An Eager Bride...

Torah Study 10-22 Genesis 24:57-67

Rebecca's response...meeting Isaac

V57 let's call the girl and ask her personally if willing to go... In her presence. To assure she is not being manipulated. A woman may never be given in marriage without her consent

Will you go with this man? One word response. Yes.Naomi Rosenblat... Why is she so eager to go? She is eager to search for more meaning in life or sees a chance to escape her brother. Or both.

Rashi says she says she will go even if she is forbidden to go. Headstrong woman.

Abravanel points out no family member goes with her.

Midrash that the father was also cruel...

After agrees to go...

Sent off... Sister -kinship term. Sends with her nurse...wet-nurse... Word Greek origin, servant who supervised her upbringing and remains with her through adulthood. Devorah, a significant person.

Blessing.... May she grow into a myriad of people. A blessing of fertility. Similar to the blessing end of chapter 22 the Akidah...God bestows blessing on Isaac.

Blessing that enemies will turn to you and you will triumph over them.

Ellen Frankle...points out the two types of descendants. jews and non Jews ...Jacob and Esau.

Rebecca is linked to Abraham in various ways. Leaving family, blessed for descendants.

Traditional wedding blessing at bedekin. Veiling ceremony for a bride.

Rebecca and maids arose... Midrash that she rose spiritually also. Find a spouse who helps make you a better person.

Ride on the camels.

Meeting Isaac.

David Kimkee met in the fields. Chance occurrence outside the city.

He had come back from the well in the Negev.. Same well where Hagar was addressed by God.

Rashi...he had gone there to bring Hagar to his father to marry her.

Eli Munk... While father sends to get wife for Isaac . Isaac goes to find wife for his father then he goes to pray for his own marriage.

Romantic encounter.

Isaac in fields. Walking or talking with others or "bush" in prayer .. Rashi says in prayer.

Towards evening minhag prayer... Originated the evening prayer... (Abraham started morning prayer after destruction of Sidom and Gamorrah Jacob attributed to evening prayer.)

Raises his eyes (was closed in prayer). Sees camels coming.

Rebecca sees Isaac. Same phrase for each of them. Eyes met and they knew.

Marred because Rebecca asks who it is.

More literal translation. She fell off the camel ...

Asks who it is... Answer. My master... Now Isaac is the focus rather than Abraham.

She veils herself.

Wedding custom...from this episode. Chabad website.

Did not have veils as a regular custom.. ( remember when Sarah goes to Egypt )

Bride definitely is veiled. Rebecca’s gesture shows that she is ready.

Veiling custom. Groom veils the bride- Impresses her if her duty as a bride. Modesty dignity and chastity of the bride. Arranged marriage. Groom first sees face under the chuppah. Before the chuppah because of the story of Jacob.

End chapter. Brings her into the tent if Sarah. Consummates marriage and then loved her...

Sarna - she is now the matriarch replaces Sarah. Rashi. She becomes Sarah... Like Sarah his mother. Strong maternal figure.

The tent of Sarah was dark

Robert Alter. Rebecca fills emotional gap ... No mention of Abraham.. Possibly he is dead. But others note he is remarried.

SRHirsch.. Why off camel. She didn't want to seem haughty. She wanted to be humble.

First wife and then love. The more time the more love in the marriage... Growth of love. Not so much for romantic love..