Yaakov and Esav commence their rivalry in the womb. The forces that drive them to conflict seem to operate beyond the rational.

Reading the story, why does Isaac love Esav and Rivka love Yaakov?

And why do we see Esav as evil. If anything, it is Yaakov who tricks his brother out of the birthright!

This is the story of Rivka's betrothal.

Why did Avraham make his servant take an oath?

What makes Rivka so special?

Chapter 23 describes the death of Sarah and Avraham's purchase of a burial site for her. But why is the story depicted with such verbosity? Couldn't the story have been told in amore concise way?

I think the to and fro here reveals the key to the story.

This is the most awesome of all the tests of Abraham. The Binding of Isaac. But why did Avraham not answer back and refuse this test? Is it legitimate to slaughter a child?

What did Yishmael do that made Sarah take the decision to make Avraham drive his son out of their home?

Did Avraham send his own son to possible death by thirst in the desert?

Why do Sarah and Abraham need to pass themselves off as siblings? Can't they be up-front about their marital status?

And in our chapter, as God protects Avraham, Avimelekh complains and says "will you kill the innocent too?" he sounds quite similar to Avrham in ch.18. Why does the Torah choose to put this phraseology into Avimelekh's mouth?

Why did Lot deserve to be saved?

Was he righteous, practicing Abraham's tradition of hospitality? But who sends their two virgin daughters out to a mob?

This chapter contains two scenes:

1. Avrham practicing hospitality. The 3 angels. The angels announce the prospect of the birth of Isaac to Sarah.

2. Avraham bargains/argues with God for the fate of Sedom.

How do these two scenes connect and coalesce?

In this chapter, Avraham is given another covenant and the enaction of the covenant is Brit Mila- the circumcision of male children at 8-days old.

What is there about this mitzvah that gives it such foundational status as regards Jewish identity? Is it merely a ritual or is there meaning behind it?

Sarai sees that she is infertile.

She suggests that Avraham be intimate with Hagar, an Egyptian slave-woman, and that she will have a surrogate child.

But once she is pregnant Hagar shows no intention to hand over the child. She asumes parity with Sarah. The pan has backfired.

Now Sarah "oppresses" Hagar and Hagar runs away, only to be met by an angel at the well.

Was Sarai's actions ethical?

Why is the Tanakh so sympathetic to Hagar?