Vayeitze 5783 | Shabbat Afternoon

ויבך AND HE WEPT- because he foresaw by the Holy Spirit that she would not be buried with him in the cave of Machpelah (Genesis Rabbah 70:12). Another explanation is: he wept because he came with empty hands. He thought: Eliezer, my grandfather’s servant, had with him rings, bracelets and all good things, whilst I have nothing with me (Genesis Rabbah 70:12). This was because Eliphaz Esau’s son pursued Jacob by his father’s order to kill him, and overtook him. But because Eliphaz had been brought up on Isaac’s lap, (cp. Deuteronomy Rabbah 2:13) he withheld his hand. He said to him (Jacob), “But what shall I do as regards my father’s order?” Jacob replied, “Take all I have and you can say that I am dead for a poor man may be accounted as dead" (Nedarim 64b).

And cried in a loud voice. He was pained that he did not merit marrying her in his youth so that by now he would have had grown up children.

ויבך, he wept for joy. When close relatives meet after not having seen each other for a while, their emotional cup runs over so that they find it hard to control their feelings and they give way to them by crying for joy.

“Orpa kissed her mother-in-law.” All kisses are of licentiousness, except for three: A kiss of greatness, a kiss of absence, and a kiss of parting. A kiss of greatness, as it is written: “Samuel took a flask of oil, and poured it on his head, and kissed him” (I Samuel 10:1). Of absence, as it is written: “He met him at the mountain of God at Ḥorev [and he kissed him]” (Exodus 4:27). Of parting, as it is stated: “Orpa kissed her mother-in-law.” Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Even a kiss of closeness, as it is stated: “Jacob kissed Rachel” (Genesis 29:11). Why? It is because she was his relative.
“She said: Behold, your sister-in-law has returned to her people, and to her god; return after your sister-in-law” (Ruth 1:15).
“She said: Behold, your sister-in-law has returned [to her people, and to her god]…” – once she returned to her people she returned to her god.