Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/118

 The Book of Genesis

100

Lesson VI

THE CALL OF ABRAHAM (Genesis XII,

Be thou

a

1-9)

(Genesis XII, 2.)

blessing.

Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, And My servant whom I have chosen. Read Psalm CV,

(Isaiah XLIII, 10.)

1-10.

With chapter XII begins

the second portion of the

Book

of Genesis, which deals primarily with the questions of God's relation

mankind. to this

with Israel, and Israel's relation with the rest of What has been said in the Introduction in regard

Book

section of the

peated.

The

reader

is

urged

(II,

to

p.

need not be re-

19ff),

review that portion of the

Introduction carefully, and to keep the thoughts presented there constantly in mind, while studying the

Abraham

cycle

of stories.

In the last lesson

we

learned that the rabbis of old told

that when, after the flood, rupt,

mankind once more became

instead of causing another flood,

])ring into the

world one people, who should

whom,

wholly righteous, and to

His law.

This peoi)le

all

be, or

to

become,

He

might reveal His own. His the world the real meaning therefore,

He would

servant, charged to teach to

cor-

God determined

take

as

and thus bring mankind to righteousness. Now we hear of God's call to Abraham, the progenitor of this people, to leave land and birthplace and father's house, and, accompanied only by his faithful wife, Sarah, and his nephew. Lot, to set out upon a long and of His law and His

life,