פרשת חיי שרה תש"ה - חיפוש אשה ליצחק

And he said: ‘Swear unto me.’ And he swore unto him. And Israel bowed down upon the bed’s head.

And he said: ‘Swear unto me.’ And he swore unto him. And Israel bowed down upon the bed’s head.

ואשר נשבע לי AND WHO SWORE UNTO ME at the Covenant between the Pieces (Genesis Rabbah 59:10).

'ונקית משבעתי וגו THEN SHALT THOU BE CLEAR FROM THIS MY OATH etc. — and take a wife for him from the daughters of Aner or Eshcol or Mamre.

YOU SHALL THEN BE ABSOLVED OF THIS OATH OF MINE. Avram wasn't allowing him to take a wife from Canaan. Rather, he would be absolved altogether, "and G-d would do as He saw fit" Rashi says: And take a wife for him from Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre. But if they were Canaanites it would be sacrilegious for Isaac to marry them! And the truth is they were' from Canaan for the Torah says "Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshkol and the brother of Aner" Breishit Rabbah says: "That you not take a wife..." "Avram warned him 'against' taking girl from Canaan like Aner Eshkol and Mamre." For it was about them he said "among who I dwell" for he didnt dwell among 'all' Canaanites for the Canaanite's consisted of many people! Rathe he was warning about these [Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre] his allies and all the more so about the other [Canaanites]. Rather "you shall be absolved of my oath" means that he would be absolved [altogether]. And Avram knew concerning the righteous Isaac that he'd listen to his father and beware of marrying the Canaanites and go to Ishmael lot or other peoples. Its also possible "from this oath of mine" refer to "and he will take a wife for my son from there" for maybe the oath [extended] over all [Avram's instructions] and doesnt refer to "you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaan" and this is the meaning of the word "this". that's why the servant said "I will turn to right or left" and didnt say "I'll return home"

Eliezer is the man that came into the home. The Pasuk switches the subject to Lavan. So Lavan unmuzzled the camels. Because Lavan is being a gentleman and feeds them and washes the men’s feet. It does not make sense to think Eliezer is the one who is doing all these things when he is a guest. An example from the selling of Yosef, later, The pasuk talking about the brothers and then about the buyers and then the brother’s again. (It keeps switching the subject.) AND HE UNTIED THE CAMELS. The idea of untying the camels was that he opened up the harnesses of their necks. For its common practice to lead camel when they are tied. Alternatively, the camels were walking with fastened saddle seats on them (and it was these seats that were untied.) Like the saying "Let the one who girds [his sword] not boast like one unfastens [it]!" and "undo the straps of your neck" But Rashi says: He untied their muzzle for he would muzzle their mouths so that they wouldn't graze in fields that were others.

Eliezer is the man that came into the home. The Pasuk switches the subject to Lavan. So Lavan unmuzzled the camels. Because Lavan is being a gentleman and feeds them and washes the men’s feet. It does not make sense to think Eliezer is the one who is doing all these things when he is a guest. An example from the selling of Yosef, later, The pasuk talking about the brothers and then about the buyers and then the brother’s again. (It keeps switching the subject.) AND HE UNTIED THE CAMELS. The idea of untying the camels was that he opened up the harnesses of their necks. For its common practice to lead camel when they are tied. Alternatively, the camels were walking with fastened saddle seats on them (and it was these seats that were untied.) Like the saying "Let the one who girds [his sword] not boast like one unfastens [it]!" and "undo the straps of your neck" But Rashi says: He untied their muzzle for he would muzzle their mouths so that they wouldn't graze in fields that were others.

So let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say: Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also; let the same be she that Thou hast appointed for Thy servant, even for Isaac; and thereby shall I know that Thou hast shown kindness unto my master.’

לא תקח אשה לבני מבנות הכנעני THOU SHALT NOT TAKE A WIFE FOR MY SON FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF THE CANAANITES if you do not first go to my father’s house and to my family that thou mayest take a wife to my son and she will not be willing to follow you.

And he said: ‘Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master; as for me, the LORD hath led me in the way to the house of my master’s brethren.’