AbrahamWanderer Forward

This is a work of fiction that can be used as a Bible study. When scriptures are quoted, they will be in Courier font with the address and translation so you can verify they are accurate. Otherwise if they are paraphrased I might have added a bit of color.

The artwork is also an exploration into Biblical Surrealism. During the first pass through writing and illustrating I added works to a moodboard, (--p 9984nj9 on MidJourney) and in later works, there are the first hints of a distinctive style. It will be interesting to see how that goes. 

I am not Jewish, but when I was in college a lady came up to me in the dining hall and said, "You look like a nice boy." I replied, "I am a nice boy." And so I got recruited to teach pottery at Camp Airy a Jewish boys summer camp and that proved to be quite a cultural education. And I have been blessed to be associated with a few cybersecurity startups based in Tel Aviv. I was curious to learn more. A friend once told me, if you want to learn a subject, either take it at the graduate level or write a book about it. Maybe a blog will do? 

The plot in a nutshell; a teacher, John Comfort has been hired to tutor young Alan Cohen about the patriarchs as well as encourage and guide him to complete his D'var Torah, an essay that will be part of his Bar Mitzvah. We will begin with  Abram/Abraham's boyhood in Ur and sprinkle in a couple Midrashim that apply as we work through the Patriarchs. 

I undertook this work because my wife and I taught the fifth grade Sunday School class at Lacey Presbyterian Church for a couple years and both curriculum we used was woefully lacking, so we had to craft our own. The students wanted to be challenged. Many of them, from churched families, had heard all the stories before, so at the superficial level, the material was boring.

While presenting the material in a way faithful to the Bible, I have endeavored to put a unique spin on the material, open up new insights, and teach a bit about the customs and mindset of G-d's chosen people while learning for myself. After I complete the text, I hope to come back and add some activities.

I hope you enjoy.

Stephen Northcutt, October 24, 2026

Noah brought three sons into the ark

Hello Alan Cohen, my name is John Comfort, I'm here to be a tutor to prepare you for your Bar Mitzvah."

< = = = I'm already learning my Torah reading in Hebrew school and how did you get in here anyway?

Mr Comfort calmly answered, "I know the code to your smartlock, your father has been asking for someone to teach the story of how Judaism came to be. Feel free to call him."

< = = = That's OK, I'll talk to him when he gets home from work. I don't need to pay you or anything, do I?

"Not a problem, I'm a graduate of the first one's free school of business. Shall we get started?"

"Young Master Cohen, I'm sure you know the story of the flood. Perhaps you have wondered if God warned the world they needed to change their evil ways. There is a Jewish Midrash that asserts He gave mankind a chance to change; but they would not. At the very least the act of building an ark, a teivah, should have gotten Noah's neighbors curious. Regardless, the flood came, the ark did its job, the waters receded, the ark came to rest on dry land. The next major milestone in the journey to help humanity reconcile with God will be the calling of Abraham, and we get there via the sons of Noah.

Noah brought three sons, (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), into the ark along with their wives. Japheth is my favorite as from him come the mariners. Ham, AKA Canaan, is the bad boy. But Shem is the prize winner as Abram is descended from his line.

"Abram's forefathers lived long lives compared to people today, Eber lived 430 years; can you imagine? "

 24 When Nahor was 29 years old, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he had become the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters. 26When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 During his father Terah’s lifetime, Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

29 And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, who was the father of both Milcah and Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren; she had no children.

31 And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan. But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there. 32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran. Genesis 11: 24 - 32 BSB

To recap: Terah, Abram's father decides to leave Ur and move to Haran, an inland city in modern day Turkey, taking Lot, his grandson, Abram and his wife Sarai with him. 

