The entire Torah is filled with Noahide insights – both to teach us our Seven Laws, and also to show us wise practices that can improve our lives – but they can be hard to see. This series seeks to highlight some of those points in the Weekly Parshah.
The first few Torah Portions are jam-packed with references to Noahides and the Seven Laws. So, to start, let’s focus on just the first 8 verses of Parashat Lekh Lekha – Bereishit (Genesis) 12:1-8.
I’ll first quote a section of the Torah, then highlight a particular phrase, and add some additional clarification.
Hashem said to Abram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.”
Bereishit 12:1-3
“I will bless those who bless you…” – Gentile nations who bless Israel will themselves be blessed by Hashem. Presumably this includes the concept discussed in the Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Teshuvah chapter 9, which states that Hashem blesses those who do good with material wealth, peace, etc. so that they may focus on attaining knowledge of God and a place in the World to Come.
“…and curse him that curses you.” – Note that while the blessings are stated in the plural, the cursing is stated in the singular. We can take from this that Gentile individuals who curse Israel will themselves be cursed by Hashem. Specifically, by having their material blessings removed, as also explained in the Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Teshuvah chapter 9.
Additionally, during the time of Israel’s redemption, those nations who persecuted Israel will be inflicted with the curses enumerated in Devarim chapter 28. As it says (Devarim 30:7), “Hashem God will inflict all those curses upon the enemies and foes who persecuted you.”
“And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you.” – This is explained literally by many commentators, pointing out that many from the nations bless each other saying, “May you be fruitful like Abraham”. This also contains a prophetic reference to the Seven Laws of Noach, which have only been passed down through the descendants of Avraham. When Gentiles come to Israel to learn the Seven Laws, and then implement them within their nations, they bring blessing upon themselves. As it says (Proverbs 3:18), “She [the Torah] is a tree of life to those who grasp her, and whoever holds on to her is happy”, and also (Psalms 115), “He will bless those that fear Hashem (ie. Noahides), both small and great.”
Abram went forth as Hashem had commanded him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the wealth that they had amassed, and the persons that they had acquired in Haran; and they set out for the land of Canaan.
Bereishit 12:4-5
“And all the wealth they had amassed…” – Avram was not a lone individual, as some think of him when reading this, but rather the wealthy chieftain of a large nomadic tribe.
“…and the persons that they had acquired in Haran.” – These people are understood to be either slaves which they had purchased, or people whom he had brought to the service of Hashem while in Haran, by doing outreach. Perhaps it was some combination of both? In either case, this nomadic tribe Avram lead consisted of people who kept the Seven Laws.
When they arrived in the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, at the terebinth of Moreh. The Canaanites were then in the land. Hashem appeared to Abram and said, “I will assign this land to your offspring.” And he built an altar there to Hashem who had appeared to him.
Bereishit 12:5-7
“And he built an altar there to Hashem who had appeared to him.” – And, he made korbanoth (ie. animal sacrifices) to Hashem on that altar. As part of the the prohibition against idolatry, Noahides are forbidden to make korbanoth to anything other than Hashem. The implication of that, of course, is that they can make korbanoth to Hashem. And, here is one (of many) examples of that.
Bear in mind, though, that there is no obligation for Noahides to make korbanoth. And, if done, they must be done properly, which requires careful study and training.
From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and he built there an altar to Hashem and invoked Hashem by name.
Bereishit 12:8
“And he built there an altar to Hashem…” – And, here is another example of a Noahide building an altar and making korbanoth.
“…and invoked Hashem by name.” – Some of the Sages say this means he prayed there. But, is there such a thing as a korban without prayer? A better explanation, offered by other Sages, is that Avram began doing outreach to bring the people of that place to the service of Hashem, as he had previously done in Haran. This makes more sense when you consider it can also be translated as “…and called out in the name of Hashem”.
Hopefully, this gives you a taste of the depths of information that are available in the written Torah for us Noahides. In future articles, I’ll strive to highlight selections from each Torah Portion in a similar manner.
Shavua Tov!
