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Hebrew Text
וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָם אֶת־שָׂרַי אִשְׁתּוֹ וְאֶת־לוֹט בֶּן־אָחִיו וְאֶת־כָּל־רְכוּשָׁם אֲשֶׁר רָכָשׁוּ וְאֶת־הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּ בְחָרָן וַיֵּצְאוּ לָלֶכֶת אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן וַיָּבֹאוּ אַרְצָה כְּנָעַן׃
English Translation
And Avram took Saray his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had acquired in Ḥaran; and they went forth to go to the land of Kena῾an; and into the land of Kena῾an they came.
Transliteration
Vayikach Avram et Sarai ishto ve'et Lot ben achiv ve'et kol rechusham asher rachashu ve'et hanefesh asher asu veCharan vayetzeu lalechet artzah Kena'an vayavo'u artzah Kena'an.
Hebrew Leining Text
וַיִּקַּ֣ח אַבְרָם֩ אֶת־שָׂרַ֨י אִשְׁתּ֜וֹ וְאֶת־ל֣וֹט בֶּן־אָחִ֗יו וְאֶת־כׇּל־רְכוּשָׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר רָכָ֔שׁוּ וְאֶת־הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֣וּ בְחָרָ֑ן וַיֵּצְא֗וּ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ אַ֣רְצָה כְּנַ֔עַן וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אַ֥רְצָה כְּנָֽעַן׃
Avram's Journey to Canaan
The verse describes Avram's departure from Charan to the land of Canaan, marking the beginning of his fulfillment of Hashem's command (Bereishit 12:1). Rashi explains that the phrase "וַיִּקַּח אַבְרָם" ("And Avram took") emphasizes that Avram actively gathered his family and possessions, demonstrating his complete commitment to following Hashem's directive. The journey was not merely physical but also spiritual, as Avram was leaving behind the idolatrous environment of Charan (Rashi on Bereishit 12:5).
The "Souls They Had Acquired"
The phrase "הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂוּ בְחָרָן" ("the souls they had acquired in Charan") is interpreted by Rashi and the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 39:14) to refer to the converts Avram and Sarai brought under the wings of the Shechinah. Avram taught monotheism, while Sarai instructed the women, demonstrating their shared mission to spread emunah (faith) in Hashem. The term "עָשׂוּ" ("made") is understood metaphorically—they "made" these souls anew by guiding them toward righteousness.
Lot's Inclusion in the Journey
Lot's presence is noted as "בֶּן־אָחִיו" ("his brother’s son"), highlighting Avram's sense of familial responsibility. Ramban (Bereishit 12:5) suggests that Avram took Lot under his care after Lot's father, Haran, died (as mentioned earlier in Bereishit 11:28). Despite Lot's later moral shortcomings (Bereishit 13:10-13), Avram initially sought to guide him in the path of righteousness, embodying the principle of chesed (kindness) toward family.
The Significance of Canaan
The repetition of "אַרְצָה כְּנַעַן" ("to the land of Canaan") emphasizes the divine promise attached to this land. The Sforno explains that Canaan was chosen as the place where Avram’s descendants would eventually establish a nation dedicated to Hashem. The journey was not merely a relocation but the first step toward the fulfillment of the covenant (Bereishit 12:7).
Key Lessons from the Verse