Activities:

Parade of patriarchs, the names of some of the people we discussed are below, number their generations. 1 for the oldest, (the patriarch that came first). For instance:

____ Cain

____ Adam

____ Enoch would be

__2__ Cain

__1__ Adam

__3__ Enoch

++++++++++++++++++++

____ Nahor

____ Abram

____ Terah

____ Milcah

Coloring pages aspect ratio is for 11" x 8.5"

God speaks to Abram

 Hello Master Cohen, today we will look at the calling of Abram. from time to time. But let's finish the backstory. According to Jewish tradition, Abram was the son of an idol maker, Terah.

Abram did not thrive as salesboy in daddy's idol shop, he loved being outdoors and had a successful sidegig with livestock. At this point the entourage that traveled from Ur to Haran was over 50 people including all the family and servants and the sheep, goat and camel count was over a thousand. And he had his trophy wife, Sara. Then, "it" happened.

Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. Genesis 12:1 BSB

< = = = Wait, hold the phone. The LORD spoke to Abram? How? And how did he know it was G-d? What about: "I do whatever the voices in my head tell me to do syndrome?"

John Comfort responded calmly, "This is a different epoch in time. In those days people and God talked and it sounded like conversational speech. And the instructions Abram receives come directly from God, no worries about false prophets in this case. And God has more to tell Abram!"

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2,3 BSB

"Now, to be sure, God blessed Noah and his sons with the be fruitful and multiply blessing, but this is different, it is directly to Abram and is specific about what God is going to do. Here is something to ponder:

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:4 ESV

Their mindset was to make themselves great. In blessing Abram, God says He will make Abram's name great. Now Master Cohen, what are the promises you see in these two verses?"

< = = = G-d will make Abram into a great nation, He will bless him, He will make Abram's name great, He will bless those that bless Abram, He will curse those that curse Abram, all the families of earth will be blessed through Abram.

"So, what's the bottom line? asked Mr. Comfort?

< = = = Jackpot! How Abram won the biggest lottery in the history of the world is way above my pay grade, but he did and it's a win all the way around, we are blessed through him.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had directed him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and people they had acquired in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan. Genesis 12:4,5 BSB

< = = = Lot? Didn't G-d direct Abram to leave his kindred behind?

John nodded, "And we will see consequences in the coming years, in fact, starting with our next lesson. Let's call it for today."

Activities

Order the promises: ( 1 - 7)

____ make your name great

____ bless those who bless you

____ I will bless you

____ curse those who curse you

____ make you into a great nation,

____ you will be a blessing

__7__ all the families of the earth

will be blessed through you

(Aspect ratio suitable for 8.5" x 11")

Road Trip to Canaan (Genesis 12)

Good afternoon Master Cohen, did you have a fine day?

<= = = I did sir, I ate too much for lunch and took a nap, but I feel great now.

That seems to be the consensus in America on how to celebrate; eat too much and take a nap. Do you know you can spot a group of Americans visiting the Holy Land from a hundred yards away, most of the group will be overweight, even the kids. Anyway, today we have a journey in the direction of Canaan to talk about.

The journey from Haran to Canaan was about 483 kilometers, (300 miles for USA readers), headed south along the Great Sea. The exciting part of the journey was fording the Euphrates river with his animals and the people they had collected in Haran.

< = = = What does fording a river entail?

John nodded, "There were very few bridges in those days, so you have to cross the river on foot, or mounted on a horse, or camel. The Euphrates is one of the longest rivers in West Asia. Fording points are generally chosen to be low bank to low bank, as opposed to high bank, a cliff or steep hill. Fording points were often strategically important for military and economic reasons.

Abram thoroughly enjoyed being out of the city, his herds were prospering and Lot wasn't a bad shepherd either. Sarai seemed perfectly happy to go camping with him when they took their flocks to pasture and even though they still did not have children, they were a close couple. 

4 So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. Genesis 12: 4 - 6 NLT

In due time, they reached the Canaan border. Abram was a bit surprised to learn the land was dominated by the offspring of Ham, including Hittites, Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, Arvadites, Zemarites, Hamathites, Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Rephaites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and more.

<= = = These are nations?

