Parashat Chayei Sarah - Third Aliyah
Read the biblical text and try to understand it on your own, before reading the commentary.
Abraham’s servant sets out with ten camels and reaches the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim. He stops by the well toward evening, when the women come out to draw water, and prays to God for a fitting encounter: he will ask a young woman for a drink, and she will offer to water his camels too. Before he finishes speaking, Rebecca comes out with her jar on her shoulder. Genesis 24:10-15
The servant runs toward her and asks for a little water. She gives him a drink, offers to draw water for the camels as well, and hurries to fill the trough until they have all finished drinking. He watches her in silence. Then he takes a gold ring and two bracelets, and asks about her family and whether there is room in her home to stay the night. Rebecca replies that she is Bethuel’s daughter, from the family of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, and says that they have both fodder for the animals and a place to lodge. The aliyah ends as the servant bows down and prostrates himself before God. Genesis 24:16-26
He asks for a little water. She offers much more
The servant’s request is small and specific:
hagmi’ini na me’at mayim mikadech
Translation: Please let me sip a little water from your jar.
Rebecca lowers the jar and gives him a drink. Only when he has finished drinking does she add:
gam ligmalecha esh’av ad im kilu lishtot
Translation: I will draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.
He did not ask her to do that. Genesis 24:17-19
Rashi explains why this act matters in the search for a wife for Isaac: a young woman who performs acts of kindness is worthy of entering Abraham’s household. The sign the servant seeks concerns a quality that matters in the home she will join. Rashi on Genesis 24:14
Rebecca’s offer does not remain mere words. The Torah describes her hurrying, emptying the jar into the trough, running back to the well and drawing water for all the camels. She extends her help beyond the request she received, and also completes what she offered to do. Genesis 24:20
Why is he still uncertain?
Alongside Rebecca’s running, the servant’s silence is described:
veha’ish mishta’eh lah macharish
Translation: The man gazed at her in astonishment, keeping silent.
Radak explains that he marvels at her quickness and waits until the camels have finished drinking before asking whose daughter she is. Radak on Genesis 24:21
But why is he still checking whether God has made his journey successful? Rebecca is doing what he asked for in his prayer. Rashi explains that the servant sees his mission close to succeeding, but still does not know whether she belongs to Abraham’s family. Rashi on Genesis 24:21
Here there is an interesting gap between the readers and the servant. The Torah has already told us who Rebecca is, when she first came out to the well: the daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. He does not yet know this. We see both elements of the match, her conduct and her family; so far, he has encountered only one of them. Genesis 24:15
The excitement of the encounter thus does not replace the question that still needs to be asked. Rebecca has done something remarkable, and now the servant also wants to know whose daughter she is.
Rashi also gives a midrashic reading of the details of the jewelry: the bekā weight of the ring hints at the half-shekel, the two bracelets at the two tablets, and the number ten in their combined weight at the Ten Commandments. Rashi on Genesis 24:22, Exodus 38:26
A place to lodge, and fodder for the camels too
After asking about her family, the servant wants to know whether there is room in her father’s home to spend the night. Rebecca answers that too, but again adds more than he asked:
gam teven gam mispo rav imanu gam makom lalun
Translation: We have plenty of both straw and fodder, and a place to lodge as well.
Her answer makes room both for the people and for the needs of the animals that came with them. Genesis 24:23-25
We can see this answer as a continuation of what was revealed by the well. He asked her for a little water, and later for a place to lodge. Both times, her response makes room for what he did not ask for as well. This is hospitality worthy of Abraham’s household, where water and food are promptly offered to travelers. Genesis 18:2-8
More Questions on the Parsha
Why Is a Vav Missing from Ishmael’s Generations?
One letter separates the spellings for Ishmael’s and Isaac’s generations. Masoretic tradition and a midrash open a question about loss and continuity.
Why Is Isaac Named Before Ishmael at Abraham’s Burial?
Isaac and Ishmael bury their father together. Rashi finds repentance in the order of their names, inviting reflection on honor, family and continuity.
Why Does Abraham Eulogize Sarah Before Weeping for Her?
Why does Sarah’s eulogy come before the tears? Sforno, Malbim and Kli Yakar offer a starting point for reflecting on honor, grief and action.