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The story of the first three generations of Abraham's family, and their life in the land of Israel: the family that is to become a nation: Israel. (chapters 12-36)
The chapter starts with the pivotal command and order from God to Avram, the future father of the Jewish nation: Go away, leave your country, the country of your people, and go to where I will direct you!. It's a bold order: leave the familiar, the comfortable, and safe, and take off to somewhere that would become clear as you go, not before that.
Avram found its way to the Kenaan, his nephew Lott went along, with his family. Soon a famine hit the land, and Avram with his wife Sarai, moved to Egypt, fed by the delta of the Nile, and still fertile. Although Avram was 75 years old when he started this adventure of "go and be gone!|" (Lech-lecha), and Sarai about the same age, he was worried that the Egyptians will covet his wife, and they pretned to be brother and sister, King Pharoh did covet Sarai, apparenty married her. God, though made trouble to Pharoh who discovered the truth, was cross with Avram and send his wife back to him. Shows the practicality of Avram, and his tolerance for humility and pain in order to survive, and it also suggests that the relayed conversations and instructions by God were internal voices, not a presence that gave Avram a sense of being protected no matter what.
18 verses. Avram and Lott return from their harrowing adventures in Egypt. They are both prosperous with large herds, but their people don't get along, so Avram proposed to Lott to split, offering him the first choice, committing to go another way. Lott noticed the fertility of the Jordan river, and overlooked the hideousness of the local inhabitants (in Sedom) and went there. Avram checked the land around him and heard God's voice promising the entire vast land around to be occupied by Avram's descendants. The voice did not discriminate Jews from Ismaelites, as well as this promise is fulfilled to this very day. Avram was very grateful for this huge gift and built an alter to God.
34 verses. Avraham was not satisfied with Sara and took another wife, Ktura. She was fertile, with many children, including Midyan who eventually will become a stark enemy of Israel. Avraham clearly favored Yitzhak who inherited his estate, giving the other consoling gifts only. Here, you have it, the origin of world resentment towards the Jews. Avraham lived a full and rich life. He passed away at the ripe age of 175, and was lad to rest in the plot he prepared long ago, and there his wife Sarah is buried too. Upon Avraham's death God blessed Yitzhak, who took resident near a well. Yishmael lived 137 years, had quite a few children, but he was contentious with his brothers. Yitzhak at the age of 40 married Rivka, the sister of Lavan, and the daughter of Btuel. Rivka was childless but Yitzhak kept praying for 20 years until God answered favorably. Alas Rivka suffered much haing twins that were kicking and hurting her. As she cried to God, she heard the divine say: two big nations are fighting each other throughout history, starting in your stomach, eventually the second one will rise over his brother. First born was Iso -- very hairy in birth. Second was Ya'acov who came out grabbing Iso's heel, and so he got his name: "follower" or exactly "he will follow" (Ya'acov). Iso was a wild outdoors chap and Ya'acov was a mama boy. Rivka preferred Ya'acov and Yitzhak preferred Iso who brought him tasty game. One day Iso returned from the hunt as Ya'acov was cooking a sweet smelling lentil soup. Iso asked for a zip, and Ya'acov exploited this request for a deal: sell me your first born status, he proposed. Iso had no appreciation for the status readily agreed. Future characteristics of Jews already on display in this early story.