Difference between revisions of "When was the Jewelry Given/2"
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<h1>When was the Jewelry Given?</h1> | <h1>When was the Jewelry Given?</h1> | ||
<div><b><center>THIS TOPIC HAS NOT YET UNDERGONE EDITORIAL REVIEW</center></b></div> | <div><b><center>THIS TOPIC HAS NOT YET UNDERGONE EDITORIAL REVIEW</center></b></div> | ||
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<approaches> | <approaches> | ||
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| − | <p>The servant gave Rivka the jewelry before asking for her name, as per the | + | <category>Jewelry Given First |
| + | <p>The servant gave Rivka the jewelry before asking for her name, as per the original account in Bereshit 24:22-23.</p> | ||
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
| − | + | <multilink><a href="RashiBereshit24-23" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiBereshit24-23" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:23</a><a href="RashiBereshit24-47" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:47</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, second approach in <multilink><a href="ChizkuniBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Chizkuni</a><a href="ChizkuniBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22-23</a><a href="R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach (Chizkuni)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="KaspiBereshit24-23" data-aht="source">R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a><a href="KaspiBereshit24-23" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:23</a><a href="IbnKaspiTiratKesef" data-aht="source">Tirat Kesef pp. 105-107</a><a href="R. Yosef ibn Kaspi" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef ibn Kaspi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MalbimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Malbim</a><a href="MalbimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. Meir Leibush Weiser (Malbim)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Leibush Weiser</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit24-47" data-aht="source">R. D"Z Hoffmann</a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="RDZHoffmannBereshit24-47" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:47</a><a href="R. David Zvi Hoffmann" data-aht="parshan">About R. D"Z Hoffmann</a></multilink> | |
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</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b>Why didn't the servant first ask for her name?</b> | + | <point><b>Why didn't the servant first ask for her name?</b><ul> |
| − | + | <li>Rashi explains that the servant was so confident that Hashem would make him succeed because of Avraham, that he did not even wait to ask who Rivka was before giving her the jewelry.</li> | |
| − | + | <li>On the other hand, Ibn Kaspi and the Malbim explain that it did not matter if the wife was from Avraham's family, and therefore he gave the jewelry first. According to them Avraham never asked that the wife would be from his family. See <a href="Wanted: A Wife for Yitzchak" data-aht="page">Wanted: A Wife for Yitzchak</a> for more about this issue.</li> | |
| − | + | <li>Chizkuni explains that the jewelry was not given because the servant succeeded in his mission but rather to acquire a name of a generous person.</li> | |
| − | + | <li><multilink><a href="AbarbanelBereshit24" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelBereshit24" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink> understands Rashi to be saying that the jewelry was actually given as a payment for Rivka's labor. This is also the approach taken by R. D"Z Hoffmann.</li> | |
| − | + | </ul></point> | |
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<point><b>Reversal of the order in the servant's account</b> – According to Rashi, the servant did not want Rivka's family to question why he gave her the jewelry before knowing who she was. Chizkuni, Ibn Kaspi, and R. D"Z Hoffmann explain that the servant wanted the family to think that he gave the jewelry only in honor of their family's name.<fn>Ibn Kaspi asserts that there was no problem with the servant switching the order, as the ends justified the means. He draws a parallel to Yaakov's deceptions.</fn></point> | <point><b>Reversal of the order in the servant's account</b> – According to Rashi, the servant did not want Rivka's family to question why he gave her the jewelry before knowing who she was. Chizkuni, Ibn Kaspi, and R. D"Z Hoffmann explain that the servant wanted the family to think that he gave the jewelry only in honor of their family's name.<fn>Ibn Kaspi asserts that there was no problem with the servant switching the order, as the ends justified the means. He draws a parallel to Yaakov's deceptions.</fn></point> | ||
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</category> | </category> | ||
| − | <category | + | <category>Name Asked First |
<p>The servant asked for Rivka's identity before giving her the jewelry, as indicated by his own recounting of the events in Bereshit 24:47.</p> | <p>The servant asked for Rivka's identity before giving her the jewelry, as indicated by his own recounting of the events in Bereshit 24:47.</p> | ||
