Parashat Vayera begins, "G-d appeared to him in Eloneh Mamreh."

Hashem appeared to Abraham, but, surprisingly, the Torah does not tell us that Hashem spoke to Abraham or communicated with him at all during this revelation. This might be the reason why Rashi explains that G-d appeared for the purpose of Bikur Holim – to visit the sick. Abraham, at the age of 99, had just undergone circumcision, and was writhing in pain, and so Hashem came to visit him. The Misva of Bikur Holim does not require the visitor to speak to the patient; simply showing up, being present, and displaying concern brings the patient a degree of comfort and encouragement. Rashi therefore understood that when the Torah says that G-d appeared to Abraham without speaking, it means that He came to visit him because he was ill.

The Seforno (Rav Ovadia Seforno, Italy, 1475-1550), however, explains differently. He writes that Hashem came to Abraham because the act of circumcision marks the forging of a covenant. We refer to circumcision as a "Berit Mila" – a covenant ("Berit"), and this is precisely how Hashem described this Misva when introducing it to Abraham in the previous Parasha (chapter 17). Now when two parties make a deal with one another, they must both be present. Naturally, then, right after Abraham performed the Mila, Hashem arrived for the finalization of His covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

The Seforno proceeds to offer a fascinating insight on this basis into the time-honored custom of setting aside a special chair at a Berit Mila. The conventional understanding is that Eliyahu Ha'nabi is forced to attend every Berit Mila because he unfairly accused the Jewish People of disregarding their covenant with Hashem. In response, G-d decreed that Eliyahu would personally witness the circumcision of every Jewish child, to see that they remain committed to the covenant. The Seforno, however, suggests that this chair represents Hashem's presence at this covenantal ceremony. We might say that Eliyahu is G-d's "agent," who received "power of attorney" to represent G-d as the covenant is made between Him and the child. A covenant, by definition, is a "two-way street," a bilateral agreement, and so Hashem needs to be present at every Berit Mila. The "Kiseh Shel Eliyahu" is prepared as the seat where Eliyahu sits to represent Hashem.

This might also answer the famous question asked by many commentators as to why Abraham had not performed a Berit Mila earlier. The Gemara teaches that Abraham observed all the Misvot, even though the Torah had not been given, because he realized on his own how Hashem wanted him to live. If so, then why did he wait until he was commanded before undergoing Berit Mila?

According to the Seforno's explanation, the answer is clear. Berit Mila is an act that creates a covenant between the individual and Hashem, and so, by definition, it cannot be performed without Hashem's involvement. Abraham could not enter into a covenant with Hashem until Hashem informed him of this covenant and decided the time had come for such a relationship. Therefore, it was only after Hashem commanded Abraham to perform Berit Mila as a sign of the covenant that he did so.

More lectures from Rabbi Eli Mansour

Netilat Yadayim: Reciting the Beracha After Drying the Hands; Speaking in Between the Washing and Drying

Parashat Vayera- Making a Covenant With Hashem

Beki'im BaHalacha 7 - Hilchot Berachot: Mayim Aharonim - Halachot 13-14

Purifying Oneself by Washing Hands 40 Times

Yerushalmi Berachot Daf 44

Beki'im BaHalacha 7 - Hilchot Berachot: Mayim Aharonim - Halachot 11-12