1)

Why did Avraham return specifically to the same spot where he had stood the day before?

1.

Seforno: He wanted to continue where he had left off yesterday - to plead for mercy, since he had been unable to find any merits on their behalf according to the Din.

2.

Michtav me'Eliyahu (Vol. 5, p. 427): Avraham fixed a place for his prayer, and made himself a place for revelation of Kevod HaSh-m, so HaSh-m became his place. 1


1

Compare to Maharal (refer to 19:27:1.1:2).

2)

"Avraham arose... to the place where he had stood before HaSh-m." The Gemara (Berachos 6b) derives from here that one should make a fixed place for prayer. Why is this so?

1.

Maharal #1 (Nesivos Olam, Nesiv ha'Avodah Ch. 4, p. 86): Prayer is attachment to HaSh-m. A haphazard or chance encounter does not create a connection; this requires consistency.

2.

Maharal #2 (ibid.): By making a fixed place, one shows that he wants a place with Hash-m. Avraham personified this trait (based on Tehilim 110). The world was created for Avraham's sake; 1 he was the root of all who came after him. A root must have a place, a source of nourishment to enable further growth.


1

Refer to 2:4:1.3:1.

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