Rebekah won the Rabbis praise for being able to distinguish between her two sons. R. Joshua entered the city and found a young girl standing and drawing water from a spring. Send me away unto my master, said Abrahams servant in the morning. Tos' question is that Avraham was mashbiah with his milah for the nekitas chefetz! The Rabbis derived several laws of brides from the manner in which Rebekah was sent forth from her fathers house. In token therefore of the Patriarchs certain conviction that Messiah should in after-ages be descended from himself, he employed this ceremony in taking an oath of his servant. . I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my masters brethren., 2. cit.). This narrative indirectly teaches that Rebekahs act of kindness at the well became a model for emulation by Jewish women, even many generations later. The servant said (v. 33): I will not eat until I have told my tale; while he was talking, the angel came and switched the bowls, placing the dish with the poisoned food before Bethuel, who ate from it and died that night (Sekhel Tov[ed. Buber],Gen. 24:33). 17:15: To acquit the guilty and convict the innocentboth are an abomination to the Lord. Isaac justified the guilty [Esau], and was punished with blindness, while Rebekah justified the innocent(Gen. Rabbah65:6). Genesis 24:2. 4 Go inste. The Bible; the Pentateuch; Tanakh (the Pentateuch, Prophets and Hagiographia)Torah? This exegesis imparts special significance to Eliezers selection of Rebekah, who at that moment became one of the founders of the Jewish nation. Abraham was eager to have Isaac marry a woman of the character and stature of Sarah. Response: That is a great question. Rabbah1:32). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Kadari, Tamar. As for Isaac, Rebekah met Abrahams servant next to the spring, and it is said of Isaacs meeting with Rebekah(Gen. 24:62): Isaac had just come back from the vicinity of Beer-lahai-roi(Ex. The midrash shows that this was not exceptional conduct by Rebekah, and in the continuation of her conversation with her guest she was inclined to show kindness to him. Gen. 27:41records that after Esau learned of Jacobs theft of his blessing, he declared: Let but the mourning period of my father come, and I will kill my brother Jacob. According to one midrashic view, Esau said: Many foals died, and their hides were spread on their mothers backs (Gen. Rabbahloc. This forgetfulness of self; this prime regard for duty; this supreme care for the thing committed to his trust; this finding of his souls refreshment and his spirits sustentation in the faithful delivery of the message which he had brought (I will not eat until I have told my errand): all this marks the good and faithful servant. It was a long message which he had to deliver. Thus, God became a full partner in the theft of the blessings, since by causing Isaac to go blind He created the suitable conditions for the success of Rebekahs plan. 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. Have an update or correction? is the part that elizer held, the head of the penis or the testicles? The history is set down at great length in the 24th chapter of Genesis and is familiar to us all. This exposition presents Rebekahs preference for Jacob as a consequence of the prophecy that she was given during her pregnancy. Sign up to receive a regular digest of fresh Banner of Truth resources and blog articles. 6. Immediately (v. 67) Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah(Gen. Rabbah60:16). How to properly align two numbered equations? Rebekah told Jacob: My son, this night the stores of dew are opened. And why? Rebekah, one of the four Matriarchs, is characterized by the Rabbis as a prophet and a righteous woman. The Rabbis comment that Rebekah was the first woman to be married to a man who had been circumcised at the age of eight days. The commandments that are mentionedhallahand the kindling of the Sabbath lightare commandments reserved for women. Compare Gen 24:2. Yet another tradition compares Rebekah to the daughter of royalty, who would not normally go forth to fetch water, but that day did so. She asked Eliezer (v. 64): Who is that man? (MidrashTehillim[ed. of Damascus, Abraham's steward Gen 15:2 Rebekah is Chosen. It only takes a minute to sign up. cit.). For the midrash, this gift symbolizes another present that Israel would be given in the future: the two bands correspond to the two Tablets, and the ten shekels to the Ten Commandments(Gen. Rabbah60:6). She told him: Till now I was obligated to you [out of my love for you, and I did what I could to help you]. . Abraham spake of him, sixty years before this, as the steward of his house. The act of hospitality which is common to East and West alike, the offer of food, comes next. the faithfulness of a good servant in fulfilling a commission. This night the stores of dew are opened. Rabbahspeaks of the glory of pre-Destruction Jerusalem. Rabbah7:2:3). 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. Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening (v. 62) and the Rabbis identify this activity with prayer. Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. Her willing compliance, (for, Drink, my lord, she said, and I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking), and the servants adoring wonder, (for the man wondering at her held his peace, to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not) you cannot have forgotten; no, nor how the servant put an ornament of gold upon her face, and bracelets upon her hands, and asked her name, and inquired if there were room in her fathers house for him and his men to lodge in. Abraham's Servant Finds a Wife for Isaac - By that time Abraham was very old. How do I store enormous amounts of mechanical energy? 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 ). Abraham is dead, Isaacs eyes are dim and he sits in his house, and Jacob has fled from Esau. Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord; we cannot speak unto thee bad or good. Jewels and gifts were given: the contract, as it were, was sealed: then and not before they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him. See Genesis 15:1. By merit of the faith that she thereby exhibited, her descendants would go forth from Egypt, many generations later. The midrash asks why the Matriarchs were barren. The answer to this question is that the infertility in this case was Isaacs, and therefore there was no reason to divorce Rebekah(BTYevamot64a). The second understanding portrays the Matriarchs as meant to provide their husbands pleasure and meet their needs. The Rabbis observe that the Israelites would leave Egypt by merit of Rebekahs willingness to leave her parents house. He assures the church that the Lord had not yet come, and would not come, unless the rebellion comes first and the [], In the last few months, the church I serve has been working through the updated version of Eshcol, John Owens little treatment on church life now entitled Duties of Christian Fellowship: A Manual for Church Members. And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out. (Q & A) By Eliezer Zalmanov He also packed several expensive gifts to give to the young lady he would be bringing back with him. Buber], 90:18). When Abraham wanted his servant, Eliezer, to take an oath, he told him to "place your hand under my thigh"(Genesis 24:2). There was a high sense of urgency and he didn't eat or rest until his goal was accomplished. Food was set before him, but he refused to eat until he told them that Abraham had send him to find a bride for his son and heir and how he had realized that Rebekah was the intended one. Rabbah23:1). This psalm is a sort of incantation at the end of which God responds, in direct speech, that He will protect His faithful. In case Abraham were to die childless, a servant born in his house would in the ordinary course of events succeed to Abrahams vast property, and become his heir. It is noteworthy that Rebekah is the only woman included in this list, which consists of important figuresprophets, kings and leaders. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Eliezer made his choice of the maiden conditional on his asking to drink water and her offering to draw water for his camels, as well. During the Temple period, the dough set aside to be given to the priests. Themidrashexplains that Rebekah did not act as she did because she loved Jacob more than Esau. Higger, chap. New Living Translation One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, "Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. Isaac said to Jacob: Come and I will give you the blessing of exile, that God will return you from the exile, and he blessed him[Job 5:19]: He will deliver you from six troubles [; in seven no harm will reach you] (Gen. Rabbahloc. i am not being funny. His most prominent role was facilitating the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca. ( Genesis 15:2 ). The Rabbis appreciated the courage exhibited by Rebekah when she agreed to leave her family and her birthplace and go to an unknown land, in order to marry a man whom she had never met. Isaac summoned his elder son Esau and told him: My son, this night the celestial beings recite hymns. The verbohevetused in this verse is the present imperfect, designating a continued state, for the more she heard his voice, the more she loved him (i.e., her love increased day after day)(Gen. Rabbah63:10). cit. The third is a religious explanation, which encourages people to find balm for their tribulations through prayer, since the Matriarchs prayed and were answered. Why not Lech-Lecha? 31). While he is not specifically named, many scholars believe that Eliezer is the same servant sent by Abraham to look for a wife for his son Isaac in Genesis 24. In the midrashic retelling, God told Rebekah during her pregnancy what He would do. 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. Second, he did not abuse or misuse the great authority that Abraham had bestowed on him. And thus he hath won for himself a place on the imperishable page: and few have ever reached the end of the narrative which is the close of the chapter, without exclaiming secretly, Well done! Well done, good and faithful Servant!. His eldest servant Probably Eliezer of Damascus. If Jacob marries a Hittite woman like these [] what good will life be to me?. Jacob was born circumcised(Gen. Rabbah63:7), while Esau was born redheaded, which, the Rabbis say, indicates that he would shed blood. She satisfied him at once about every particular; and the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord. When Abraham commanded the latter, he told him(Gen. 24:7): He will send His angel before you; according to the midrash, God designated two angels when Abraham said this. 23:6): Do not eat of a stingy mans food, do not crave for his dainties. He went to bring, but was delayed there. Courtesy of The Jewish Museum. 