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
| − | + | <multilink><a href="Josephus1-16-1" data-aht="source">Josephus</a><a href="Josephus1-16-1" data-aht="source">Antiquities 1:16:1-2</a><a href="Josephus" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus</a></multilink>, | |
<multilink><a href="RasagCommentaryBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RasagCommentaryBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Commentary Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="RasagTafsirBereshit24-23" data-aht="source">Tafsir Bereshit 24:23</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, | <multilink><a href="RasagCommentaryBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RasagCommentaryBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Commentary Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="RasagTafsirBereshit24-23" data-aht="source">Tafsir Bereshit 24:23</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>,<fn>See <multilink><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Hadar Zekeinim</a><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="Hadar Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Hadar Zekeinim</a></multilink> who explains Rashbam differently.</fn> | <multilink><a href="RashbamBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>,<fn>See <multilink><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Hadar Zekeinim</a><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="Hadar Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Hadar Zekeinim</a></multilink> who explains Rashbam differently.</fn> | ||
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<multilink><a href="RYBSBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBSBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22-23</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>,<fn>See <multilink><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Hadar Zekeinim</a><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="Hadar Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Hadar Zekeinim</a></multilink> who explains R. Yosef Bekhor Shor differently.</fn> | <multilink><a href="RYBSBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBSBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22-23</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>,<fn>See <multilink><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Hadar Zekeinim</a><a href="HadarZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="Hadar Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Hadar Zekeinim</a></multilink> who explains R. Yosef Bekhor Shor differently.</fn> | ||
<multilink><a href="RadakBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, | <multilink><a href="RadakBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Radak</a><a href="RadakBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. David Kimchi (Radak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. David Kimchi</a></multilink>, | ||
| − | <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</a></multilink>, | + | <multilink><a href="RambanBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</a></multilink>, |
<multilink><a href="TosafotChulin95b" data-aht="source">Tosafot Chulin</a><a href="TosafotChulin95b" data-aht="source">Chulin 95b s.v. כאליעזר</a><a href="Baalei HaTosafot" data-aht="parshan">About Ba'alei HaTosafot</a></multilink>, | <multilink><a href="TosafotChulin95b" data-aht="source">Tosafot Chulin</a><a href="TosafotChulin95b" data-aht="source">Chulin 95b s.v. כאליעזר</a><a href="Baalei HaTosafot" data-aht="parshan">About Ba'alei HaTosafot</a></multilink>, | ||
<multilink><a href="DaatZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Daat Zekeinim</a><a href="DaatZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="Daat Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Daat Zekeinim</a></multilink>, | <multilink><a href="DaatZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Daat Zekeinim</a><a href="DaatZekeinimBereshit24-22" data-aht="source">Bereshit 24:22</a><a href="Daat Zekeinim" data-aht="parshan">About Daat Zekeinim</a></multilink>, | ||
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<multilink><a href="Akeidat22" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="Akeidat22" data-aht="source">Bereshit #22</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink> | <multilink><a href="Akeidat22" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="Akeidat22" data-aht="source">Bereshit #22</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink> | ||
</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
| − | <point><b>The | + | <point><b>The reversal of the order in the original account</b> – Why is the story not written like it transpired? |
| − | + | <ul> | |
| − | + | <li>Rashbam suggests that the Torah did not want to interrupt the conversation between the servant and Rivka with the giving of the jewelry.<fn>Rashbam's answer does not explain why the giving of the jewelry could not have been recorded after the completion of the dialogue.</fn></li> | |
