This week’s parashat is the 5th parashat in the book of B’reisheet also called Genesis, and is called Chayei Sarah which means ‘Sarah’s Life’.
Bullet Point Summary
– Sarah was 127 years old when she died in Chevron
– Avraham asked the children of Chet for a burial place
– Avraham asks the people to ask Efron to sell his cave in Makhpelah
– Efron told everyone he would give it to Avraham for free
– Avraham paid Efron 400 pieces of silver instead of taking it for free
– Avraham buried Sarah in the cave in the field of Makhpelah
– Avraham made his servant swear he would go and get a wife for Yitzchak from his country and his kindred
– The servant asks Elohim to let the woman he asks for water who says she will also water the camels be the wife for Yitzchak
– Rivka came to the well and the servant asked for a drink
– After she gave him drink she offered to water his camels also
– After she finished the servant put an earing in her nose and bracelets on her hands
– Rivka told her family what happened and they invited the servant in
– They set before him food but he would not eat until he told his message
– He told them how much Avraham was blessed by Elohim and given a son in his old age
– He said my master made me sware I would not take a wife of Kena’an for his son
– I said what if the woman Elohim shows me will not follow me and he said then you shall be clear from the oath
– Elohim showed me Rivka now tell me if she will go
– They said she shall go and the servant worshipped YHWH
– In the morning he was ready to go but the family wanted her to stay longer so they asked Rivka she said I will go
– So they sent away Rivka and blessed her
– Yitzchak was in the field and saw the camels coming
– Yitzchak met Rivka and took her to be his wife
– Avraham took Keturah for a wife and had sons
– Avraham gave all he had to Yitzchak and sent away his other sons with gifts
– Avraham died at 175 years old and was buried in the cave with Sarah
– Generations and death at 137 years old of Yishma’el
– Haftarah – Adoniyahu tried to be king but it was not given to him it was promised to Shlomo
Parashat Text with Readers and Daily Portions (Reader 1 Starts on Saturday Evening)
Chayei Sarah “Sarah’s Life”
Gen 23:1 – 25:18, 1 Kings 1-31
Reader 1 (Evening Portion)
Gen 23:1 And Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the
life of Sarah.
Gen 23:2 And Sarah died in Kiryat-arba; the same is Chevron in the land of Kena’an: and
Avraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
Gen 23:3 And Avraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke unto the sons of Chet, saying,
Gen 23:4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burial place with
you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
Gen 23:5 And the children of Chet answered Avraham, saying unto him,
Gen 23:6 Hear us, my lord: you are a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchers
bury your dead; none of us shall withhold from you his sepulcher, but that you may bury
your dead.
Gen 23:7 And Avraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, to the children
of Chet.
Gen 23:8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead
out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Efron the son of Tzochar,
Gen 23:9 That he may give me the cave of Makhpelah, which he has, 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 burial place
among you.
(Morning Portion)
Gen 23:10 And Efron dwelt among the children of Chet: and Efron the Chitti answered
Avraham in the audience of the children of Chet, of all that went in at the gate of his city,
saying,
Gen 23:11 No, my lord, hear me: the field give I you, and the cave that is therein, I give it to you;
in the presence of the sons of my people give I it to you: bury your dead.
Gen 23:12 And Avraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
Gen 23:13 And he spoke unto Efron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if you
will give it, I pray you, hear me: I will give you money for the field; take it of me, and I will
bury my dead there.
Gen 23:14 And Efron answered Avraham, saying unto him,
Gen 23:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is
that between me and you? bury therefore your dead.
Gen 23:16 And Avraham hearkened unto Efron; and Avraham weighed to Efron the silver,
which he had named in the audience of the sons of Chet, four hundred shekels of silver,
current money with the merchant.
Reader 2 (Evening Portion)
Gen 23:17 And the field of Efron, which was in Makhpelah, which was before Mamre, the field,
and the cave which was there, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the
borders round about, were made sure
Gen 23:18 Unto Avraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Chet, before all that
went in at the gate of his city.
Gen 23:19 And after this, Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah
before Mamre: the same is Chevron in the land of Kena’an.
