(א) וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃
(1) Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—came to one hundred and twenty-seven years. (2) Sarah died in Kiriath-arba—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan; and Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah and to bewail her. (3) Then Abraham rose from beside his dead, and spoke to the Hittites, saying, (4) “I am a resident alien among you; sell me a burial site among you, that I may remove my dead for burial.” (5) And the Hittites replied to Abraham, saying to him, (6) “Hear us, my lord: you are the elect of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places; none of us will withhold his burial place from you for burying your dead.” (7) Thereupon Abraham bowed low to the people of the land, the Hittites, (8) and he said to them, “If it is your wish that I remove my dead for burial, you must agree to intercede for me with Ephron son of Zohar. (9) Let him sell me the cave of Machpelah that he owns, which is at the edge of his land. Let him sell it to me, at the full price, for a burial site in your midst.” (10) Ephron was present among the Hittites; so Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, all who entered the gate of his town, saying, (11) “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and I give you the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” (12) Then Abraham bowed low before the people of the land, (13) and spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If only you would hear me out! Let me pay the price of the land; accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” (14) And Ephron replied to Abraham, saying to him, (15) “My lord, do hear me! A piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver—what is that between you and me? Go and bury your dead.” (16) Abraham accepted Ephron’s terms. Abraham paid out to Ephron the money that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites—four hundred shekels of silver at the going merchants’ rate. (17) So Ephron’s land in Machpelah, near Mamre—the field with its cave and all the trees anywhere within the confines of that field—passed (18) to Abraham as his possession, in the presence of the Hittites, of all who entered the gate of his town. (19) And then Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah, facing Mamre—now Hebron—in the land of Canaan. (20) Thus the field with its cave passed from the Hittites to Abraham, as a burial site.
(א) ויהיו חיי שרה מאה שנה - (תהלים לז) יודע ה' ימי תמימים ונחלתם לעולם תהיה כשם שהן תמימים, כך שנותם תמימים. בת עשרים כבת שבע לנוי, בת מאה כבת עשרים שנה לחטא. דבר אחר: יודע ה' ימי תמימים, זו שרה, שהיתה תמימה במעשיה. אמר רבי יוחנן: כהדא עגלתא תמימה. ונחלתם לעולם תהיה, שנאמר: ויהיו חיי שרה.
(1)
(2) ..."The sun rises and goes down" (Ecclesiastics 1:5). Rabbi Aba bar Kahana said: Don't we know that the sun rises and goes down? Rather (this is what it means): When the Holy One of Blessing causes the sun of a righteous person to set, he causes the sun of his fellow to shine forth. The day that Rabbi Akiba died, our rabbi (Judah the Prince) was born and it was written about him "The sun rises and the sun goes down." On the day that our rabbi died Rabbi Ada Bar Ahava was born and it was written about him "The sun rises and the sun goes down." On the day that Rabbi Ada Bar Ahava died, Rabbi Avin was born and it was written about him "The sun rises and the sun goes down." On the day that Rabbi Avin died, his son Rabbi Avin was born. The day that Rabbi Avin died, Aba Hoshaya from Traya was born. The day that Aba Hoshaya died Rabbi Hoshaya was born and it was written about him "The sun rises and the sun goes down." Before the sun of Moses set the sun of Joshua shone forth as it is written, "God said to Moses, take Joshua Son of Nun" (Numbers 27:18). Before the sun of Joshua set the sun of Itaniel son of Kenaz shone forth as it is said, "Itaniel son of Kenaz took it" (Judges 1:13). Before the sun of Eli the priest set, the sun of Samuel shone forth, "the lamp of God had not yet gone out and Samuel lay on the sanctuary of God" (1 Sam 3:3). Rabbi Yochanan said, "like a perfect calf." Before the God causes the sun of Sarah to set, he causes the sun of Rachel to shine forth. For first it says "Behold Malkah also bore children" (Gen 22:20) and after "and the life Sarah was one hundred years..."
(3) Rabbi Akiva was once sitting and lecturing, and the community [his students] was falling asleep. To arouse them, he said: How could Esther rule over one hundred and twenty seven provinces? It should be that Esther, a descendant of Sarah who lived to one hundred and twenty seven, to rule over one hundred and twenty seven provinces.
