Daily Chumash & Rashi Revi’i Chayeh Sarah – Eliezer in the house of Besuel

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Revi’i

  • Eliezer thanks Hashem for doing kindness for his master Avraham.
  • Rivkah ran to her mother and told her what happened.

 

  1. In the house of Besuel:
  • Lavan: Rivka’s brother, Lavan, ran to greet Eliezer upon seeing the jewelry that Eliezer gave her and hearing the story that she had to say. Lavan invited Eliezer and his camels to come into their home. Lavan gave food to the camels, and gave water for Eliezer and his men to wash their feet.
  • Eliezer recounts the story: They offered Eliezer a meal, but he refused to eat until he told them his story. Eliezer told them that he is the servant of Avraham, who is very wealthy, and he had a son to whom he has given all of his possessions, for whom he sent me to find him a wife. Eliezer went on to retell the whole purpose of his travel and the prayer he said to Hashem, and the ensuing episode.
  • Asking permission to take Rivka: After telling them the story, Eliezer asked if they agree to give him Rivkah, otherwise he will look elsewhere to find a wife for Yitzchak. Lavan and Besuel replied that they agree, as it is not in their hands, but in the hands of Hashem.

Rashi Q&A – Bereishit 24:27–52

Eliezer’s Praise

Q: What does “בַּדֶּרֶךְ” (along the road) mean?
A: On the designated, straight path—the one he needed for success.

 

Q: Why did Eliezer bless Hashem immediately?
A: For guiding him directly to Avraham’s family and showing kindness and truth.

 

Rivka’s Report

Q: Why did Rivka run to her mother’s house?
A: Women had separate quarters for work, and daughters confide in their mothers.

 

Lavan’s Reaction

Q: Why did Lavan run to Eliezer?
A: He saw the jewelry and desired wealth.

 

Q: What does “פִּנִּיתִי הַבַּיִת” mean?
A: “I cleared the house”—removed idols to welcome Eliezer.

 

Q: What does “וַיְפַתַּח” mean?
A: He untied the camels’ muzzles so they could eat.

 

Eliezer’s Speech

Q: Why did Eliezer recount the story in detail?
A: To show Divine providence and justify his actions.

 

Q: What does “וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹ אֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ” mean?
A: Avraham gave Yitzchak everything—Eliezer showed the gift deed.

 

Q: Why is “אוּלַי” written defectively (without ו)?
A: So it can be read “אֵלַי”—hinting Eliezer hoped Avraham might choose his daughter for Yitzchak. Avraham rejected this: “My son is blessed; you are cursed.”

 

Miracle of Speed

Q: What does “וָאָבֹא הַיּוֹם” teach?
A: Eliezer began and arrived the same day—the land miraculously shrank for him.

 

Q: What lesson do we learn from the repetition of Eliezer’s story?
A: Even the conversations of the patriarchs’ servants are precious to Hashem—recorded in detail, unlike many Torah laws given briefly.

 

Language Notes

Q: What does “עַד אִם־דִּבַּרְתִּי” mean?
A: “Until I have spoken”—here “אִם” means “that,” not “if.”

 

Q: What does “גַּם אַתָּה” indicate?
A: The girl would include Eliezer’s men in her offer of water.

 

Q: What does “הֹכִיחַ” mean?
A: “Destined by God”—clarified and proven as the right match.

 

Order of Events

Q: Why did Eliezer change the order when retelling?
A: He gave Rivka jewelry before asking her lineage, but reversed it in his speech to avoid criticism.

 

Lavan and Bethuel’s Response

Q: Why did Lavan answer before his father?
A: He was wicked and rushed to speak first.

 

Q: What did they admit?
A: “This matter is from God”—they could not refuse.

 

Q: What did Eliezer do upon hearing their consent?
A: He bowed to the ground, teaching us to thank Hashem for good news.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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