Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 18/0

Biblical Parallels Index – Bereshit 18

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Adam and Avraham

There are many points of parallel between the stories of Adam and Avraham. Both are granted an ideal land on condition of living according to God’s will, and both stories center around themes of blessing and curse.

Articles

• See יחסה של פרשת אברהם והמלאכים לסיפור גן עדן ולרשעת סדום by R. Zvi Erlich for analysis of parallels between the story of Adam in Gan Eden to the story of Avraham welcoming the angels

Parallel Narratives of Continuity

Tools

• Tanakh Lab¹ demonstrates that Bereshit 18 is most linguistically similar to Bereshit 24, which details the selection of Rivka as the wife of Yitzchak. This reflects the focus of both chapters on the continuity of Avraham’s family.
• Interestingly, the next chapter with which Bereshit 18 has most in common is Shemot 33, which concerns the forgiveness of the Jewish people for the sin of the golden calf -- another chapter that focuses on continuity, in this case the question of national continuity after devastating sin.

¹ To see which chapters are most linguistically similar to Bereshit 18, click on the Torah icon in the Tanakh Lab, and similar chapters will be listed in the drop-down menu.