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After chronicling Avraham’s death, the Torah lists the descendants of Yishmael before continuing with the chronicle of Yitzchak in the next section.

Hagar had adopted monotheism when she first became Sarah’s bondwoman, but after she and her son Yishmael were banished from Avraham’s household, she lapsed back into her former practice of idolatry. Shortly after Yitzchak married Rivkah, Avraham remarried Hagar (who had by then permanently renounced idolatry), and had six more sons through her. Years later, when he was 175 years old, Avraham died.

Rivkah’s father Besu’el was about to oppose the marriage, but G-d’s angel killed him. The rest of the family agreed to the match and blessed Rivkah. Eliezer set out with Rivkah back to Kena’an to meet Yitzchak. They happened upon Yitzchak in the late afternoon, as he was praying. After Yitzchak and Rivkah married, Rivkah assumed Sarah’s place as the family matriarch.

When Eliezer found out that Rivkah was Avraham’s grand-niece, he blessed G-d for having granted him success in his mission. After having betrothed Rivkah to Yitzchak, Eliezer met Rivkah’s family and told them the miraculous details of his trip and his mission.

Eliezer and his caravan set out for Aram. They arrived at the well outside Charan, the city of Avraham’s brother, Nachor, when the women of the city were drawing water. Eliezer prayed to G-d to guide him toward Yitzchak’s proper match by having her respond generously to his request that she draw water for him and his entourage. The girl who gave water to Eliezer and his caravan was indeed Rivkah, Avraham’s grand-niece.

After burying Sarah, Avraham sent his servant, Eliezer, to his brother’s household in Aram to select a suitable wife for Yitzchak, having him swear that he would not seek a wife for Yitzchak among the Kena’anites. Avraham sent a sizeable gift along with Eliezer, as well as a document showing that he was transferring all his wealth to Yitzchak. All this was in order to impress the girl that Eliezer would ultimately choose, together with her family, with the fact that Avraham had designated Yitzchak as his exclusive heir, as well as to induce the girl’s family to allow her to return with him to the Land of Yisrael and marry Yitzchak.

When the news reached Sarah that Yitzchak was nearly sacrificed, the shock of his near loss coupled with the relief of his life being spared was too much for her to bear, and she died. Avraham purchased the Machpelah Cave and the surroundingfield from Efron, a local Chittite, for her burial grounds in Chevron. Efron offered to give the site to Avraham for free, but Avraham insisted on paying full price for it.

Abraham’s greatest challenge came 37 years after his son Issac was born. G-d commanded him to sacrifice Issac. Abraham prepared to do so, but at the last minute G-d told him that he had passed the test and should sacrifice a ram instead. After this, Abraham was told that his grandniece Rivkah had been born; Abraham realized that she was a suitable match for Issac.

After the birth of Issac, Abraham concluded a treaty with the local Pelishti king and opened an inn in Beersheba, where he taught wayfarers about monotheism.

After the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved from Hebron to the Land of the Pelishtim, and when he was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90, Sarah gave birth to their son Issac. In the meantime, Hagar’s son Ishmael was showing himself unreceptive to the moral education he was receiving in Abraham’s household. In order to prevent him from being a negative influence on Issac, Sarah insisted that Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael. Abraham was reluctant to do so, but G-d validated Sarah’s judgment.

Not heeding the angels’ instructions not to look at the destruction of the cities, Lot’s wife looked and was turned into a pillar of salt. Thinking the whole world had been destroyed, Lot’s daughters seduced him and bore him two sons, Ammon and Moab. After the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham moved from Hebron to the Land of the Pelishtim. The agents of the Pelishti king, Avimelech, asked Abraham if Sarah was his wife or his sister. Seeing that they wanted to take her to the king, Abraham feared for his life and told them that she was his sister. When the truth was discovered, the king accused Abraham of lying. Abraham replied that since Sarah was his niece, she technically was a sort of “sister” of his, and that he had to call her his “sister” in order to save his own life.

Despite Abraham’s pleas, the wickedness of Sodom and its neighbors was so great that it could not be overlooked. The angels arrived at Lot’s house in order to rescue him from the impending destruction.

The kindness and hospitality practiced by Abraham in Hebron stood in stark contrast to the wickedness and inhospitality of the nearby cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbors. After the three angels visited Abraham, G-d informed Abraham that He was going to eliminate these cities. Knowing that Abraham practiced righteousness and justice, He wanted to give him the opportunity to plead on behalf of these cities.

