The Center for Messianic Learning Unapologetically Pro-Torah Unashamedly Pro-Israel Irrevocably Zionist	ב״ה
		“… out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.” (Isaiah 2:3)

• Site Home
• Torah
• Introduction to My Commentary
• Instructions for the Torah Section
• Genesis
• Exodus
• Leviticus
• Numbers
• Deuteronomy
• Weekly Parashot
• Bible Books Index
• Biblical Numerology
• Global Notes
• Weights & Measures
• Glossary
• Pronunciation Guide
• Search This Site

Please read the Introductory Notes to this commentary.

WARNING: The text used for my commentary is my own paraphrase and must not be
considered “a translation” or authorative in any way. It is, in fact, simply my commentary.
Maps, when used, are from BibleAtlas.org. Created using BibleMapper 3.0.
Additional data from OpenBible.info. Source of Dates Used

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית • B'resheet
(“In Beginning” or “At First”)
The First Book of Moses,
Commonly Called
Genesis

Genesis: Introduction • Videos
1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25 
26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36  37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50
Yosef as a type of Yeshua    Source of Dates Used

Parashot: Index   1. B'resheet   2. Noach   3. Lech Lecha   4. Vayera   5. Chayei Sarah
6. Toldot   7. VaYetze   8. VaYishlach   9. VaYeshev   10. Miketz   11. Vayigash   12. Vayechi
 

---

~ 25~

Parashah 5: Hayyei-Sarah (continued)
(“Sara’s Life,” Gen. 23:1-25:18)
(Small Roman numerals in the text indicate each 'aliyah.)

[Hebron [MAP] ca 1826 BCE]

C. Abram Marries Keturah (25:1-6)

(vi) 1Avraham had taken another wife, named K’turah“incense”. 2She bore him Zimran“musician”, Yokshan“snarer”, Medan“contention”, Midyan“strife”, Yishbak“he releases”, and Shuach“wealth”.

3Yokshan became the father of Sh'va“seven” or “an oath”, and D'dan“low country”.

The descendants of D'dan were the AshurimAsshurites, “guided: blessed”, the L'tushimLetushites, “hammered”, and the L'ummimLeummites, “peoples”.

4The sons of Midyan were 'Eifah“gloomy”, 'Efera calf”, Hanokh“dedicated”, Avida“my father knows”, and Elda'ah“God has known”.

All these were the descendants of K'turah.

5Avraham left everything he owned to Yitz'chakIsaac, 6but while he was still alive Avraham gave gifts to the sons his concubines and sent them away from his son Yitz'chak to the east country.

D. Death of Avraham (25:7-10) [1792 BCE]

7These are the days of the years of Avraham’s life: one hundred seventy-five years. 8Avraham gave up his spirit, and died at a good old age, old and contented, and was gathered to his people. [1638 BCE, 2123 AC] 9His sons Yitz'chak and Yishma‘el buried him in the cave of Machpelah [MAP] near Mamre, in the field of Ephron Benthe son of-Zohar the Hittite. 10This was the field that Avraham had purchased from the Hittiteslit. “sons of Het”; an ancient people who established an empire in Asia Minor and Syria that flourished from c. 1700 to c.1200 BCE. Avraham was buried there with his wife Sarah. 11After Avraham’s death, Elohim[GN] blessed his son Yitz'chak, who lived by Be'er Lahai Roi“well of the Living One Who sees me”. [MAP]

 
[TO PARASHAH TOP] 
 

E. Ishmael’s Descendants (25:12-18)

(vii) 12Now this is the genealogy of Avraham’s son Yishma‘el”God will hear“, whom Sarah’s Egyptian maidservant Hagar, bore to Avraham. 13These are the names of the sons of Yishma‘el in the order of their birth: N’vayotNebaioth, “heights”, Yishma‘el’s firstborn, then Kedar“dark”, Adbe'el“chastened of God”, Mivsam“sweet odour”, 14Mishma“a hearing”, Dumah“silence”, Massa“burden”, 15Hadad“mighty”, Teima“desert”, Y'turJetur, “enclosed”, Nafish“refreshment”, and Kedemah“original”.