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). Thus, this was indeed the only sacred object available to Abraham. Of whom is one so much reminded as of him who at the well of Samaria declared that he had meat to eat which his disciples knew not of: for that his meat was to do the will of the Father who had sent him, and to finish his work? In fulfilling his oath, Eliezer is blessed by God and led directly to the family of Nahor, Abraham's brother. (As in "yad hekdesh al ha'elyona"). To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 31). Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Because servants we are, everyone of us, and a trust is committed to us all. In Ezra 8:16-17, Eliezer is one of eleven priests commissioned by Ezra to find ministers for the house of God in Jerusalem from among the inhabitants of Casiphia. Of Damascus, the lawful heir of Abraham, should he die childless, Genesis 15:2. Rebekah, one of the four Matriarchs, is characterized by the Rabbis as a prophet and a righteous woman. Two women, according to themidrash, covered themselves with a veil and gave birth to twins: Rebekah and Tamar. 16:710;MYoma4:13](Gen. Rabbah65:1314). In common parlance, the braided loaves blessed and eaten on the Sabbath and Festivals.hallah in purity. Let us know. cit.). . "the written Torah." Episode 96: Can We Talk? Themidrashlists six pairs that lived the same number of years: Rebekah and Kohath, Levi and Amram (137 years), Joseph and Joshua (110 years), Samuel and Solomon (52 years), Moses and Hillel (120 years), and R. Johanan ben Zakkai and R. Akiva (120 years) (SifreionDeuteronomy, 357). I'm living among the people of Canaan. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. These subjects, especially the latter, are covered with painstaking detail. Isaac said to God: Master of the Universe! This servant is described as "the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had" ( Genesis 24:2 ). Why not instead have Eliezer swear while holding onto the entrance to the tent? Various midrashim tell how the members of Rebekahs family attempted to interfere with the servants mission by delaying, or even preventing, her going with him, but God frustrated their designs (seeGen. Rabbah60:12).. The midrash relates that in order to persuade Isaac, Rebekah began to blow her nose and cast [the mucus] away [to say that they were as disgusting to her as the mucus that comes from ones nose]. I may be mistaken in my opinion. Although her family and those among whom she lived were deceitful, Rebekah was not adversely influenced by her surroundings, but grew up as a lily among thorns. She was the recipient of special blessings: the well water rose up to her, the dough she kneaded was blessed, the cloud was visible over her tent, and the Sabbath candles burned from one Sabbath eve to the next. It is unlikely that this act should be read as a self-imprecation by the servant, calling down sterility on himself or extirpation for his children (but see my comments on v. 8 below). cit.). 6:18), and therefore lived to the age of 133. The striking differential emphasizes the righteousness of Abraham and the members of his household, with even his servant acting with greater integrity and decency than Bethuel and Laban. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . The Rabbis ask: Esau had several wives, so why did he keep this clothing with his mother? Is every algebraic structure of this sort embeddable in a vector space? 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. Verily, he who took upon himself the form of a servant for our sakes, hath sanctified the relation I speak of, and sublimed it, and perfected it likewise. Laban (the brother of Rebekah), and Rebekahs mother, requested delay; the interval of at least the third of a month. 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! He killed Nimrod and took the garment from him, and thereby he, too, became a mighty hunter(Gen. 10:9). //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. This exposition shows that the divine plan is woven far from mens eyes. 1. . A number of answers are offered. If the wicked Esau were to go before her, people would say: Cursed be the breasts that nursed such a man as this. What did they do? The servant told the relatives: Do not delay me, for the man who came with me yesterday and made my errand successful is standing and waiting for me outside. (Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer, chap. . Chazal explain that he asked him to hold his (Avraham's) milah (male member) while swearing because it was a mitzvah item (similar to how in a rabbinic court one would need to hold a sefer torah) and that mitzvah was beloved to Avraham. Eliezer is not related to Abraham by birth, but in the words of Isaiah, he is a faithful "foreign son . A different tradition sets Rebekah apart from the other Matriarchs and finds a special reason for her barrenness.
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