On the third day of Abraham’s recovery after his circumcision, G-d appeared to him, paying a visit to the sick. Three angels disguised as travelling men then appeared, and Abraham hosted them in his tent. They promised Abraham a son within a year.

Ahead of G-d’s promise to Abraham and Sarai that they would bear a son who would be their true legacy, G-d informs Abraham of the Covenant of circumcision, and instructs Sarai to change her name (identity) to Sarah. Abraham circumcises himself, his other son Ishmael and all male servants of his household.

After promising him offspring, G-d reiterated to Abraham His promise of the Land of Israel. Abraham requested a sign from G-d that his offspring would inherit the land. G-d told Abraham that they would inherit the land in the merit of the sacrifices they would offer up and in the merit of the exile they would endure before re-entering it. Despite G-d’s promise of offspring, Abraham and his wife Sarai had not yet had any children. Sarai therefore asked her Egyptian bondwoman, Hagar, to bear a child by Abraham, hoping that in this merit she would also conceive. Hagar indeed quickly conceived. Concluding from this that her spiritual merits were greater than her mistress’s, Hagar mocked Sarai, who thereupon told Abraham to send her away. Hagar miscarried, but was told by G-d’s angel to return and submit humbly to Sarai, and that in thismerit she would conceive again. Hagar obeyed and gave birth to Abraham’s first son, Ishmael.

After his victory over the invading coalition, Abram was concerned that his miraculous victory in battle was his full compensation for his accrued merits, thereby supplanting the other rewards G-d previously promised him, namely: offspring and the Land of Israel. G-d thereupon reiterated His promises to Abram. But Abram replied that all this was useless unless G-d would give him a child who would continue his work of spreading Divine consciousness.

The Land of Yisrael was invaded by a coalition of nations who captured Abram’s nephew Lot, forcing Abram to pursue them in Lot’s defense. After Abram miraculously defeated the invaders, he gave a tenth of the spoils of war to his ancestor, Noah's son Shem, who was then known as Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem.

A quarrel broke out between Abram’s shepherds and those of his nephew, Lot. In order to avoid conflict, Abram suggested they part ways. Lot chose to settle in Sedom, while Abram settled in Hebron. After this, G-d reiterated His promises to Abram.

In Egypt, Abram’s wife Sarah (who was initially named Sarai) wasabducted by Par’oh (Pharaoh). Sarai resisted Par’oh’s overtures, and G-d miraculously protected her. After returning from Egypt, Abram stayed between Beis El and Ay.

Responding to Abram’s efforts to restore the world’s monotheism, G-d informs him that he has been selected to found the Jewish people, whose mission it will be to inspire and instruct the world in G-d’s ways. In order to have a setting in which to demonstrate the beauty of G-dly life to the rest of humanity, G-d also promises the Land of Israel to Abram and his descendants, and instructs him to settle there. The first challenge Avram faced in the Promised Land was the famine that set in immediately upon his arrival, forcing him to temporarily relocate to neighboring Egypt.

At G-d’s command, Noah and his family entered the ark and the Flood began. The rain lasted 40 days, during which all land life outside the ark perished.

Noah becomes intoxicated and exposed. His elder sons discreetly protect his privacy, while the younger one takes advantage. As a result they’re blessed and he is cursed.

G-d makes a covenant with Noah, that He would never again destroy all life on earth. The sign of this covenant is the rainbow.

After the Flood, G-d promised Noah that He would never again destroy the world.

The rain lasted 40 days, after which the earth remained submerged for another five months until the water began to subside. It then took almost six more months for the water to recede completely.

The rain lasted 40 days, after which the earth remained submerged for another five months until the water began to subside. It then took almost six more months for the water to recede completely.

Noah, in contrast to the degeneration that characterized his times, remained faithful to the traditions of morality that had been inherited from Adam and Eve. G-d therefore chose Noah to survive the Flood and save the animals in order to repopulate the world in its aftermath.

Despite Chanoch’s positive example, humanity continued in its downward spiral of moral degeneration. The angels also tried to redeem the earth—by having G-d allow them to assume physical form—but could not. Eventually, G-d saw that the only remedy was to give humanity a fresh start, and decided to wipe out the world with a flood, after which He would repopulate the world from No’ach, the only righteous individual of that generation.