[TO PARASHAH TOP] 

(Maftir) 16These are the sons of Yishma‘el, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes of their tribes. 17This the length of Yishma‘el’s life: one hundred thirty-seven years. He gave up his spirit and died, and was gathered to his people. [1744 BCE] 18Yishma‘el’s descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, [MAP] which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria, and they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.

[Continue Reading Chapter 25]
 

---

Now that you’ve read Hayyei-Sarah,
watch Rabbi Greg Hershberg’s teaching

 

 
[TO PARASHAH TOP] 
 

---

Haftarah

---

Haftarah Hayyei-Sarah is 1 Kings 1:1–31
Listen to it read from the Complete Jewish Bible

1 Now king David was old and advanced in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he couldn’t keep warm. 2 Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king. Let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in your bosom, that my lord the king may keep warm.” 3 So they sought for a beautiful young lady throughout all the borders of Isra'el, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young lady was very beautiful; and she cherished the king, and served him; but the king didn’t know her intimately.

5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, “I will be king.” Then he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 6 His father had not displeased him at any time in saying, “Why have you done so?” and he was also a very handsome man; and he was born after Absalom. 7 He conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest; and they followed Adonijah and helped him. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9 Adonijah killed sheep, cattle, and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel; and he called all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the men of Y'hudah, the king’s servants; 10 but he didn’t call Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother.

11 Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, “Haven’t you heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith reigns, and David our lord doesn’t know it? 12 Now therefore come, please let me give you counsel, that you may save your own life and your son Solomon’s life. 13 Go in to king David, and tell him, ‘Didn’t you, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying, “Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?” Why then does Adonijah reign?’ 14 Hinneh“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection., while you are still talking there with the king, I will also come in after you and confirm your words.”

15 Bathsheba went in to the king in his room. The king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king. 16 Bathsheba bowed and showed respect to the king. The king said, “What would you like?”

17 She said to him, “My lord, you swore by Y^ehovah[GN] your Elohim to your servant, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.’ 18 Now, hinneh, Adonijah reigns; and you, my lord the king, don’t know it. 19 He has slain cattle and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons of the king, Abiathar the cohen, and Joab the captain of the army; but he hasn’t called Solomon your servant. 20 You, my lord the king, the eyes of all Isra'el are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king sleeps with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be considered criminals.”

22 Hinneh, while she was still talking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. 23 They told the king, “Hinneh, Nathan the prophet!”

When he had come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. 24 Nathan said, “My lord, king, have you said, ‘Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne?’ 25 For he has gone down today, and has slain cattle, fatlings, and sheep in abundance, and has called all the king’s sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. Behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and saying, ‘Long live king Adonijah!’ 26 But he hasn’t called me, even me your servant, Zadok the cohen, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon. 27 Was this thing done by my lord the king, and you haven’t shown to your servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?”

28 Then king David answered, “Call Bathsheba in to me.” She came into the king’s presence and stood before the king. 29 The king vowed and said, “As Y^ehovah lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all adversity, 30 most certainly as I swore to you by Y^ehovah, the God of Isra'el, ‘Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place;’ I will most certainly do this today.”

31 Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth and showed respect to the king, and said, “Let my lord king David live forever!”

 
[TO PARASHAH TOP] 
 

---

Ketuvei HaShalichim (Apostolic Writings)

The reading from the Gospels is John 4:3–14

3He left Y'hudahJudea and went back into the GalilGallilee.[MAP] 4He had to pass through ShomronSamaria.[MAP] 5So he came to a town in Shomron called Sh'khemSychar, [MAP] near the parcel of ground Ya'akovYa'akov had given to his son YosefJoseph. 6Ya'akov’s well was there. So Yeshua, tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hournoon.

7A woman of Shomron came to draw water. Yeshua said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8(His talmidim had gone into the town to buy food.)

9“You are a Jew,” the woman of Shomron said. “How can you ask for a drink from me, a woman of Shomron?” (For Jews do not associate with people from Shomron.)

10Yeshua answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and Who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”[10]

11The woman said to Him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. So where will You get that living water? 12Are you greater than our father Ya'akov, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?”