Much more like tribes, or clans mostly, though there are kingdoms with functional government with Egypt as the most advanced. As time marches forward they will become more like nations with kings. And they were not concerned about marrying in their own people group, it was more geographic than cultural, or religious. To be sure, there would be disagreements between clans, but that was hardly a reason not to have sexual relations with members of the opposing clan. Marriage could be a bit complicated in the event of war, best to move out of the area and settle elsewhere. 

<= = = What is the oak of Moreh?

I was hoping you would ask that Master Cohen. First, it is best read oaks of Moreh, or even terebinths of Moreh, it is unlikely there was only one. The terebinth tree comes up multiple times in the Bible, more than 25 times depending on your translation. It might also be called the turpentine-tree, or if you prefer to be precise, Pistacia terebinthus. They grew all around that area, but the grove at Moreh is an example of a thin place. That is a place where the spiritual world is close, or the barriers are thinner, and spiritual encounters are much more likely to occur. We will have an example of that in our next lesson.

< = = = Was it a thin, or spiritual place before Abram arrived?

"Yes," John Comfort replied, "throughout history, people have built places of worship in spiritual places, pagan and Godfearing. When one takes control, it is very common to build right on top of the former religion's foundation. And this is a good place to stop for the day."

Activities

Reading comprehension:

1) The distance from Haran to Canaan is about:

a) 75 miles

b) 200 miles

c) 300 miles

d) 500 miles

2) The biggest challenge of the trip was:

a) Defending from wild animals

b) Fording the Euphrates river

c) Heat stroke and Heat exhaustion

d) Forging for food

3 What is the primary difference between a clan and a kingdom?

a) Clans have tartans, kingdoms do not

b) Clans reject anyone less related than 4th cousins

c) Clans do not have chariots

d) Clans are led by one of two people, kingdoms have governments

The LORD Appears to Abram

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7 NLT

< = = = What does appeared mean? Was G-d actually there? Or is this more like an image you would see on a screen?

John nodded, "This is the first time the expression "The LORD appeared" is used in the Torah. Adam, Eve, Noah all heard the Lord, so far as the scriptures say, they didn't see him. YHWH did not appear in his fully glorified state or Abram would be dead, (Exodus 33:20 "But He added, “You cannot see My face, for no one can see Me and live.”).  When it is a dream, or vision, that is called out in the Torah. Genesis 15:1 "Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.”" So, where does that leave you?"

< = = = Hmmm, it must be like a hologram, a representation of G-d, but not the full monte.

"We can work with that. There is a Midrash on what happens next. It may, or may not be in line with scripture, but it is what countless Jewish boys have been told:
And Abram built an altar there to commemorate the LORD's visit. He piled rocks to contain a fire and prepared to slaughter an animal from his herd. When ever you see the word altar in the old Testament, it is taken from the word slaughter or slaughter place. There was already an existing altar by the oak of Moreh, a giant tree thought to have spiritual power by the Canaanites, but Abram built a new untainted altar for his sacrifice by hand. He chose a fine sheep from his herd and pet it for a few minutes, calming it, Abram had an uncanny gift with animals. Then in a flash, he cut its throat with a flint knife and snapped its neck, a painless and panickless death, instant. Then he placed it on the fire. Abram offered a pouring of wineskin and after the animal was consumed by the fire, Abram tossed in incense of myrrh, a reddish-brown resinous material, dried sap of a Commiphora myrrha, imported from Yemen and worth a hundred days wages. Sometimes incense was added after a sacrifice hoping the aroma would be pleasing to God."

<= = = That is so barbaric, you are telling me that they worshipped G-d by killing animals, that is so wrong. And it is unhygienic; lucky Abram didn't start Sheep Flu from blood contact

All of mankind comes from very barbaric roots and to those roots some are returning. You are passed that age Master Cohen, but the Canaanites even sacrificed babies and young children, I have seen the altar at Megiddo myself. 