In addition to their sons Kayin and Hevel, Adam and Chavah had a third son, Shes. One of Shes’ fifth-generation descendants was Chanoch (Enoch), who resisted the degeneration into which the rest of humanity was sinking, and lived a righteous life.

The generations following Adam and Chavah began to worship the forces of nature and the idols they fashioned to represent or channel them.They profaned the art of music-making for idolatrous purposes.

Had Adam and Chavah (Eve) repented properly, G-d would have forgiven them and allowed them to remain in the Garden of Eden. But since they did not rise to the occasion, G-d banished them from it. Their firstborn child, Kayin, was presented with a similar opportunity: When G-d accepted his brother Hevel’s offering and not his, Kayin should have understood that this meant that he needed to repent; instead, he chose to kill Hevel. After repenting for his sin, Kayin married and built a city for his descendants.

The first human couple, Adam and Chavah (Eve), lived in the Garden of Eden, where they were meant to enjoy G-d’s creation in order to enhance their awareness of G-d and His goodness. However, they were seduced by the primordial serpent (who personified the temptation to increase their self-awareness) into eating the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, which G-d had forbidden to them.

After its account of the creation week, the Torah returns to the events of the sixth day, focusing on the details of the creation of the first human being.

The Torah begins with its account of how G-d created the world in six days. On the first day, G-d created the earth, as a core of solid matter submerged in water, and then created light.

After Moshe concludes his farewell address, G-d instructed him to ascend Mount Nevo. G-d showed Moshe prophetically the future of the Jewish people. The Torah then concludes with Moshe’s passing, the people’s mourning, Yehoshua’s appointment and informing us that no other prophet would ever arise equaling Moshe’s level of prophecy.

After blessing each of the tribes individually, Moshe blesses the Jewish people collectively, contrasting their role in the world with that of all other nations.

Moshe blesses the tribes of Dan (too) as border protectors, Naftali with a most desirable territory, and Asher with abundant sons and oil.

Moshe blesses the tribes of Zevulun as successful sea merchants, Yissachar as Torah scholars, and Gad as valiant warriors, guarding the borders.

Moshe blesses the tribe of Yosef (i.e., the two tribes of Efraim and Menashe) that they would be populous and their territory would be abundantly fertile.

Moshe blesses the tribe of Levi to be worthy of their role as the Priests and Levites serving in the holy Temple, and of their charge to teach the Torah to the rest of the Jewish people. He blesses the tribe of Binyamin that the location of the holy Temple be eternally located in their territory.

Moshe concludes his final farewell address to the Jewish people by blessing them. He begins by praising them for accepting the Torah unconditionally, noting also that G-d’s blessings rest on them only when they are united in their devotion to Him. Moshe then blesses each tribe separately, emphasizing each one’s unique contribution tothe collective mission of the Jewish people, beginning with Reuven and Yehudah.

After Moshe concludes his farewell address, G-d instructed him to ascend Mount Nevo. G-d showed Moshe prophetically the future of the Jewish people. The Torah then concludes with Moshe’s passing, the people’s mourning, Yehoshua’s appointment and informing us that no other prophet would ever arise equaling Moshe’s level of prophecy.

After blessing each of the tribes individually, Moshe blesses the Jewish people collectively, contrasting their role in the world with that of all other nations.

Moshe blesses the tribes of Dan (too) as border protectors, Naftali with a most desirable territory, and Asher with abundant sons and oil.

Moshe blesses the tribes of Zevulun as successful sea merchants, Yissachar as Torah scholars, and Gad as valiant warriors, guarding the borders.

Moshe blesses the tribe of Yosef (i.e., the two tribes of Efraim and Menashe) that they would be populous and their territory would be abundantly fertile.

Moshe blesses the tribe of Levi to be worthy of their role as the Priests and Levites serving in the holy Temple, and of their charge to teach the Torah to the rest of the Jewish people. He blesses the tribe of Binyamin that the location of the holy Temple be eternally located in their territory.

Moshe concludes his final farewell address to the Jewish people by blessing them. He begins by praising them for accepting the Torah unconditionally, noting also that G-d’s blessings rest on them only when they are united in their devotion to Him. Moshe then blesses each tribe separately, emphasizing each one’s unique contribution tothe collective mission of the Jewish people, beginning with Reuven and Yehudah.

After Moshe finished conveying the Poem of Testimony to the Jewish people, he encouraged them to pay heed to all its lessons, as well as to the Torah in general. G-d then instructs Moshe to ascend Mount Nevo and prepare for his own passing.