Chavarah- Jewish Community Learning

A blog of Jewish study and traditions. Notes from classes: Torah Study with Rabbi Marder, Toledot and Shabbaton as well as other details found of interest.

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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Sending the Servant To Fetch A Bride

Torah study 9-17
Genesis 24:1-14
Isaac gets a wife. How they met.

THE Longest chapter. A lot of detail.
Release from the tension of the previous verses.

Abrahams concern turns to the next generation and feels that if Isaac’s wife comes from his birthplace he will find someone who can be loyal to God. Subtle reference that he should go to his family to find the wife for Isaac. This was foreshadowed previously with reference to the children of Milka. We were previously noted and a reference to Rebecca.

Redundancy in the text in the Hebrew. Get a wife for my son for Isaac.
She must be a good character and good for Isaac.


Servant. Responds with a question. What if she doesn't want to come back with him? Because he is a servant? Isaac needs to fetch her himself? Should Isaac go himself?
Abraham doesn't want Isaac to go there because he fears his exposure to the customs of his past ... The idolatry could seduce him. Isaac is "rooted"to the land of Canaan.
He has not been previously exposed to that. And he is looking for a woman who would be willing to break away from there.

Women's commentary. She has a choice. She must give her consent. Cannot be coerced into marriage. Still part of Jewish law.

V7 reference to the promise of the land and posterity... Both are fulfilled through Isaac. He is the only patriarch who stays in the same place... In Canaan his whole life.

Angel sent.. Who is it? Messenger. Same word as the people messenger. This is a personification of God's care.
Abraham expresses his confidence that it will work out. But he says if it doesn't go right then he releases the servant from the oath. He is comfortable with the outcome whatever happens.

Oath on thigh..euphemism. For genitals. Happens again with Joseph later.

V10. Took 10 camels. Previous reference to camels when Abraham goes to Egypt.
Camels reference the wealth. At that time they were not common. (anachronism for wealth)

(most common phrase in the Bible is "be not afraid". promotes peacefulness in emotion.)

Naomi Rosenblat. Making a wise choice for a partner. In Biblical times parents role to find the right person different. When people choose for self there is a higher probability of failure. It needs more in depth considerations.

V10. Rashi commentary "took camels." Of the camels of his master. Something special about Abraham's camels.. Muzzled so they would not eat other people's grain.

Muzzle: Not allow his animals to steal from others. Thus makes Abraham's camels different and distinct from other camels.

What type woman to select? On her free will willing to go. But the servant on his own set more criteria. Concerned that she is of good moral character like the people of his family from where he grew up. Suggestion that Isaac needs a strong woman.

No reference to Isaac's point of view before this point. Later you see he is eager to have a wife.

Arrives in town. Nahariam. Two rivers. Better translation - land beside the Euphrates.

V11 he makes camels lie down near well.
Naomi Rosenblat.. Wells are good scenes for Biblical stories. Represent women sexuality and fertility. The well is a social place where he can discern a woman's personality.
Beverages are the common ground.. Soda fountain. coffee house. Water cooler... The well.

Book : Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter. Basic theme and then variations on that theme. There are three. Rebecca . Rachel. Moses

This one is different as it is not Isaac who is there. Verses the meeting of Jacob and Rachel the stone onto of well. Moses version he saves someone at the well. Always reflects the theme if the overall story.

When women come to draw water... Looking for someone who would do it for herself not a servant.

V12. Vayomar with trope mark rare mark shashellit. Only 4 times in Torah. Indicates Hesitation .
Lower her jar. On her shoulder heavy ... Man asks her to do this. His test.
She offers to go beyond the request and offers to water the camels.

Tilt the jar.. It is a revealing character test. She could have been irritated by the request. But she was not....

The Actual Meeting next time.

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