Gen 23:20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Avraham for a
possession of a burial place by the sons of Chet.
(Morning Portion)
Gen 24:1 And Avraham was old, and well stricken in age: and YHWH had blessed Avraham in
all things.
Gen 24:2 And Avraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had,
put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh:
Gen 24:3 And I will make you swear by YHWH, the Elohim of heaven, and the Elohim of the
earth, that you shall not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Kena’anim, among
whom I dwell:
Gen 24:4 But you shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son
Yitzchak.
Gen 24:5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow
me unto this land: must I needs bring your son again unto the land from where you came?
Gen 24:6 And Avraham said unto him, Beware you that you bring not my son there again.
Gen 24:7 YHWH Elohim of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land
of my kindred, and which spoke unto me, and that swore unto me, saying, Unto your seed
will I give this land; He shall send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife unto my
son from there.
Gen 24:8 And if the woman will not be willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this
my oath: only bring not my son there again.
Gen 24:9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his master, and swore to
him concerning that matter.
Reader 3 (Evening Portion)
Gen 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the
goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Aram-Naharayim, unto the
city of Nachor.
Gen 24:11 And he made his camels to kneel down outside the city by a well of water at the time
of the evening, the time that women go out to draw water.
Gen 24:12 And he said, O YHWH Elohim of my master Avraham, I pray you, send me good
speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Avraham.
Gen 24:13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city
come out to draw water:
Gen 24:14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down your pitcher, I
pray you, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also:
let the same be she that you have appointed for your servant Yitzchak; and thereby shall I
know that you have shown kindness unto my master.
(Morning Portion)
Gen 24:15 And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rivkah came out,
who was born to Beit’el, son of Milkah, the wife of Nahor, Avraham’s brother, with her
pitcher upon her shoulder.
Gen 24:16 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.
Gen 24:17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray you, drink a little water of
your pitcher.
Gen 24:18 And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her
hand, and gave him drink.
Gen 24:19 And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for your camels
also, until they have done drinking.
Gen 24:20 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.
Gen 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether YHWH had made his
journey prosperous or not.
Gen 24:22 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;
Gen 24:23 And said, Whose daughter are you? tell me, I pray you: is there room in your father’s
house for us to lodge in?
Gen 24:24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Beit’el the son of Milcah, which she
bore unto Nahor.
Gen 24:25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room
to lodge in.
Gen 24:26 And the man bowed down his head, and worshiped YHWH.
Reader 4 (Evening Portion)
Gen 24:27 And he said, Blessed be YHWH Elohim of my master Avraham, who has not left
destitute my master of His mercy and His truth: I being in the way, YHWH led me to thhouse of my master’s brethren.
Gen 24:28 And the damsel ran and told them of her mother’s house these things.
Gen 24:29 And Rivkah had a brother, and his name was Lavan: and Lavan ran out unto the
man, unto the well.
Gen 24:30 And it came to pass when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands,
and when he heard the words of Rivkah his sister, saying, Thus spoke the man unto me; that
he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
Gen 24:31 And he said, Come in, you blessed of YHWH; why stand you outside? for I have
prepared the house, and room for the camels.
Gen 24:32 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.
Gen 24:33 And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told
my errand. And he said, Speak on.
Gen 24:34 And he said, I am Avraham’s servant.
Gen 24:35 And YHWH has blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he has given
him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels,
and donkeys.
Gen 24:36 And Sarah my master’s wife bore a son to my master when she was old: and unto
him has he given all that he has.
Gen 24:37 And my master made me swear, saying, You shall not take a wife to my son of the
daughters of the Kena’anim, in whose land I dwell:
Gen 24:38 But you shall go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my
son.
Gen 24:39 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
Gen 24:40 And he said unto me, YHWH, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you, and
prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father’s
house:
Gen 24:41 Then shall you be clear from this my oath, when you come to my kindred; and if they
give not you one, you shall be clear from my oath.
(Morning Portion)
Gen 24:42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O YHWH Elohim of my master
Avraham, if now you do prosper my way which I go:
Gen 24:43 Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin
comes forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray you, a little water of your
pitcher to drink;
Gen 24:44 And she say to me, Both drink you, and I will also draw for your camels: let the same
be the woman whom YHWH has appointed out for my master’s son.
