Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who was Terah in the Bible?
A: Terah was the father of Avram (later called Avraham), Nahor, and Haran. According to Rashi, he was an idol worshipper before his son Avraham discovered monotheism. The Torah mentions him in Genesis 11 as part of the lineage leading to the Jewish people.
Q: Why does the Torah mention Terah having children at age 70?
A: The Torah often lists ages to show significant life events. Ramban explains that mentioning Terah's age when he had Avram highlights that Avram was born when Terah was relatively young, emphasizing that Avram's spiritual journey began early in life. This sets the stage for Avraham's future role as the father of monotheism.
Q: What is the significance of Avram being listed first among Terah's sons?
A: Rashi notes that Avram is mentioned first because he was the most spiritually significant of Terah's children. The Midrash explains that even though Haran may have been born first (as suggested by other verses), Avram is listed first due to his righteousness and his future role in establishing the covenant with Hashem.
Q: How does this verse connect to Jewish history?
A: This verse is crucial as it introduces Avram, who later becomes Avraham, the first patriarch of the Jewish people. As Rambam explains, Avraham's birth marks the beginning of the lineage that would lead to the Jewish nation and the transmission of monotheism to the world.
Q: Why does the Torah list all three sons if only Avram is important?
A: The Talmud (Sanhedrin 69b) explains that Nahor and Haran are mentioned because they played roles in Jewish history—Nahor was the grandfather of Rivka (Rebecca), who married Yitzchak (Isaac), and Haran was the father of Lot. The Torah includes all family members to show the complete picture of Avraham's origins.
The Age of Terach at the Birth of Avram
The verse states that Terach was 70 years old when he fathered Avram, Nachor, and Haran. Rashi (Bereshit 11:26) notes that this seems to contradict the chronology earlier in the parsha, where Shem was 100 years old at the birth of Arpachshad (two generations before Terach), and if we calculate the years, Terach should have been 130 years old when Avram was born. Rashi resolves this by explaining that Terach was actually 70 years old when Haran, his eldest son, was born, and Avram was born later when Terach was 130. The Torah lists Avram first because of his greatness, even though he was not the firstborn.
The Order of the Brothers
The Talmud (Sanhedrin 69b) discusses why Avram is listed first despite not being the eldest. The Gemara explains that this teaches us that Avram was the most significant of Terach's sons, as he was the one who would become the father of the Jewish people. The Ramban (Bereshit 11:28) adds that the Torah often rearranges the order of siblings to emphasize spiritual prominence over chronological birth order.
The Significance of Terach's Age
The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 38:13) comments that Terach was 70 years old when he began to have children, which was unusually old for that generation. This may hint at divine providence—that Avram's birth was delayed until the proper time for his mission to begin. The Sforno suggests that Terach's late fatherhood parallels Avraham's own late parenthood, showing that both were part of a divinely ordained plan.
The Three Sons of Terach