Parshat Lech L'cha thoughts for 5773/2012

You can read the basics here.

Did Avraham Avinu (Abraham Our Father) swipe the name Kel Elyon, G-d Most High (or pick your preferred translation), from Melchizedek, King of Salem?  (See B'reshit/Genesis, chapter 14, verses 18-20.)  The phrase koneh shamayim va-aretz, Maker of heaven and earth, appears to be borrowed from him, as well.

Some previous posts:

• A Lech L'cha link from Larry (Friday, October 15, 2010)

Writes Rabbi Natan Slifkin, "Abarbanel pulls no punches in his formulation of the question. “What kind of noble person chooses to live via such a terrible disgrace, seeking advantage and benefit from his wife being taken by others?! It is more befitting to choose death rather than committing such a disgrace!"

• ”The Sacrifice Of Sarah (by Chessler & Haut) (Sunday, October 31, 2010)

"Their perspective ties in with my unhappiness with Genesis, chapter 16, verse 6. It seems to me that Avraham was simply refusing to defend his wife against his concubine's disdainful behavior and insist that the concubine behave with proper respect, saying, essentially, "You deal with it." If you gave me a puppy, and the puppy bit someone, should I hold you responsible?"

• Parshat Lech L'cha: To me, this makes no sense (Friday, November 04, 2011)

"Why did HaShem choose Avram? No reason is given in Genesis, chapter 12, verses 1-3

Why did HaShem insist on this weird sacrifice (Genesis, chapter 15)? What was the point of killing those animals, since Avram wasn't going to eat them?  (Suggested answer:  "this was a typical way of establishing a treaty in the ancient Near East")

Why did HaShem not bother telling Sarai/Sarah that she was going to have a child before she offered Hagar to Avram/Avraham as a surrogate mother? Did HaShem want to create strife?"

Conservadox shares a few thoughts on Parshat Lech L'cha.