The point is not the animal ( or whatever you sacrifice, people also did fruit, wheat and so forth ), it was the heart attitude. Abram's gift was that he recognized the voice of God, he handled an appearance of God and he has a pretty good track record of obeying God.

8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the LORD, and he worshiped the LORD. 9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. Genesis 12:8,9 NLT

In any case, after the sacrifice was complete, Abram mustered his camp and after that, Abram traveled southward and set up camp in the hill country between Bethel, which means House of God, a strategic town on the north south route of travel through the hill county on the west and Ai, a quaint craft and artist colony that barely qualifies to be called a city on the east. Abram liked the place, it was the highest point, which is good from a military perspective, Abram's tribe was about a thousand fold at this point. It also was and still is a fabulous view, a classic mountain) and ocean double hitter. Abram could look south to Salem, now Jerusalem. You can see into the Jordan valley, and on a clear day, you can make out the Mediterranean.

 Abram had a lot to think about. His generation knew for sure God existed, it had only been ten generations since the flood, they had the oral tradition or oral history and everyone was very clear, don't make God angry! However, God had been fairly silent since the flood.

However God had both spoken to Abram and He had also appeared. And God had made an unconditional offer, "I am going to give this land to your offspring." Abram liked the land, it was arid to be sure, but there weren't too many people, Ur had always been a bit confining. Abram took a road trip to the area around Bethel and Ai to see some of his future inheritance. This was an auspicious day.

There, near Bethel, Abram built another altar and worshiped the LORD. Then Abram set out and continued toward the Palestine region to Negev.

<= = = So Abram is starting to develop a religious practice. But his thousand person tribe is massively outgunned by all those ites you mentioned. How can he possibly believe he has a chance to take the land?

"A great question Master Cohen. I read a midrash once that stated "For Abraham is have a crucial role in giving us our faith, he had to first receive faith, a gift from G-d." Many lessons from now we will unpack the proof of the truth of that statement. But for now, you either can, or cannot, believe with God, all things are possible. We have come to the end of our time together for today. Please read ahead and we will discuss next time."

Activities

Genesis 12:7 is the first time "The LORD appeared", (way·yê·rā, וַיֵּרָ֤א), is found in the Torah, (the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). The next time is Genesis 17:1. What are the differences between the two events?

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anagram - every scrambled letter is used exactly once in the plaintext. If this is the class's first Anagram, consider working in teams.

We took six contiguous words from this Genesis 12:7 scripture passage:

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

And produced this anagram:

Abbott rehearsal trimanual

What are the six contiguous words?

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pretend You're My Sister

10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner. 11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’ 13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.” Genesis 12: 10 - 13 NLT

Sarai may have been 65ish, but she looked like Kim Basinger in brunette and olive skin.

< = = = First place, that is a lie, second place I thought Abram was blessed by G-d to inherit all that real estate he had been touring.

Actually, Master Cohen, it is Abram's heirs that will inherit the land. Which gets us right back to faith as he is aging and has no heirs. Now about the lie, I realize this will open a can of worms, but Sarai is actually his half sister. Might was well get used to this, remember Milcha? As God establishes the line of the patriarchs they are going to marry from a very small gene pool well at least until Jacob goes wild. And Sarai, as you will see, is a quite a woman, she isn't just a looker.

< = = = What a minute, I am still not buying, doesn't this pretend you are my sister stuff indicated Abram doesn't really trust G-d?

Well, if you want to feel you are correct, you can read any commentator, especially Christian commentators and they all pile on Abram about this. However, he did not have a Torah to study. Abram knows what about God? After the flood God was silent, or so we must assume from reading the scriptures, for ten generations. And please allow me to point out Master Cohen, that if Abram's seed was to become like the stars, as numerous as the dust, Abram might have been trying to help out by not becoming dead. If I may share a simple rule of thumb, if you hear someone talking about religion and judging someone in the Word of God, Rabbi, Pastor, matters not, if they are judging, ask yourself if you would be willing to be judged by their standard. But I digress and we must finish this portion of your lesson. Abram is going to Egypt.

