Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parasha #5: Chayai Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet (Genesis) 23:1-25:18
Halftarah: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 1:1-31
B’rit Hadashah: Mattityahu (Matthew) 8:19-22; 27:3-10; Luke 9:57-62
Parasha:
In this Parasha, Eliezer is faced with the problem of finding a wife for Yitzhak. Eliezer puts the onus on G-d by asking Him for a sign: The first woman who agrees to give him water, and then insists on watering his camels as well, is the one for Yitzhak. Almost immediately Rivkah comes and fulfills the criteria precisely. Eliezer then thanks G-d for helping him find the right woman.
But if you look at the sign Eliezer chose, it seems a bit strange. There are many charitable women in the world. How could Eliezer rely on this test alone?
The truth is that Eliezer tests Rivkah not once, but twice in the Parasha. When he tries to take her back to Hevron, her brother and mother are reluctant to let her leave right away. After Eliezer insists that it is now or never, they agree to leave the decision to Rivkah. Rivkah, a young girl, has to decide between her family and familiar surroundings, and going away to marry someone she doesn’t know. Against all odds, Rivkah agrees to leave her father’s house and follow Eliezer.
Rivkah’s decision echoes the decisions of other great personalities in the Torah. Avraham faced such a decision, when he was told by G-d to leave his home and head out for an unknown destination. And again, Avraham has to make a monumental decision when it comes to the Akaida-whether to go through with the sacrifice of Isaac (Yitzhak). And too, Yitzhak is faced with a momentous decision: Should he allow himself to be led like a lamb to the slaughter? Both Avraham and Yitzhak in each case make the right decision.
This is what Eliezer is looking for, someone who can make a difficult decision. When Rivkah hears she will be going to marry the son of the G-d fearing Avraham, she jumps at the opportunity to leave her idol-worshiping brother. So, when Rivkah agrees to go with him, Eliezer is secure in the knowledge that he, too, has made the right decision.
After all, the sign of true greatness is the ability to make tough decisions at the right time!
Sages Wisdom:
“And the life of Sarah was 100 years, and 20 years and 7 years.” (23:1)
Why didn’t the Torah simply say 127 years?
The Midrash says that from here we learn that Sarah was as pure from sin at 100 as she had been at 20; and she was as beautiful at 20 as she had been at 7.
Both old age and youth have advantages. Knowledge and experience come with age, while enthusiasm and energy are the signs of youth. The Torah tells us that Sarah had all the attributes of both age and youth throughout her entire life.
“And Avraham was old, coming along in days.” (24:1)
The Midrash addresses the question: If Avraham was old, isn’t it obvious he was coming along in days?
It seems that until that time people didn’t really look their age. A person just got old and died. No one even had white hair!
Avraham and Yitzhak looked so much alike that people couldn’t tell father from son. Since they both looked bout the same age, showing honor for the older man became difficult to do.
Avraham asked G-d to help people recognize the difference between him and his son. G-d agreed, and told Avraham that from then on a person’s physical appearance would change, as he or she became older. The is why the Torah states; “Avraham was coming along in days.”
“She became his wife and he loved her.” (24:67)
Isn’t this sentence backwards? Usually, love comes before marriage.
Yet Yitzhak first married Rivkah and only then he love her. Even today, among certain Jewish groups, marriages are prearranged. Only after the wedding do the couples have a chance to get to know each other and fall in love.
Something to think about:
1. Why was it so important for Avraham to buy Mearat Hamahpaila when Efron offered it to him for free?
2. Why was Avraham so adamant that Yitzhak only marry someone willing to live in Israel? Why couldn’t Yitzhak live someplace else? Could it have something to do with the Akaida?
3. When Eliezer recounted to Lavan what had happened at the well, he changed the story a bit. We find at least two differences. What made Eliezer decide to change the story?
Halftarah connection: (1 Kings 1:1)
In the beginning of this parasha, Avraham is mentioned as getting old. The rest of the Parasha deals primarily with Avraham’s desire to secure the future of his lineage. When Yitzhak gets married, Avraham sends the rest of his children away. In doing so, he ensures that Yitzhak will be the sole heir to his “throne.”
The Halftarah begins in the same fashion King David is getting old. He wants to make sure that the right person will inherit his throne after he dies. One of his sons Adoniyah, decides that he will be king when his father dies. But King David assures Bat Sheva that her son, Shlomo will be the next King.
King David, like Avraham, wanted to make sure that the right son ruled when he died.
Gematria:
Sim na yadecha…“Please place your hand under my thigh….” (24:2)
Why did Eliezer have to place his hand under Avraham’s thigh in order to swear? The numeric value of the two words na yeadecha is 85. The numeric value of these two words is 85. The sages say that Avraham asked Eliezer to swear by his b'rit milah (circumcision). The numerical value of milah is 85.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davis