13Yeshua answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water that I give him will never thirst again; indeed, the water I will give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

 
[TO PARASHAH TOP] 
 

Kepherim (Letters)

Additional B’rit Hadashah Reading (Optional)

Mattityahu (Matthew) 8:19–22; 27:3–10

8 19A Scribe, Torah teacherSofer came up to Him and said, “Rabbi, I will follow You wherever You go.”

20Yeshua said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

21Another of His disciplestalmidim[21a] said to him, “Lord, let me go bury my father first.”[21b]

22But Yeshua said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”[22]

27 3Then Y'hudahY'hudah the Sicarius who betrayed Him, when he saw that Yeshua had beem condemned to death, felt remorse, and returned the thirty silver coins to the Cohenim Gadolim and Zakenim, 4saying, “I sinned by betraying an innocent man to death.”

But they said, “What is that to us? That’s your problem!”

5He hurled the silver coins into the sanctuary and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. 6The Cohenim Gadolim took the coins and said, “We’re prohibited from putting them into the treasury, since it’s blood money.” 7So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a cemetery for foreigners; 8so that field is still called “The Field of Blood.” 9Then what JeremiahYirmeyahu the prophet spoke was fulfilled:

“They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Yisra'el priced, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as Y^ehovah commanded me.”[10]

 

Luke 9:57–62

57As they were on their way, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever You go.”

58Yeshua said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

59Yeshua said to another man, “Follow me!”

But the man replied, “Sir, let me first to go and bury my father.”[59]

60But Yeshua said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God.”[60]

61Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house.”

62But Yeshua said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
 

---

The Blessing After the Ketuvei HaShalichim Click here to listen to this canted by Jeremiah Greenberg of Messianic Liturgical Resources. Page numbers refer to his Messianic Shabbat Siddur.
Ba-rookh ah-tah, Adonai Eh-lo-hay-noo, meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-sher na-tahn la-noo Ha-d'var Ha-eh-met v'cha-yaye oh-lahm na-ta b'toe-chey-noo. Ba-rooch ah-ta Adonai, no-tain Ha-breet Ha-cha-da-sha. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has given us the Word of Truth and has planted life everlasting in our midst. Blessed are you O Lord, Giver of the New Covenant.

The Blessing of the Messiah Click here to listen to this canted by Jeremiah Greenberg of Messianic Liturgical Resources. Page numbers refer to his Messianic Shabbat Siddur.
Ba-rookh ah-tah Adonai Eh-lo-hay-noo, meh-lekh hah-oh-lahm, ah-sher na-tahn la-noo ha-deh-rech l'y'shoo-ah b'ma-she-ahch Yeshua. Ah-mein. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has given us the way to salvation in Messiah Yeshua. Amen.

---

 

 

 

Listen to Toldot read from the CJB

VI. Parashah Tol'dot (History) (25:19-28:9)

A. Esav and Ya'akov (25:19-34)

1. Concern About Descendants (25:19-21)

(i)19This is the history of Yitz'chakIsaac, “he laughs”, Avraham’s son. Avraham became the father of Yitz'chak. 20Yitz'chak was forty years old when he married RivkahRebekah, “ensnarer”, the daughter of B’tu’elBethuel, “God destroys” or “man of God” or “dweller in God” the AramiSyrian or Aramean = “exalted” of Paddan Aram, [MAP] the sister of LavanLaban, “white” the Arami. 21Yitz'chak prayed to Y^ehovah [GN] on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. Y^ehovah heard his prayer and his wife Rivkah conceived.

2. Prophecy Regarding Children (25:22-23)

 22The children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” She went to inquire of Y^ehovah. 23Y^ehovah said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; two peoples will be separated from your body. The one people will be stronger than the other people, and the elder will serve the younger.”[23]

[Death of Shem 1817 BCE]
[Hebron? [MAP] 1808-1807 BCE]

3. 'Esav and Ya'akov Born and Grow Up (25:24-28)

24When it was time for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25The first came out red all over, like a hairy garment. They named him ‘EsavEsav, “hairy,” “completely formed,” that is, having hair already. 26After that, his brother came out with his hand holdding Esav’s heel. He was named Ya'akovYa'akov, “heel holder” or “supplanter”. Yitz'chak was sixty years old when they were born.