When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that she was a very beautiful woman. Some histories claim Abram tried to sneak her in to the country in a trunk, others say she rode boldly, shoulders back. In any and every case what is certain is that when Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. This was a tumultuous time in the history of Egypt, the Pharaoh was not Egyptian, a coup had occurred and a non-Egyptian Semitic people (descended from Noah's son Shem) known as the Hyksos seized power. The Semitic peoples would one day become the Hebrews, Arabs and Akkadians.

Pharaoh treated Abram well for Sarai's sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, menservants and maidservants, and camels. However, Pharaoh's intentions were not entirely altruistic. Sarai was, even at 65, a world class hottie. Pharaoh definitely wanted to go to bed with her. At first there were little things that stopped him, but one characteristic of a Pharaoh had a resolved will, a track record of getting what he wanted despite obstacles. Wimps did not become Pharaoh's and he wanted to mix his gene pool with hers as well and of course he wanted the pleasure of disrobing and bedding the most beautiful woman in the world, who can blame him?

But the Lord inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife Sarai. Pharaoh was no dummy and he had a strong sense of the spiritual world. Something was definitely wrong here.

So Pharaoh summoned Abram. "What have you done to me?" he said. "Why didn't you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Abram stood quietly, intentionally not saying "Because you would have killed me and taken her". Pharaoh then said, "Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!"

Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. Thus with God's help, Abram plundered Egypt. He came in a famine and left even more wealthy than when he entered, more animals, more servants. One servant in particular to introduce is Hagar, she will show up later. She was Pharaoh's own daughter. He saw the mark of destiny on Sarai and Abram and decided, it is better for my daughter to serve as a slave to Sarai, than a Mistress in a lesser house. Pharaoh was a wise and cunning man.

Abram's plunder of Egypt will not be the last time this happens when God's anointed travels down south. Egypt is a place of food, of wealth, a great army, a place God's anointed leaders sometimes go, but is sometimes hard to leave, in fact there is a risk of captivity and death. Egypt shows up in the Bible multiple times so it is important spiritually, though not in the positive sense.  But in the positive, this is the end of this lesson. I will see you next time.

Activities:

Anagram: find the plaintext located in Genesis 12:11

11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman.

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Aaron lifebuoy mutuary weave

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Abram and Lot Split Up

They left Egypt and traveled north into the Negev--Abram with his wife and Lot and all that they owned, for Abram was very rich in livestock, silver, and gold. Then they continued traveling by stages toward Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where they had camped before.

Lot, who had been orphaned when his father Haran was killed, was traveling with Abram and he was also very wealthy with sheep, cattle, and many tents In fact, the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together, such a nice problem to have. There were too many animals for the available pastureland. So an argument broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land. Then Abram talked it over with Lot. "This arguing between our herdsmen has got to stop," he said. "After all, we are close relatives! And it would not be a good idea for the locals to think there was division between the two, they had accumulated much wealth and much wealth makes you a target.

Abram said, "I'll tell you what we'll do. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want that area over there, then I'll stay here. If you want to stay in this area, then I'll move on to another place."

Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD or the beautiful land of Egypt. Lot chose that land for himself--the Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram.

< = = = I thought it was a desert?

Much of the land is. This is eleven generations after the great flood, so there was more water then than today. And the Dead Sea wasn't dead yet, it was full of fresh water with the flood, and will be hundreds of years till the salt can build up due to evaporation.

< = = = Lot's wearing headphones. What's he listening to?

"Rumy the Caanaanite", answered Mr. Comfort.

< = = = You're making that up, there's no such thing.

"Youtube it yourself! He's pretty good."

So while Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom, among the cities of the plain. And I'll be moving on as well, see you next time.

Activities

Rot13

18So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD. Genesis 13:18

Credit: https://d-singh11.github.io/Ciphers-website/Cipher_Website/HTML/cipher1.html

Znzer = ?

Where's Lot? Find the camel rider with headphones. Note: this requires high resolution. Execute on screen, or photo quality printer,

Avram receives another DM from The Lord

"Good evening Master Cohen, thank you for being flexible with a time change for this lesson. How was Hebrew school", John said looking at Alan with piercing eyes.

< = = = I didn't go, Alan stammered, it was a nice day and Izzy wanted to practice hitting.

"Life is full of choices. Doesn't Israel turn 13 next month? Glad to hear he has mastered reading his portion of the Torah. Let's get started, we will start with a rehash of our last lesson."

11 Lot chose for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of them. He went there with his flocks and servants and parted company with his uncle Abram. 12 So Abram settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of the plain. 13 But the people of this area were extremely wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD.

< = = = I remember this passage, why are we repeating it? 

Mr. Comfort answered, "Lot makes several life choices, that we want to track closely, just as you and Izzy are making life choices."

14 After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the LORD. Genesis 13: 11 - 18 NLT

< = = = Wow, sounds like he didn’t even say goodbye, that's not what happened right?

Well Master Cohen, it is dangerous to speak when the Torah is silent, but in their culture, just like in ours, it was important to defer to your elders. Perhaps you have heard the proverb, "Your elder brother should be respected like your father." Abram was the elder, the one that adopted Lot and didn't leave him when the LORD said leave your family. Lot chose what he thought was the better land over his elder.

<= = = Was it actually better?
"Perhaps for the moment, perhaps for the moment," John mused.

<= = = Why do you have a TV in your picture?

"So Abram's camp could watch Shtisel on Netflix, they think it is science fiction, but it is good entertainment."

<= = = I'm not buying. They didn't have TVs back then

"And you're so sure because? Did not King Solomon, the wisest man to ever walk the earth, say "There is no new thing under the sun?" Anyway, back to what is being promised to Abram.

Then Avram moved his camp to the oak grove owned by Mamre, an ancient cultic shrine, which is at Hebron, formerly called Kiriath-arba. There Avram built an altar to the LORD.

< = = = Why do you say Avram all of a sudden instead of Abram and what does it mean.

John Comfort answered the lad, "I just felt like it, I know you know it either way. We will switch back. It means "high father" or "exalted father". But, of course, God is going to change his name. And we are done with this lesson."

< = = = OK, but before you leave, I have three questions. First, did I screw up skipping Hebrew school? Second, did Avram get screwed in this deal? Third, they really didn't have TVs in their tents right?

"Good questions. First, in terms of skipping Hebrew school, it is Israel I am most concerned about, you still have four months and seem to know a lot of your sight words in our time together. Second, there is zero possibility a life choice Lot makes can harm Abram. Consider Micah 7:20 "You will give forth faithfulness to Jacob, loving devotion to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old." And third, of course they didn't have TVs in their tents. What ever gave you that idea", John Comfort said smiling, "Now I must be off."

Activities. 

Discussion question. What was the purpose of the TV in the tent in John Comfort's illustration? As you develop an answer consider the following:

1) From his birth to now being 12 and 3/4, Alan has had most of his "truths" handed to him by way of scripture, interpretation of history, and midrash. Mr. Comfort is trying to ________________

2) Using alternate universe logic, if they had working TVs in tents in Abram's day, what would have been the most likely impact on the culture____________________________

3) If God chose to make it possible to have working TVs in Abram's tents, what would He want His people to use their screentime for?_______________________________

As far as the eye can see.

On flat ground, you can see for a distance of about 3 miles or 4.8 kilometers because the curvature of the earth causes a horizon line.

Abram was near Hebron when the Lord made this promise.

Hebron is about 3,000 feet above sea level. So Abram could see about 108 kilometers. Using the scale key, and starting from the "b" in the word Hebron on the map, mark the distance he could see to the North, South, East and West.

