Shabbat Parashat Chayei Sarah - 5782

Shabbat Parashat Chayei Sarah - 5782

Rabbi Hal Miller

And Yitzchak brought her into the tent, Sarah his mother, he took Rivkah, she

became to him a wife and he loved her, and thus was Yitzchak consoled after

his mother. [Bereishit 24:67]

There is a disconnect in our verse that makes the entire thing more difficult to

understand. It does not say that Yitzchak brought Rivkah to the tent of Sarah, rather

that he "brought her to the tent, Sarah his mother". One could read it that Rivkah was

not involved in the bringing to the tent, but only comes in after Yitzchak apparently

brought Sarah to the tent. But as we know, Sarah had already died and was buried

earlier in our portion. What is the verse telling us?

Rashi notes the issue. The Hebrew is va'yi've'ha yitzchak ha'ohelah sarah imo. The

hey (ha'ohelah, or the tent) is not a construct meaning to the tent of Sarah, rather the

verse should be read, "to the tent--Sarah his mother", that he brought Rivkah to the

tent and viewed her in some respect as Sarah. To say "to the tent of Sarah" in the

construct form would be ohelet sarah. Rashi notes the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah

60:16) that says that while Sarah lived, various blessings appeared, but they stopped

when she died, yet at this moment when Yitzchak brought Rivkah there, those

blessings picked up again. Thus Rivkah was 'like' Sarah his mother.

Ramban disagrees and says it is in the construct form meaning, to the tent of Sarah.

He says, "The connecting word is missing, and there are many like this" and lists

examples. Thus Yitzchak brought Rivkah to the tent of Sarah, his mother. Rav Hirsch

and Rav Soloveitchik agree with Ramban's interpretation.

Radak also follows Ramban, but with a twist: "When they arrived in Chevron he

brought her to the tent of his mother Sarah. He discovered her many virtuous qualities

as he had admired in his mother." By this we learn, not only what happened, but

when it happened.

Onkelos has an extended explanation of the first part of our verse, although there

are those who have a different version of his text that excludes this: "Yitzchak brought

her into the tent. He saw and behold, her behavior was as proper as the behavior of

his mother Sarah. He took Rivkah and she became his wife and he loved her. Thus

Yitzchak found comfort after his mother's death." This interpretation partially avoids

our problem, yet at the same time seems to follow the view of the Midrash.

Although with differing approaches, all of them are telling us that Rivkah possessed

Sarah's traits, making her a worthy successor as matriarch of the family.