27When the boys grew up, 'Esav became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Ya'akov was a quiet man who stayed at home. 28Now Yitz'chak loved 'Esav, because he had a taste for wild game, but Rivkah loved Ya'akov.

4. Esav Sells the Birthright (25:29-34) [1777 BCE]

 29One day whil Ya'akov was making stew, 'Esav came in from the field and was famished. 30'Esav said to Ya'akov, “Please let me have some of that red stew, for I am famished.” (That is why he was also called Edomאֱדֹם, “red”.)

31Ya'akov said, “First, sell me your birthright.”

32Esav said, “Hinneh,[GN] I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?”[32]

33“Swear to me first,” Ya'akov said.

So 'Esav swore to him and sold Ya'akov his birthright. 34Then Ya'akov gave 'Esav bread and lentil stew. He ate and drank, then got up and went away. Thus 'Esav despisedto hold in contempt, disdain his birthright.[34]

 Chapter 26
 

---

23. It was unprecedented in Bible times for the elder to serve the younger. [BACK]

32. Clearly an exaggeration. How often are we, as Believers, willing to “sell” our spiritual birthright for a bit of physical gratification? [BACK]

34. The birthright refers to the right of the eldest son as chief inheritor of the father’s estate; a double portion. If there were more than two sons, the eldest would recieve two shares; if only two sons, the elder would receive 2/3 of everything, plus rights as head of the clan. In this case, 'Esav also transferred to Ya'akov his right to inherit the covenant that HaShem had made with his father and grandfather. [BACK]

Notes on the John Passage

10. “Living water” is free-flowing water. Yeshua was referring to the “water of life.” [BACK]

Notes on the Matthew Passage

21a. Another of His talmidim: Yeshua had hundreds, sometimes thousands, of talmidim, not just the twelve. We are not told how many were here with Him in Capernaum, just that it was a large crowd. [BACK]

21b. We don’t know if this talmid’s father was old or sick at the time. It may possibly be that he was saying, I'll be happy to follow you, but I don’t want to leave my family right now, because I don’t want to risk losing my inheritance. After my father dies and I’ve received my inheritance, I’ll come join your team. [BACK]

22. “… leave the dead to bury their own dead …” There are plenty of people who are spiritually dead and are more concerned about chasing their inheritance than they are about the Kingdom of God. They can bury the dead. [BACK]

10. Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; Jeremiah 32:6-9 [BACK]

 

Notes on the Luke Passage

59. We don’t know if this man’s father was old or sick at the time. It may possibly be that he was saying, I'll be happy to follow you, but I don’t want to leave my family right now, because I don’t want to risk losing my inheritance. After my father dies and I’ve received my inheritance, I’ll come join your team. [BACK]

60. “… leave the dead to bury their own dead …” There are plenty of people who are spiritually dead and are more concerned about chasing their inheritance than they are about the Kingdom of God. They can bury the dead. [BACK]

---

Other commentaries on Genesis 25
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
Pulpit Commentary
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Originally posted on Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Revised and updated on Friday, 14 October 2022
 

Page last updated on Monday, 02 October 2023 12:52 PM (Updates are generally minor formatting or editorial changes. Major content changes are identified as "Revisions”) ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN, SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!

Blue Letter Bible Search Tool NASB20 NASB95 WEB HNV ASV CSB KJV NKJV NLT NIV ESV NET RSV RVR60 YLT DBY VUL WLC LXX mGNT TR Range Options: e.g. Gen;Psa-Mal;Rom 3-9

(CLICK ME)

Bibliography   Table of Contents   Site Map   Contact   Search   About the Author Philosophy and Organization of This Web Site The Center for Messianic Learning by Dr. Rickard L. Sawyer is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

(CLICK ME TOO)

Except where otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern.
Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources Int’l. www.messianicjewish.net.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

© Copyrights and Permissions ©   Terms of Use   Cookie Policy
By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy