These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. Nothing, I say, can be more unmistakable than this the way the man refers the whole of his errand to God. Can I correct ungrounded circuits with GFCI breakers or do I need to run a ground wire? 24). cit.). Isaac saw that Rebekah acted in the same manner as had his mother: she kneaded dough in purity and set aside herDuring the Temple period, the dough set aside to be given to the priests. The servant told Rebekahs family of his mission, and he said to them: Give Rebekah to Isaac, otherwise [v. 49] that I may turn right or left. Laban and Bethuel exclaimed (v. 50): The matter was decreed by the Lord. Then the servant took out silver and gold vessels and clothing, which he gave to Rebekah, and he gave her brother and mother vessels of pearl and, some say, roasted ears of corn and nuts(Gen. Rabbah60:11). Isaac blessed Jacob before he sent him to Paddan-aram(Gen. 28:34). cit.). "Rebekah: Midrash and Aggadah." Lit. For the Rabbis, Esau represents the Roman empire, and they used the names Esau or Edom as code words when they wanted to criticize the authorities or to complain of the difficulties posed by foreign rule, so that these sentiments would be understood only by Jews. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. They answer that Esau knew his wives doings [i.e., their idolatrous actions] and therefore preferred to have his mother keep his garments. And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. A third answer is that God longed to hear the speech (i.e., prayer) of the Matriarchs, of which He said inCant. The Rabbis apply to thisProv. Eliezer must go back to Abraham's family living in Haran and find a woman from Abraham's own kin. In short, because a d'var mitzvah must be held for the shvuah, and this was the best option. Avraham asks his servant Eliezer to place his hand under his thigh to swear an oath regarding finding a daughter for his son. When Rebekah said good, she hinted that they would be good both for Jacob and for his offspring: good for Jacob, for by them he would take the blessings, and good for his offspring, for by these kids atonement would be made for them on[jwa_encyclopedia_glossary:433]Yom Kippur [when two goats are taken, one offered as a sacrifice and the other sent to AzazelseeLev. 34:31): For you, My flock, flock that I tend. And fetch me two choice kids (Gen. loc. From Hebron, where Abraham now was, to Haran, is reckoned a journey of seventeen days; the distance between them, according to Ptolemy, as Drusius observes, were eight degrees, which make one hundred and twenty German miles; the journey Abraham's servant took is computed to be four hundred and sixty eight miles (q). It follows: And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. 9 The Talmud tells us that he is one of only three peoplethe others were Jacob and Avishaifor whom this happened. Isaac said to God: Master of the Universe! declval<_Xp(&)()>()() - what does this mean in the below context? Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac. Esau was responsible for this. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. 2022-23 Season Wrap. Make tasty dishes for your father, that he may eat and bless you before he dies.. Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. When the camels had finished drinking, the servant gave Rebekah a gold nose-ring weighing a half-shekel, and two gold bands for her arms, ten shekels in weight(Gen. 24:22). She said: The Hittite women squabble with one another(Gen. Rabbah67:11). Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Immediately (v. 67) Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah(Gen. Rabbah60:16). Ishmael is Sent Away Art by Sefira Lightstone Shortly after Isaac's birth, people began referring to Ishmael as Hagar's boy. Well done, good and faithful Servant. 35. Vol. cit.). The history is set down at great length in the 24th chapter of Genesis and is familiar to us all. //chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm, Whether Divination by Auguries, Omens, and by Like Observations of, Appendix ix. Esau would wear this clothing when he served his father. The regimen of rituals, songs and textual readings performed in a specific order on the first two nights (in Israel, on the first night) of Passover. the better question is why eliezer had to swear in a jewish way at all? Three other men named Eliezera priest, a Levite, and a lay personwere among the sons of priests who had married foreign women ( Ezra 10:18-19, 23, 31 ). Consequently, Isaac and Rebekah lived together for twenty years without children, yet he did not divorce her. . 4 Go inste. with her pitcher upon her shoulder. cit.). 2018 David Guzik No distribution beyond personal use without permission. They bring a parable about a land that recorded the dimensions of those called to service in the kings army. It is noteworthy that Rebekah is the only woman included in this list, which consists of important figuresprophets, kings and leaders. Eliezer: Faithfulness in Fulfilling a Trust, Gathering Grapes: An Encouragement to Congregations to Study John Owen. So that he would not be alone with the maiden at night, the way was miraculously shortened for him, and he arrived at Hebron after three hours, at the time of the afternoonminhahprayer. According to Eduard Knig ("Syntax," 306h) here, as frequently, has the force of an adjective or participle, and the phrase "ben meshe" (steward; comp. It will be remembered that in the 15th chapter Abraham, with reference to his childless estate, expostulates thus with Almighty God, Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed; and one born in mine house is my heir; for, the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus. We are reminded by this of the entire difference between the manners and usages of that remote age and the present. Jacob was(Gen. 25:27) a mild man, who stayed in camp [ohalim, literally, tents]. The Rabbis learn from the pluralohalimthat Jacob would sit in two tents: in the academy of Shem, and in the academy of Eber(Gen. Rabbah63:10). This night the stores of dew are opened. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. . Dew fell on him from Heaven, his bones were invigorated, and he became mighty and powerful (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, ed. When the servant reached Haran, he prayed to the Lord, and suggested a sign by which he would recognize the suitable maiden(Gen. 24:14): The midrash comments on this that Eliezer was one of the four who made unseemly requests. The finding of a proper wife for Isaac ensured the continuity of Abrahams line and the realization of the promise to make a people of his seed. Buber],Gen. 35:8). She sent Deborah her nurse to fetch him (cited byRabbi Solomon ben Isaac; b. Troyes, France, 1040Rashi onGen. 35:8, in the name of R. Moses Darshan; see alsoMidrashStatements that are not Scripturally dependent and that pertain to ethics, traditions and actions of the Rabbis; the non-legal (non-halakhic) material of the Talmud.Aggadah [ed. This exegesis imparts special significance to Eliezers selection of Rebekah, who at that moment became one of the founders of the Jewish nation. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin. 1:12]: Thus said my Lord God concerning Edom [] I will make you least among nations; you shall be most despised. This analogy shows parents lack of objectivity concerning their children. are you sure this is unique to Abraham and not a general Near Eastern thing? //aquinas/summa theologica/whether divination by auguries omens.htm, Chapter xxiv case that one servant should be in another man's employ for such a length of time. The midrash asks why the Matriarchs were barren. Themidrashadds that this garment had belonged to Nimrod, and whoever wore it became mighty. . Of all the Servants spoken of in Scripture, if one were called upon to say which most nearly comes up to the idea one forms to oneself of a good and faithful servant, it would be that eldest servant of Abrahams house, whom Abraham sent into Padan Aram to take a wife for his son Isaac. If so is the distress caused by pregnancy, and why do I existif only I had not become pregnant(Gen. Rabbah63:6). Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Isaac sought in a wife the specific traits that would remind him of his mother and her righteousness. cit.). Of course, if this was the servant spoken of in the 24th chapter, the mans conduct and demeanour becomes dignified marvellously. Although nowhere so mentioned specifically in the narrative, Eliezer is identified by the rabbis with the anonymous servant sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac (Gen. 24). all the children that You give me shall be from this righteous man. Although both prayed, God responded to Isaac, as it is said: va-yeetar lo (literally, He answered him), since the prayer of a righteous one the son of a righteous one [Isaac the son of Abraham] is not like that of a righteous one the son [i.e., child] of a wicked one [Rebekah the daughter of Bethuel] (BTYevamotloc. He asked her: Give me water to drink. She told him: I will give to you and to your ass. After he drank and was about to go on his way, he said to her: My daughter, you have done as did Rebekah! She replied: I have done as did Rebekah [for I gave both you and your ass to drink], but you did not act as did Eliezer [for you did not give me a gold nose-ring and arm bands]. At that time R. Joshua said: I never was bested by anyone, except for one widow, one young girl and several children (Lam. 6. Eliezer (Abraham's Servant): (a) Trusted servant of Abraham, native of Damascus. Rather, his soul lovingly clings to his wife (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer,ed. Since G-d had not commanded him to do them, they remained human deeds, subject to the natural law that separated the spiritual from the material; while they had a profound effect on his own soul, the souls of his descendants, and the spiritual essence of creation, they had no impact on the material substance of the universe. The servant asked(Gen. 24:23): Is there room in your fathers house for us to spend the night? intending only a single night. Rebekah, however, replied (v. 25): [] and also room to spend the nightyou can spend many nights in our house. And, by way of making my remarks practically useful, I propose to narrow the issue yet further. So true is it that one faithful servant makes many: that goodness propagates itself, is infectious, extends from the superior servant to those who are placed under him! . The Torah states that in order to persuade Isaac to send Jacob to Paddan-aram (and thus save himself from Esaus sword), Rebekah bound this up with Jacobs marriage. Second, he did not abuse or misuse the great authority that Abraham had bestowed on him. InGen. 24:57Rebekahs brother and mother say: Let us call the girl and ask for her reply, from which they learned that an orphan cannot be married without her consent(Gen. Rabbah60:12). cit.). TheTorahstates(Gen. 25:21) that Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. Themidrashincludes Rebekah among the seven barren women who were eventually blessed with offspring: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Manoahs wife, Hannah and Zion, of whomPs. Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water and so forth. They brought her out at night. Genesis 24:2. The midrashic description of the servants meeting with Rebekahs family highlights the moral differences between the families. And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water. 24 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. The Rabbis learned from(Gen. 24:67) Isaac thus found comfort after his mothers death that Rebekahs deeds resembled those of Sarah (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezerloc. 91:1): O you who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in the protection of Shaddai, (91:11): For he will order His angels to guard you wherever you go. The spirit of divine inspiration replied (91:15): When he calls on Me, I will answer him(Gen. Rabbah75:8). It reveals male thinking about pregnancy and demonstrates insensitivity to the womans condition both in the time of her infertility and during her pregnancy. Chayei Sarah ( Genesis 23:1-25:18 ) This week's Torah portion deals primarily with two issues: the death and subsequent burial of Sarah, and the search for a wife for Isaac. Despite this, God granted his request and had Rebekah come before him(Gen. Rabbah60:3;BTTaanit4a). Does R. Avraham Ben HaRambam really hold that only one child is necessary for peru u'revu? James Jacques Joseph Tissot. Rebekah is conscious of this, and intends to lift from her sons shoulders the responsibility for this act of deception. , Zeph. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. It only takes a minute to sign up. These midrashic expositions stress the close similarity between Sarah and Rebekah. The servant set off at once with Rebekah and her maidens, and Isaac meets his bride as he went in the field to meditate in the field at the eventide, when he had come from the way of the well Lahai-roi (verses 62-63). Breishit 24:65 - Yitchak is Eliezer's master? Not only does the horse see her childs death in her own lifetime; she must also bear its hide on her back when she is ridden. They understood the name given him by his parents as an abbreviation:Eisavha shav, literally, this is worthlesshe and his religion are worthless(Gen. Rabbah63:8). Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Themidrashexplains that Rebekah did not act as she did because she loved Jacob more than Esau. Genesis 24:1 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. Courtesy of The Jewish Museum. Faced with fulfilling such a solemn oath, Abraham's servant, likely Eliezer of Damascus ( Genesis 15:2 ), takes great care to choose a suitable mate for Isaac, placing his trust in God to lead him to the right woman. Jacob heeded his mother, and (v. 14): He got them and brought them to his mother. The Rabbis learned from the sequence of verbs in the verse (literally, he went, he got them, and brought them") that Jacob did all this under compulsion, downcast, and weeping (Gen. Rabbahloc. You can also change some of your preferences. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. He dug and buried it in the ground(Gen. Rabbah65:16;Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, ed. Abraham was eager to have Isaac marry a woman of the character and stature of Sarah. Themidrashstates that God does not cause the sun of one righteous person to set until He causes the sun of another righteous one to rise, as it is said(Eccl. 25:21 Of all the Servants spoken of in Scripture, if one were called upon to say which most nearly comes up to the idea one forms to oneself of a good and faithful servant, it would be that eldest servant of Abrahams house, whom Abraham sent into [], Recently reading Pauls Second Letter to the Thessalonians, I was struck by a word that immediately arrested me. Another tradition gives her age as three years and three days when she left her fathers house (TractateSoferim,Hosafah[addition] 1, 1:4). the faithfulness of a good servant in fulfilling a commission. cit.). And she said, If so, why do I exist? (Gen. 25:22). "order." Yet another tradition compares Rebekah to the daughter of royalty, who would not normally go forth to fetch water, but that day did so. I shall make only one point more out of this narrative. Rebekahs birth(Gen. 22) is mentioned by theTorahbefore the death of Sarah(Gen. 23), because God prepared Sarahs successor before He took her soul. That day was the eve of the holiday ofA seven-day festival to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt (eight days outside Israel) beginning on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan. Several midrashim explain how the death of Deborah, Rebekahs nurse, alludes to the death of Rebekah herself (seeGen. Rabbah81:5,Eccl. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Why, then, did he have Eliezer place his hand "under his thigh," contrary to all common standards of modesty and propriety? Their personal happiness is sacrificed for the good of the people as a whole, and they suffer years of barrenness in order to shorten the suffering of the people of Israel in the Egyptian bondage. The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah? 1:5): The sun rises, and the sun sets. Thus, before God caused the sun of Sarah to set, He caused the sun of Rebekah to shine(Gen. Rabbah58:2). Episode 96: Can We Talk? She told Jacob(Ps. When the sign has been vouchsafed, and Rebekah has been spoken with Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth. This night the celestial beings recite hymns. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Matt. The reason they give is that Tamar gave birth to Perez and Zerah, both of whom were righteous, while of Rebekahs sonsJacob and Esauone was righteous and the other wicked(Gen. Rabbah63:8). Abraham was old, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. The twins were already separate and different when they emerged from their mothers womb. Many other commentators follow with some variation or another of this basic idea: Tosfos in maseches Shavuos 38b s.v. This psalm is a sort of incantation at the end of which God responds, in direct speech, that He will protect His faithful. So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and . What I admire so much in all this is the beautiful admixture of piety, and obedience, and trust in God; the walking in faith, as seeing him who is invisible; the confident and trustful walking, which the narrative displays. These subjects, especially the latter, are covered with painstaking detail. 1. 3. She was appointed for Isaac while still in her mothers womb and therefore, even though she did not know who he was, she consented to marry Isaac (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. Furthermore there is no indication in the text that the mitzvah of milah was more beloved to Avraham than, say, the mitzvah of welcoming guest. Make tasty dishes for me, that I may bless you before I die, while the spirit of divine inspiration proclaimed [against Esau](Prov.
Contents Of Cubital Fossa From Medial To Lateral,
Articles H