Why did Avraham need any benefit at all?
Avraham Avinu's (Abraham our Father's) true "benefit" in leaving his homeland was not material gain but the opportunity to spread his chesed (lovingkindness) more widely, treating all people as members of his own family. Thus G-d's command "Lech Lecha" ("for your benefit and for your good") meant that going forth would allow his boundless kindness to flow outward to the entire world.AI summary · anthropic/claude-sonnet-5
In the verse "Lech Lecha" ("Go for yourself") etc., Rashi explains: "for your benefit and for your good." One may inquire: what benefit did Avraham Avinu (Abraham our Father) need, when it is written, "there is no lack for those who fear Him"? However, this is indeed the way of Avraham Avinu: to pour forth abundant chesed (lovingkindness) upon the world, and this itself was his "benefit" — that the chasadim (acts of lovingkindness) should be able to spread forth. Therefore He said to him, "Lech Lecha" etc., "from your land and from your birthplace" — go forth in order to bestow [chesed] upon the entire world, and this will be your benefit and your good: that all will become equal in your eyes, like the members of your own family.
א"י לך לך כו' פרש"י להנאתך ולטובתך. יל"ד מה הנאה הי' צורך לאאע"ה הלא אין מחסור ליראיו כתיב. אכן הנה זהו מדתו של א"א ע"ה להשפיע רב חסד להעולם וזה הוא לו הנאה שיוכלו החסדים להתפשט ע"כ אמר לו לך לך כו' מארצך וממולדתך להשפיע לכל העולם וזה יהי' הנאתך וטובתך וכולם יהיו שווים אצלך כמו בני משפחתך:
Translation: translated by AI (anthropic/claude-sonnet-5)