Gen 24:45 And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rivkah 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 you.
Gen 24:46 And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink,
and I will give your camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
Gen 24:47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter are you? And she said, The daughter of
Beit’el, Nachor’s son, whom Milcah bore unto him: and I put the earring upon her nose, and
the bracelets upon her hands.
Gen 24:48 And I bowed down my head, and worshiped YHWH, and blessed YHWH Elohim of
my master Avraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master’s brother’s
daughter unto his son.
Gen 24:49 And now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me;
that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
Gen 24:50 Then Lavan and Beit’el answered and said, The thing proceeds from YHWH: we
cannot speak unto you bad or good.
Gen 24:51 Behold, Rivkah is before you, take her, and go, and let her be your master’s son’s
wife, as YHWH has spoken.
Gen 24:52 And it came to pass, that, when Avraham’s servant heard their words, he worshiped
YHWH, bowing himself to the earth.
Reader 5 (Evening Portion)
Gen 24:53 And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and
gave them to Rivkah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.
Gen 24:54 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 master.
Gen 24:55 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.
Gen 24:56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing YHWH has prospered my way; send
me away that I may go to my master.
Gen 24:57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.
Gen 24:58 And they called Rivkah, and said unto her, Will you go with this man? And she said,
I will go.
(Morning Portion)
Gen 24:59 And they sent away Rivkah their sister, and her nurse, and Avraham’s servant, and
his men.
Gen 24:60 And they blessed Rivkah, and said unto her, You are our sister, be you the mother of
thousands of millions, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them.
Gen 24:61 And Rivkah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels and followed the
man: and the servant took Rivkah, and went his way.
Gen 24:62 And Yitzchak came from the way of the well Lachai-ro’i; for he dwelt in the south
country.
Gen 24:63 And Yitzchak went out to meditate in the field [as it turned to even]: and he lifted up
his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
Gen 24:64 And Rivkah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Yitzchak, she lighted off the camel.
Gen 24:65 For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walks in the field to meet
us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself.
Gen 24:66 And the servant told Yitzchak all things that he had done.
Gen 24:67 And Yitzchak brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rivkah, and she
became his wife, and he loved her: and Yitzchak was comforted after his mother’s death.
Reader 6 (Evening Portion)
Gen 25:1 Then again Avraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
Gen 25:2 And she bore him Zimran, and Yokshan, and Medan, and Midyan, and Yishbak, and
Shuach.
Gen 25:3 And Yokshan begot Sheva, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Ashurim, and
Letushim, and Le’ummim.
Gen 25:4 And the sons of Midyan; Efah, and Efer, and Chanokh, and Avida, and Elda’ah. All
these were the children of Keturah.
Gen 25:5 And Avraham gave all that he had unto Yitzchak.
Gen 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Avraham had, Avraham gave gifts, and
sent them away from Yitzchak his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.
Gen 25:7 And these are the days of the years of Avraham’s life which he lived, a hundred
seventy five years.
Gen 25:8 Then Avraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of
years; and was gathered to his people.
Gen 25:9 And his sons Yitzchak and Yishma’el buried him in the cave of Makhpelah, in the field
of Efron the son of Tzochar the Chitti, which is before Mamre;
Gen 25:10 The field which Avraham purchased of the sons of Chet: there was Avraham buried,
and Sarah his wife.
Gen 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Avraham, that Elohim blessed his son
Yitzchak; and Yitzchak dwelt by the well Lachai-ro’i.
Reader 7 (6th Day Morning Portion)
Gen 25:12 Now these are the generations of Yishma’el, Avraham’s son, who Hagar the
Mitzrayim, Sarah’s handmaid, bore unto Avraham:
Gen 25:13 And these are the names of the sons of Yishma’el, by their names, according to their
generations: the firstborn of Yishma’el, Nevayot; and Kedar, and Adbe’al, and Mivsam,
Gen 25:14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,
Gen 25:15 Chadad, and Tema, Yetur, Nafish, and Kedemah:
Gen 25:16 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.
