ספורנו — ואברהם זקן בא בימים וה' ברך את אברהם בכל

Q — The opening verse "ואברהם זקן בא בימים וה' ברך את אברהם בכל" seems to dangle disconnected from the שליחות of Eliezer that follows. Rashi was driven to a gematria reading ("בכל" = בן). Why open the שליחות episode this way?

A — For Sforno, the two facts in the opening verse — Avraham's זקנה and his עושר — are precisely the two reasons that explain both the *timing* and the *method* of the שליחות. The זקנה is why now: Avraham feared dying before seeing his son's chuppa, so "הסכים שלא לאחר עוד." The עושר is why a שבועה: Avraham was wealthy enough that many would seek connection to him, and he feared "שמא איזה אדם בלתי הגון ירבה שוחד לעבדו כדי שיבחר בבתו" — that Eliezer would be bribed to pick an unworthy bride. The שבועה seals Eliezer against that temptation. The opening verse isn't a stray notice — it is the chronological and moral setup for everything that follows in the parsha.