes that the words viel habakar ratz can be read viel hakever ratz, Avraham ran to the burial place. This alludes to the Medrash (Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer §36) that states that the sheep ran away from Avraham into the Mearas Hamachpeila. It is noteworthy that the word habakar can also spell the word Rivka. This alludes to the idea that everyone is running to the kever, i.e. the Mearas Hamachpeila. Avraham is running there and later Yitzchak will take a wife, Rivka, and they will also be buried in Mearas Hamachpeila. In the end Esav will also desire a burial place in the Mears Hamachpeila, and Naftali will “run” to Egypt to fetch the document that declares explicitly that Esav sold his rights to the burial place in Mearas Hamachpeila (Sota 13a).
It is said (Bereishis 18:11) lamah zeh tzachaka Sarah leimor, why is it that Sarah laughed. The first letters of the words lamah zeh equal in gematria 37, and this alludes to the idea that Sarah will give birth to Yitzchak when she will be 90 years old, and 37 years later she will die.

It is said (Bereishis 18:15) lo tzachakti, I did not laugh. The word tzachakti contains the word Yitzchak and the letter taf, which is 400 in gematria. This alludes to the idea that Rashi mentions (Ibid 15:13) that the decree of enslavement began when Yitzchak was born, and four hundred years later the Jewish People left Egypt. Thus, after four hundred years there will be laughter and rejoicing upon the redemption.

The word used for the destruction of Sodom is mahpeicha, an upheaval. It is noteworthy that the word Sodom (104) is equal in gematria to the word hafach, turn over (105).

Avraham wished to offer Yitzchak as a sacrifice, and this incident is known as the Akeidah. It is fascinating that the word akod in gematria equals 180, the years that Yitzchak lived. Furthermore, it is said (Bereishis 22:9) vayasem oso mimaal laeitzim, and he placed him on the altar atop the wood. The word mimaal is also in gematria 180.










Ramazei DiOraysa: Hints in the Torah
Volume 1 Issue 4

Is sponsored by
Rabbi Zorach Menachem Spira
In memory of his dear father
Mordechai ע"ה ben Dovid נ"י
On his yahrtzeit
October 22, 2002 ט"ז מרחשון תשס"ג

Prepared by Rabbi Binyomin Adler.
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