Derasha 1 on Lech Lecha 12:16

TT #1 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Second Aliyah · Passuk 12:16

Complete Passuk

וּלְאַבְרָ֥ם הֵיטִ֖יב בַּעֲבוּרָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי־ל֥וֹ צֹאן־וּבָקָ֖ר וַחֲמֹרִֽים וַעֲבָדִים֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וַאֲתֹנֹ֖ת וּגְמַלִּֽים׃

And he dealt well with Avram for her sake; and he had sheep, cattle, and donkeys, and male and female servants, and female donkeys, and camels.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Bava Metzia 59a (R. Chelbo): a man must always be careful about the honor of his wife, for blessing is found in a man’s house only on account of his wife.

E-Daf image

Core Text

Core Text אָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּכְבוֹד אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁאֵין הַבְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּלְאַבְרָם הֵיטִיב בַּעֲבוּרָהּ.
English of Core Text: R. Chelbo said: a person must always be careful about the honor of his wife, for blessing is found in a man’s house only on account of his wife, as it is said “And he dealt well with Avram for her sake.”
On the daf / in context: Although the verse’s immediate subject is Pharaoh, the Gemara reads the benefit that came to Avram as mediated through Sarai, establishing the principle that household blessing travels through the wife’s merit.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Honor toward one’s wife is not merely etiquette; Chazal treat it as the channel through which blessing enters the home.