TORAH: Genesis 18:1-22:24
HAFTARAH: 2 Kings 4:1-37
GOSPEL: Luke 17:28-37
Portion Summary
The fourth reading from the book of Genesis is named Vayera. It means “And he appeared” because the first story describes how the LORD appeared to Abraham one day as he sat outside his tent. Section Vayera continues with the series of tests of faith for Abraham, concluding in one great and final trial.
Portion Outline:
Torah
Genesis 18:1 | A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah
Genesis 18:16 | Judgment Pronounced on Sodom
Genesis 19:1 | The Depravity of Sodom
Genesis 19:12 | Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed
Genesis 19:30 | The Shameful Origin of Moab and Ammon
Genesis 20:1 | Abraham and Sarah at Gerar
Genesis 21:1 | The Birth of Isaac
Genesis 21:8 | Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away
Genesis 21:22 | Abraham and Abimelech Make a Covenant
Genesis 22:1 | The Command to Sacrifice Isaac
Genesis 22:20 | The Children of Nahor
Prophets
2Ki 4:1 | Elisha and the Widow’s Oil
2Ki 4:8 | Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son
Portion Commentary:
The Sin of Sodom
For what great sin did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone?
The story of how the citizens of Sodom welcomed the two strangers gives us the impression that inhabitants of the city were judged for their illicit sexual sins. Jude, the younger brother of Yeshua, explains that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they “indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh” (Jude 1:7). But sexual depravity was not unique to Sodom and Gomorrah. It’s still with us today, and we don’t see fire and brimstone falling out of the sky onto today’s centers of immorality. Were there other sins and vices charged against those cities?
From ancient times there have been differing theories attempting to identify the real problem with Sodom and Gomorrah. The Talmud preserves a list of opinions that includes charges of sexual immorality, stinginess, blasphemy, avarice, selfishness, burglary, encroachment, extortion and injustice. Several of these sins may be derived from a passage in the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet metaphorically refers to the kingdom of Judah as Sodom:
Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I saw it. (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
Read complete commentary at First Fruits of Zion.
