Derasha 1 on Lech Lecha 15:2

TT #1 · Parashas Lech Lecha · Fifth Aliyah · Passuk 15:2

Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָ֗ם אֲדֹנָ֤י ה׳֙ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י וְאָנֹכִ֖י הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עֲרִירִ֑י וּבֶן־מֶ֣שֶׁק בֵּיתִ֔י ה֖וּא דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר׃

Avram said: My Lord Hashem, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

TT points to R. Elazar: “Damesek Eliezer” — he drew and gave others to drink from the Torah of his master.

Core Text

Core Text אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: דַּמֶּשֶׂק אֱלִיעֶזֶר — שֶׁדּוֹלֶה וּמַשְׁקֶה מִתּוֹרַת רַבּוֹ לַאֲחֵרִים.
English of Core Text: R. Elazar said: “Damesek Eliezer” — [the name is read as] one who draws and gives others to drink from the Torah of his master.
On the daf / in context: The unusual word order (epithet before name) is the hook for the midrashic reading of Eliezer as a transmitter of Avraham’s teaching.

Type of Learning

Custom

What Is Learned

Eliezer is portrayed as the one who draws Torah from Avraham and waters others with it.