Derasha 1 on Lech Lecha 14:23

TT #1 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 14:23

Complete Passuk

אִם־מִחוּט֙ וְעַ֣ד שְׂרֽוֹךְ־נַ֔עַל וְאִם־אֶקַּ֖ח מִכָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לָ֑ךְ וְלֹ֣א תֹאמַ֔ר אֲנִ֖י הֶעֱשַׁ֥רְתִּי אֶת־אַבְרָֽם׃

That I will not take from a thread to a sandal-strap, nor anything that is yours, so that you shall not say: I made Avram rich.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to Rava: in the merit of “from a thread to a sandal-strap,” Israel merited the blue thread of tzitzit and the strap of tefillin.

Core Text

Core Text דָּרַשׁ רָבָא: בִּשְׂכַר שֶׁאָמַר אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אִם מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ נַעַל, זָכוּ בָּנָיו לִשְׁתֵּי מִצְוֹת — לְחוּט שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת וּלְרְצוּעָה שֶׁל תְּפִלִּין.
English of Core Text: Rava expounded: in the merit of Avraham our father’s saying “from a thread to a sandal-strap,” his children merited two mitzvot — the blue thread [of tzitzit] and the strap of tefillin.
On the daf / in context: Refusal of even the smallest gain from Sodom is repaid measure-for-measure with the “thread” and “strap” commandments.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Scrupulous refusal of improper gain becomes the merit for later mitzvot of thread and strap.