Questions

1. Why did G-d appear to Avraham after the brit mila?
2. Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance to his tent?
3. What were the missions of the three angels?
4. Why did Avraham enjoin the guests to wash the dust off their feet?
5. Why did Avraham ask specifically Yishmael, and not someone else, to prepare food for the guests?
6. Why did the angels ask Avraham where Sarah was?
7. When G-d related Sarah's thoughts to Avraham, He did not relate them precisely. Why
8. What "cry" from Sodom came before G-d?
9. How many angels went to Sodom?
10. Why was Lot sitting at the gate of Sodom?
11. Lot served the angels matza. Why?
12. Why did Lot delay when he left Sodom?
13. Why were Lot and his family not permitted to look back at Sodom?
14. Lots wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Why was she punished in this particular way?
15. In what merit did G-d save Lot?
16. Why did Avraham relocate after the destruction of Sodom?
17. Why did Avimelech give gifts to Avraham?
18. Why was Avraham told to listen to Sarah?
19. Why did G-d listen to the prayer of Yishmael and not to that of Hagar?
20. Who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the akeidah (binding)?

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated.

Answers

1. Why did G-d appear to Avraham after the brit mila?
   18:1 - Avraham was sick, so G-d came to "visit" him.
2. Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance to his tent?
   18:1 - He was looking for guests.
3. What were the missions of the three angels?
   18:2 - To announce Yitzchak's birth, to heal Avraham and to destroy Sodom.
4. Why did Avraham enjoin the guests to wash the dust off their feet?
   18:4 - He thought they were among those who worship the dust, and he didn't want any object of idolatry in his home.
5. Why did Avraham ask specifically Yishmael, and not someone else, to prepare food for the guests?
   18:7 - To train him in the performance of mitzvot.
6. Why did the angels ask Avraham where Sarah was?
   18:9 - To call attention to Sarah's modesty, so as to endear her to her husband.
7. When G-d related Sarah's thoughts to Avraham, He did not relate them precisely. Why
   18:13 - For the sake of peace.
8. What "cry" from Sodom came before G-d?
   18:21 - The cry of a girl who was executed for giving food to the poor.
9. How many angels went to Sodom?
   19:1 - Two; one to destroy the city and one to save Lot.
10. Why was Lot sitting at the gate of Sodom?
    19:1 - He was a judge.
11. Lot served the angels matza. Why?
    19:3 - It was Passover.
12. Why did Lot delay when he left Sodom?
    19:16 - He wanted to save his property.
13. Why were Lot and his family not permitted to look back at Sodom?
    19:17 - As they, too, deserved to be punished, it wasn't fitting for them to witness the destruction of Sodom.
14. Lots wife looked back and became a pillar of salt. Why was she punished in this particular way?
    19:26 - She was stingy, not wanting to give the guests salt.
15. In what merit did G-d save Lot?
    19:29 - Lot had protected Avraham by concealing from the Egyptians the fact that Sarah was his wife.
16. Why did Avraham relocate after the destruction of Sodom?
    20:1 - Because travel in the region ceased and Avraham could no longer find guests.
17. Why did Avimelech give gifts to Avraham?
    20:14 - So that Avraham would pray for him.
18. Why was Avraham told to listen to Sarah?
    21:12 - Because she was greater in prophecy.
19. Why did G-d listen to the prayer of Yishmael and not to that of Hagar?
    21:17 - Because the prayer of a sick person is more readily accepted than the prayer of others on his behalf.
20. Who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the akeidah (binding)?
    22:3 - Yishmael and Eliezer.

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