In Genesis 13:17 the Lord says: "Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.” The average man can walk about 20 miles, (32 kilometers), in one day during an 8-hour hike, assuming a pace of around 2.5 to 3 miles per hour, (4 - 4.8 km).

Using the scale key, and starting from the "b" in the word Hebron on the map, assuming 32 kilometers/day. For the destination use the center of the place name word for the cities, (Jerusalem, the center would be the s). and where the sea meets the shore for the Dead Sea. How many days would it take to:

Walk to Jerusalem and back. 

Beer Sheva and back.

Ashkelon and back.

Dead Sea and back.

+++

Does anyone else want to negotiate?

Master Cohen, the next section of our story is very important and will hit one of the most mysterious passages in the Bible, but we won't get that far today. With your destiny, this is important stuff, so listen well as I paraphrase the scriptures and learn.

About this time war broke out in the region. For twelve years the city states in the Siddim valley, (Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zeboiim and Bela/Zoar, had all been subject to King Kedorlaomer. They had to pay taxes to King Kedorlaomer and follow some of his dictates. But a movement was spreading through the Siddim valley, it was the original fight against big government and their battle cry was no taxation without representation.

< = = = Mr. Storyteller, that sounds like the American Revolution

Well perhaps you are right Master Cohen, however, as it says in the good book:
"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. This may not apply to TVs in tents, but it certainly applies to taxes. This is the first example in the Torah, but not the last. And Jews throughout the centuries, not only have the Jewish taxes, but when they live in host countries, they may be taxed for being Jews. When the Romans were in power, it was the “fiscus Judaicus”; under the Christians in the Middle Ages, it was the “opferfenning”; and in Muslim countries, it was the “kharaj.”

Anyway, back to our story in the thirteenth year they rebelled. King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (now called Zoar) formed an alliance and mobilized their armies in Siddim Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea

The Siddim valley is the area below sea level that Lot had chosen.
These cities are probably under water, under the Dead Sea today. As the Jordan River makes its way south into the depression below sea level, there is no way for the water to get out.

Now for twelve years King Kedorlaomer has been getting money from these folks, it is approaching April 15th and time to pay up and all up and down the Siddim Valley they start holding tea parties. The word gets to King Kedorlaomer, what do you think he is going to do?

<= = = He is going to want to collect that money, if he shows weakness, they will start encroaching on his territory.

Very well said Master Cohen. But they have created an alliance of five city states, Kedorlaomer has only one, does he have the resources to take on all five kings?

<= = = He would if he had invested his tax tribute money in his army, but he probably built palaces and such, so he needs to form a counter alliance?

Perfect and that is what happened. King Amraphel of Babylonia or Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim, essentially the Kings to the North and we are talking modern day Iraq at least for Babylonia and Elam formed an alliance for war and for taking plunder.

One year later, Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived from the North. Along the way, they conquered the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim to the east of the Sea of Galilee. Then they made their way south, always east of the Jordan River taking their plunder a tribe at a time, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in the plain of Kiriathaim, and the Horites in the hill country around Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at the edge of the wilderness. Supposedly the Rephaites, Zuzites, Emites and the Horites were all giants, seven or even eight feet tall, but you know the saying, the bigger you are, the harder you fall, they were all defeated. Then they swung around to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and all but destroyed the Amalekites, and also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.

Not bad for a military campaign, but now it is time for the main event. They have honed their fighting skills and recruited some new warriors from the defeated tribes. Now it is time for those pesky tax evaders in the Siddim Valley north to what would become the Dead or Salt Sea.

Showtime! The army of the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela/Zoar prepared for battle in the valley of the Salt Sea King Kedorlaomer of Elam and the kings of Goiim, Babylonia, and Ellasar--four kings against five.

 
King Kedorlaomer's alliance had much more firepower than the tribes they had just conquered, the army at Siddim was not battle hardened. When they faced the disciplined alliance of the North they wilted like a flower too close to a candle.

