Teugels, Lieve Yards. Bible and Midrash: The storyline away from “This new Wooing of Rebekah” (Gen. 24). Vol. thirty five. Peeters Writers, 2004.
New Rabbis record about three whose friends was basically appointed in their mind next in order to a well (be’er): Isaac, Jacob, and you may Moses. In terms of Isaac, Rebekah met Abraham’s servant next to the springtime, and is also said out-of Isaac’s meeting with Rebekah (Gen. ): “Isaac had simply get back in the location off Alcohol-lahai-roi” (Old boyfriend. Rabbah step one:32).
The bad demonstration away from Rebekah’s relatives emphasize this lady individuality. Rebekah’s dad are good scoundrel, as the was indeed the individuals where she lived, when you find yourself Rebekah try a beneficial righteous girl who originated one of them, and you can is like an excellent lily among the thorns (Lev. Rabbah 23:1). 2:dos.
There are many different midrashic way of life for Rebekah’s decades whenever she are partnered to help you Isaac. As Isaac is twenty-half a dozen years of age at the time, and 40 when he married Rebekah (Gen. ), she are thus fourteen years old when she Rabbah 1). Other lifestyle brings the girl decades while the three-years and you will three days when she leftover this lady dad’s house (Tractate Soferim, Hosafah [addition] step one, 1:4).
The new Torah claims (Gen. ) you to “Isaac pleaded for the Lord on the behalf of their girlfriend, due to the fact she are barren.” New midrash is sold with Rebekah among the 7 bare women that was indeed in the course of time blessed having children: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Manoah’s girlfriend, Hannah and you can Zion, of whom Ps. 113:nine claims: “The guy establishes brand new childless ios hookup apps ad woman one of the girl house given that a pleasurable mommy of children” (Pesikta de–Rav Kahana [ed. Mandelbaum], Roni, akarah 20:1).
Brand new Rabbis believe that five barren female became expecting toward Rosh Hashanah: Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and you may Leah (Tanhuma, Vayera 17). Two girls, according to midrash, safeguarded themselves with a great veil and you may provided delivery so you can twins: Rebekah and you can Tamar.
If the students spent my youth, the differences among them turned somewhat obvious (discover Pirkei de–Rabbi Eliezer loc. cit. and Gen. Rabbah 63:9). Gen. claims one, just like the paths drawn of the youths diverged, thus, too, its parents were split in their fascination with their children: “Isaac preferred Esau due to the fact he had a taste for game, but Rebekah recommended Jacob.” New Rabbis got problem in the recognizing the fact that Isaac prominent Esau, and this just Rebekah are able to recognizing Jacob once the selected of your own sons.
That big date is the new eve of your vacation of A great seven-big date event in order to commemorate the fresh new Exodus of Egypt (eight months exterior Israel) birth on 15 th day’s the new Hebrew times out-of Nissan. Often referred to as the fresh new “Event out-of Ma zz ot”; the newest “Festival from Spring season”; Pesa h . Passover . Isaac summoned their older guy Esau and you will told him: “My personal guy, which evening the newest celestial beings repeat hymns. So it nights the businesses out-of dew are open. Make tasty foods for my situation, which i may bless you prior to I pass away,” as soul out-of divine determination stated [facing Esau] (Prov. 23:6): “Do not consume off a stingy mans food, don’t crave to possess his dainties.” The guy decided to go to offer, but was postponed indeed there. Rebekah told Jacob: “My personal man, which night the stores out-of dew is opened. This night brand new celestial beings recite hymns. Make tasty snacks to suit your dad, which he will get eat and you may bless your ahead of he dies.”
Gen. records whenever Esau learned out-of Jacob’s thieves from their blessing, he announced: “Let but the mourning ages of dad already been, and that i usually eliminate my brother Jacob.” Considering you to midrashic have a look at, Esau told you: “Of a lot foals passed away, in addition to their hides was in fact give on the mothers’ backs” (Gen. Rabbah loc. cit.). Esau does not have any qualms regarding killing Jacob while the mommy is actually still live and you may exactly what according to him just stresses their cruelty. Just really does the newest pony select the girl children’s demise in her own individual lifetime; she must also happen its hide on her behalf back when she are ridden. Esau seem to wishes Rebekah to feel guilty of Jacob’s dying, as the she got an active region on theft from their firstborn’s blessing.
): “I quickly will get you against there.” Rebekah kept this lady pledge, and you will taken to bring Jacob, but he didn’t need certainly to get-off Laban’s house. Just what did she perform? She sent Deborah the lady nurse so you’re able to fetch him (quoted of the Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac; b. Troyes, France, 1040 Rashi for the Gen. 35:8, regarding term from Roentgen. Moses Darshan; find along with Midrash Comments that aren’t Scripturally depending and therefore have to do with ethics, lifestyle and you may procedures of one’s Rabbis; this new low-courtroom (non- halakhic ) topic of one’s Talmud. Aggadah [ed. Buber], Gen. 35:8).
That it story ultimately will teach you to Rebekah’s act off kindness at really turned into an unit getting emulation by Jewish female, actually of many generations after.
Recent Comments