| − | + | <li>R. Yosef Bekhor Shor and many others after him<fn>See Radak, Ramban, Daat Zekeinim, and Akeidat Yitzchak.</fn> explain that the servant took out the jewelry, then asked who she is, and then gave her the jewelry. This is based on the difference between "וַיִּקַּח הָאִישׁ" in Bereshit 24:22 which is talking about taking the jewelry and "וָאָשִׂם" in Bereshit 24:47 which is talking about giving the jewelry.</li> | |
| − | + | <li>Ralbag explains that the order was switched in order to show that the jewelry was given as a present for her kindness.</li> | |
| − | + | </ul></point> | |
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<point><b>Requirements for Yitzchak's wife</b> – Josephus, in his version of the story, says that the servant was sent to betroth specifically Rivka. Similarly, Ibn Ezra points out that Yitzchak's wife needed to be from Avraham's family, and thus he gave her the jewelry only after he asked for her identity.</point> | <point><b>Requirements for Yitzchak's wife</b> – Josephus, in his version of the story, says that the servant was sent to betroth specifically Rivka. Similarly, Ibn Ezra points out that Yitzchak's wife needed to be from Avraham's family, and thus he gave her the jewelry only after he asked for her identity.</point> | ||
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</category> | </category> | ||
| − | <category | + | <category>Simultaneity |
<p>The servant asked Rivka for her name at the same time as he gave her the jewelry.</p> | <p>The servant asked Rivka for her name at the same time as he gave her the jewelry.</p> | ||
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
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</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
<point><b>The two verses</b> – According to Shadal, the order of the verses does not matter since both can be correct.</point> | <point><b>The two verses</b> – According to Shadal, the order of the verses does not matter since both can be correct.</point> | ||
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</category> | </category> | ||
</approaches> | </approaches> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> | ||
Latest revision as of 04:16, 19 June 2024
When was the Jewelry Given?
Exegetical Approaches
Jewelry Given First
The servant gave Rivka the jewelry before asking for her name, as per the original account in Bereshit 24:22-23.
Why didn't the servant first ask for her name?
- Rashi explains that the servant was so confident that Hashem would make him succeed because of Avraham, that he did not even wait to ask who Rivka was before giving her the jewelry.
- On the other hand, Ibn Kaspi and the Malbim explain that it did not matter if the wife was from Avraham's family, and therefore he gave the jewelry first. According to them Avraham never asked that the wife would be from his family. See Wanted: A Wife for Yitzchak for more about this issue.
- Chizkuni explains that the jewelry was not given because the servant succeeded in his mission but rather to acquire a name of a generous person.
- Abarbanel understands Rashi to be saying that the jewelry was actually given as a payment for Rivka's labor. This is also the approach taken by R. D"Z Hoffmann.
Reversal of the order in the servant's account – According to Rashi, the servant did not want Rivka's family to question why he gave her the jewelry before knowing who she was. Chizkuni, Ibn Kaspi, and R. D"Z Hoffmann explain that the servant wanted the family to think that he gave the jewelry only in honor of their family's name.1
Name Asked First
The servant asked for Rivka's identity before giving her the jewelry, as indicated by his own recounting of the events in Bereshit 24:47.
Sources: Josephus, R. Saadia Gaon, Rashbam,2 Ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor,3 Radak, Ramban, Tosafot Chulin, Daat Zekeinim, Ralbag, Akeidat Yitzchak
The reversal of the order in the original account – Why is the story not written like it transpired?
- Rashbam suggests that the Torah did not want to interrupt the conversation between the servant and Rivka with the giving of the jewelry.4
- R. Yosef Bekhor Shor and many others after him5 explain that the servant took out the jewelry, then asked who she is, and then gave her the jewelry. This is based on the difference between "וַיִּקַּח הָאִישׁ" in Bereshit 24:22 which is talking about taking the jewelry and "וָאָשִׂם" in Bereshit 24:47 which is talking about giving the jewelry.
- Ralbag explains that the order was switched in order to show that the jewelry was given as a present for her kindness.
Requirements for Yitzchak's wife – Josephus, in his version of the story, says that the servant was sent to betroth specifically Rivka. Similarly, Ibn Ezra points out that Yitzchak's wife needed to be from Avraham's family, and thus he gave her the jewelry only after he asked for her identity.
Simultaneity
The servant asked Rivka for her name at the same time as he gave her the jewelry.
Sources: Shadal
The two verses – According to Shadal, the order of the verses does not matter since both can be correct.