As it happened, the valley was filled with tar pits. And as the army of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some slipped into the tar pits, while the rest escaped into the mountains. The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and began their long journey home, taking all the wealth and food with them.
They also captured Lot--Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom--and took everything he owned.

<= = = Mr. Storyteller, is Avram going to negotiate for Lot?

Yes exactly. Just like Bruce Willis in the Fifth Element, you remember that, Bruce is a down and out sky taxi driver, who falls for the exotic Leeloo.  Suddenly, he needs to do the rescue bit, he blows away a roomful of hostage-holding aliens, then asks, "Does anyone else want to negotiate?". But that is a story for tomorrow.

Activities

Rot13

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Genesis 14 No Clues Crossword Puzzle

While they are building skills we gave then all the words, later we will have them pick them out of the chapter.

All the words are people, or place names found in Genesis 14 NLT translation

Amraphel

Shinar

Chedorlaomer

Zuzites

Kadesh

Arioch

Siddim

Sodom

Gomorrah

++++++++++++++

Melchizedek, King Priest of Salem

12 They also captured Lot—Abram’s nephew who lived in Sodom—and carried off everything he owned.

13 But one of Lot’s men escaped and reported everything to Abram the Hebrew, who was living near the oak grove belonging to Mamre the Amorite. Mamre and his relatives, Eshcol and Aner, were Abram’s allies. Genesis 14: 12 - 13 NLT

"Is this one of your sight words?", John asked.

הָעִבְרִ֑י.  

< = = = Ib-ree, Hebrew, sure.

"This is the first time it is used in the Torah. Long before the word "Jew" was used, God's people were referred to as Hebrews, descendants of Eber."

14 When Abram heard that his nephew Lot had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men who had been born into his household. Then he pursued Kedorlaomer’s army until he caught up with them at Dan. 15 There he divided his men and attacked during the night. Kedorlaomer’s army fled, but Abram chased them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Abram recovered all the goods that had been taken, and he brought back his nephew Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives. Genesis 14: 14 - 16 NLT

<= = = So Abram was a Marvel Super hero?

Close enough, but keep your eye on the main thing, as we will hear from the superhero about to be introduced God gave Abram that victory. That said, he had to rally his trained men and ride off into the night. But here is where it gets interesting!

17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth.

And blessed be God Most High,

who has defeated your enemies for you.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered. Genesis 14: 17 - 20 NLT

The scriptures don't really spell out who Melchizedek was. Over the years, I have heard everything from he was Jesus Christ incarnate to a lame theory he was the first Mason. Let's not speculate. Instead, let's give him credit where it is due, he clearly served as a representative of God Most High in Abram's eyes. And make note of their relationship, the greater blesses the lesser,  Melchizedek is the greater. And Abram, whose seed would one day bring forth the Levites, gave his ma'aser, or tenth to Melchizedek.

And note the irony of Abram's company, King Bera representing Sodom which as we have said was exceedingly wicked and King Melchizedek a representative of God Most High. I'll paraphrase.

The king of Sodom told Abram, "Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered." 

Abram replied, "I have solemnly promised the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from you. Otherwise you might say, `I am the one who made Abram rich!'

All I'll accept is what these young men of mine have already eaten. But give a share of the goods to my allies--Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre."

<= = = Woah! Abram is going to have to watch his back around King Bera from now own, Abram really dissed him.

Well Master Cohen, I have been very impressed with the way you have been digging into the story, but Abram is not going to have to worry about King Bera who is about to suffer a pretty bad case of burnout. I know we are running a little late, but I have one more thing to show you and it is important. 

22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ Genesis 14: 22, 23 NLT

Abram repeats back what Melchizedek said in terms of a swear, a solemn promise, "God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth". Abram can now define who he worships. We have the first bit of the theology in the history of humankind. The priest said it, Abram repeated it to God in the priest's presence. And now go play, it is a lovely day.

Activities

(Don't try to find the secret message, there will be way too many leftover letters)