What Are the Trials of Our Forefather Abraham and Their Implications?

Hello!

Good questions;

This is the wording of Maimonides on the Mishnah in Ethics of the Fathers, Chapter 5, Mishnah 3: The ten trials that our forefather Abraham was tested with are all written:

The first - the migration, as it is stated: +Genesis 12:1+ "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace."

The second - the famine that he encountered in the land of Canaan when he settled there, and it was already promised to him: +Genesis 12:2+ "And I will make you... and I will bless you and make your name great," and this is a great trial, as it is stated: +Genesis 12:10+ "And there was a famine in the land" etc.

The third trial - being taken advantage of by the Egyptians through the taking of Sarah to Pharaoh.

The fourth - the battle with the four kings.

The fifth - taking Hagar when he despaired of having children with Sarah.

The sixth - the circumcision, which he was commanded to do in his old age.

The seventh - being wronged by the king of Gerar through taking Sarah again.

The eighth - sending away Hagar after he had built a family with her.

The ninth - sending away his son Ishmael, of whom it is stated: +Genesis 21:12+ "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight concerning the lad and concerning your maidservant," and it is already testified in the text how difficult this matter was for him: +Genesis 21:11+ "And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight," but he fulfilled the command of Hashem and sent them away.

The tenth - the binding of Isaac.

You can find answers to all your questions in the words of Maimonides. It should be noted that there is another approach to enumerating the list of the ten trials, and I have copied the wording of Maimonides.

Blessings and success;

Yaakov Moshe