Gen 25:17 And these are the years of the life of Yishma’el, a hundred and thirty seven years: and
he gave up the spirit and died, and was gathered unto his people.
Gen 25:18 And they dwelt from Chavilah unto Shur, that is before Mitzrayim, as you go toward
Ashur: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.
Haftarah (Shabbat Evening Portion)
1Ki 1:1 Now King Dawid was old and stricken in years, and they covered him with clothes, but
he got no heat.
1Ki 1:2 Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young
virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in your
bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.
1Ki 1:3 So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Yisra’el, and found Avishag
a Shunammeet, and brought her to the king.
1Ki 1:4 And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the
king knew her not.
1Ki 1:5 Then Adoniyahu the son of Chaggit exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he
prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.
1Ki 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why have you done so? and
he also was a very goodly man, and his mother bore him after Avshalom.
1Ki 1:7 And he conferred with Yo’av the son of Tzeru’yah, and with Avyatar the priest: and they
following Adoniyahu helped him.
1Ki 1:8 But Tzadok the priest, and Benayah the son of Yehoiada, and Natan the prophet, and
Shim’i, and Re’i, and the mighty men which belonged to Dawid, were not with Adoniyahu.
1Ki 1:9 And Adoniyahu slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zochelet, which is by
En-rogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Yahudah the king’s
servants:
1Ki 1:10 But Natan the prophet, and Benayah, and the mighty men, and Shlomo his brother, he
called not.
1Ki 1:11 Wherefore Natan spoke unto Bat’sheva the mother of Shlomo, saying, Have you not
heard that Adoniyahu the son of Chaggit does reign, and Dawid our lord knows it not?
1Ki 1:12 Now therefore come, let me, I pray you, give you counsel, that you may save your own
life, and the life of your son Shlomo.
1Ki 1:13 Go and get you in unto king Dawid, and say unto him, Did not you, my lord, O king,
swear unto your handmaid, saying, Assuredly Shlomo your son shall reign after me, and he
shall sit upon my throne? why then does Adoniyahu reign?
1Ki 1:14 Behold, while you yet talk there with the king, I also will come in after you, and confirm
your words.
1Ki 1:15 And Bat’sheva went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and
Avishag the Shunammeet ministered unto the king.
1Ki 1:16 And Bat’sheva bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What would
you?
1Ki 1:17 And she said unto him, My lord, you swore by YHWH your Elohim unto your
handmaid, saying, Assuredly Shlomo your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my
throne.
1Ki 1:18 And now, behold, Adoniyahu reigns; and now, my lord the king, you know it not:
1Ki 1:19 And he has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and has called all the sons
of the king, and Avyatar the priest, and Yo’av the captain of the host: but Shlomo your
servant has he not called.
1Ki 1:20 And you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Yisra’el are upon you, that you should tell
them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.
1Ki 1:21 Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that
I and my son Shlomo shall be counted offenders.
1Ki 1:22 And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Natan the prophet also came in.
1Ki 1:23 And they told the king, saying, Behold Natan the prophet. And when he was come in
before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.
1Ki 1:24 And Natan said, My lord, O king, have you said, Adoniyahu shall reign after me, and he
shall sit upon my throne?
1Ki 1:25 For he is gone down this day, and has slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance,
and has called all the king’s sons, and the captains of the host, and Avyatar the priest; and,
behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, Elohim save king Adoniyahu.
1Ki 1:26 But me, even me your servant, and Tzadok the priest, and Benayah the son of
Yehoiada, and your servant Shlomo, has he not called.
1Ki 1:27 Is this thing done by my lord the king, and you have not shown it unto your servant,
who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?
1Ki 1:28 Then King Dawid answered and said, Call me Bat-sheva. And she came into the king’s
presence, and stood before the king.
1Ki 1:29 And the king swore, and said, As YHWH lives, that has redeemed my soul out of all
distress,
1Ki 1:30 Even as I swore unto you by YHWH Elohim of Yisra’el, saying, Assuredly Shlomo your
son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly
do this day.
1Ki 1:31 Then Bat’sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and
said, Let my lord King Dawid live forever.
Review Torah Summaries (Shabbat Morning Portion)