Rivka is saved from domestic abuse - the real story of hashgacha and yeshua of Rivka from her familly and the dark side of Aram
Thesis: The story of the courting of Rivka to marry Yitzchak has another level of interpretation which pinpoints the significance of the timeline and sequence of events to emphasize how Hashem bent the natural laws and performed miracles to save Rivka in her purity from her abusive family. The value of helping those in trouble. Seeing the divine intervention in the trajectory of history on behalf of the Jewish people from the time of the matriarchs. What we can learn is to imitate the ways of Hashem to also protect and save those who are in abusive situations.
Summary: The simple reading along with weaving the classical rabbinic exegetical and narrative elements highlights a pattern that identifies the following story dynamics.
Day school formatting and perhaps modesty has played a role to hide the real story by focusing on other although important elements which cause a great deal of distraction.
This is not a story about Eliezer simply praying to find the right girl to marry Yitzchak.
This is not a story simply to call attention to the charity and good will of Rivka to hydrate 10 men and their 10 camels.
This is not a story simply about a couple getting married and living happily ever after.
Day school formatting and perhaps modesty has played a role to hide the real story by focusing on other although important elements which cause a great deal of distraction.
This is not a story about Eliezer simply praying to find the right girl to marry Yitzchak.
This is not a story simply to call attention to the charity and good will of Rivka to hydrate 10 men and their 10 camels.
This is not a story simply about a couple getting married and living happily ever after.
Description: Based on the Midrash Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer Ch.16 and the commentary of the RaDa"L in the Zichron Aharon edition, I would like to suggest that that the story behind the story forms a cohesive message. If it wouldn't have been for the miracles and precise divine intervention then Rivka would have been assaulted by her wicked father Be'su'el. Furthermore, the drama continues with miracles occurring also to bring her home while maintaining her purity from even suspicious Eved Avraham.
The timeline works with some presumptions although there are alternatives. All of these notions are rooted in the text and can be seen when applying exegetical techniques and hints.
1) Yitzchak was 37 at the akeida. Rivka was born.
2) Yitzchak was 40 when Avraham tells Eliezer to go to Charan to find a wife. Rivka was about to have her birthday and turn 3 years old on the day when Eliezer and his men arrive.
3) Eliezer and the team leave at noon.
4) Eliezer davens mincha by the well.
5) Rivka runs out and they meet.
6) Eliezer and the team stay overnight and leave the next morning.
7) They leave Charan and arrive in Kiryat Arba three hours later at mincha time when Yitzchak is davening mincha.
8) Rivka is brought into the tent and inspected and then approved to marry Yitzchak
9) Eliezer is freed from being Avraham's slave. His origin is from before the flood and his sequal is as the role of Og King of Bashan.
1) Yitzchak was 37 at the akeida. Rivka was born.
2) Yitzchak was 40 when Avraham tells Eliezer to go to Charan to find a wife. Rivka was about to have her birthday and turn 3 years old on the day when Eliezer and his men arrive.
3) Eliezer and the team leave at noon.
4) Eliezer davens mincha by the well.
5) Rivka runs out and they meet.
6) Eliezer and the team stay overnight and leave the next morning.
7) They leave Charan and arrive in Kiryat Arba three hours later at mincha time when Yitzchak is davening mincha.
8) Rivka is brought into the tent and inspected and then approved to marry Yitzchak
9) Eliezer is freed from being Avraham's slave. His origin is from before the flood and his sequal is as the role of Og King of Bashan.
I would like to set up the framework using analysis of the midrashic stage.
Part 1:
Who are the characters? Where is the setting? What is the timeline?
Part 2:
What are the elements and props brought onto the stage? What is highlighted by the Torah and what is highlighted by Chazal and then Rishonim/Commentary? Can we Identify possible decoys for alternative readings that are different than ours?
Part 3:
How did they know that? How was this hinted to in the Pasuk?
Part 4:
The role of overt and covert angels in Tanach and Chazal is to signal divine intervention to alter the course of history that without it would have been disastrous.
Part 1:
Who are the characters? Where is the setting? What is the timeline?
Part 2:
What are the elements and props brought onto the stage? What is highlighted by the Torah and what is highlighted by Chazal and then Rishonim/Commentary? Can we Identify possible decoys for alternative readings that are different than ours?
Part 3:
How did they know that? How was this hinted to in the Pasuk?
Part 4:
The role of overt and covert angels in Tanach and Chazal is to signal divine intervention to alter the course of history that without it would have been disastrous.