(א) ויהיו חיי שרה מאה שנה ועשרים שנה ושבע שנים לְכַךְ נִכְתָּב שָׁנָה בְּכָל כּלָל וּכְלָל, לוֹמַר לְךָ שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד נִדְרָשׁ לְעֲצְמוֹבַּת ק' כְּבַּת כ' לְחֵטְא, מַה בַת כ' לֹא חַטְאָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵינָהּ בַּת עוֹנְשִׁין, אַף בַּת ק' בּלֹא חֵטְא, וּבַת כ' כְּבַת ז' לְיוֹפִי:
(1) ויהיו חיי שרה מאה שנה ועשרים שנה ושבע שנים AND THE LIFE OF SARAH WAS 127 YEARS (literally, 100 years, 20 years and 7 years) — The reason the word שנה is written at every term is to tell you that each term must be explained by itself as a complete number: at the age of one hundred she was as a woman of twenty as regards sin — for just as at the age of twenty one may regard her as having never sinned, since she had not then reached the age when she was subject to punishment, so, too, when she was one hundred years old she was sinless — and when she was twenty she was as beautiful as when she was seven (Genesis Rabbah 58).
(א) שני חיי שרה כֻּלָּן שָׁוִין לְטוֹבָה:
(1) שני חיי שרה THE YEARS OF SARAH’S LIFE — The word years is repeated and without a number to indicate that they were all equally good.
(ז) וְאֵ֗לֶּה יְמֵ֛י שְׁנֵֽי־חַיֵּ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־חָ֑י מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְחָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃
(1) Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. (2) She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. (3) Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurim, the Letushim, and the Leummim. (4) The descendants of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Enoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. (5) Abraham willed all that he owned to Isaac; (6) but to Abraham’s sons by concubines Abraham gave gifts while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac eastward, to the land of the East. (7) This was the total span of Abraham’s life: one hundred and seventy-five years. (8) And Abraham breathed his last, dying at a good ripe age, old and contented; and he was gathered to his kin. (9) His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, facing Mamre, (10) the field that Abraham had bought from the Hittites; there Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife. (11) After the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled near Beer-lahai-roi. (12) This is the line of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave, bore to Abraham. (13) These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the first-born of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, (14) Mishma, Dumah, Massa, (15) Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedmah. (16) These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names by their villages and by their encampments: twelve chieftains of as many tribes.— (17) These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; then he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his kin.— (18) They dwelt from Havilah, by Shur, which is close to Egypt, all the way to Asshur; they camped alongside all their kinsmen. (19) This is the story of Isaac, son of Abraham. Abraham begot Isaac. (20) Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. (21) Isaac pleaded with the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD responded to his plea, and his wife Rebekah conceived. (22) But the children struggled in her womb, and she said, “If so, why do I exist?” She went to inquire of the LORD, (23) and the LORD answered her, “Two nations are in your womb, Two separate peoples shall issue from your body; One people shall be mightier than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” (24) When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. (25) The first one emerged red, like a hairy mantle all over; so they named him Esau. (26) Then his brother emerged, holding on to the heel of Esau; so they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born. (27) When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the outdoors; but Jacob was a mild man who stayed in camp. (28) Isaac favored Esau because he had a taste for game; but Rebekah favored Jacob. (29) Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished. (30) And Esau said to Jacob, “Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished”—which is why he was named Edom. (31) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” (32) And Esau said, “I am at the point of death, so of what use is my birthright to me?” (33) But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. (34) Jacob then gave Esau bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, and he rose and went away. Thus did Esau spurn the birthright.
(ז) מאת שנה ושבעים שנה וחמש שנים בֶּן ק' כְּבֶּן ע' וּבֶן ע' כּבֶן ה' בְּלֹא חֵטְא:
(7) מאה שנה ושבעים שנה וחמש שנים A HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE YEARS — (lit, a hundred years, and seventy years and five years) — at the age of one hundred years he was as strong as at seventy, and at the age of seventy he was as five — without sin.
Daily Diamonds
(א) וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽה' בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃
(1) Abraham was now old, advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. (2) And Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh (3) and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, (4) but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac.” (5) And the servant said to him, “What if the woman does not consent to follow me to this land, shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” (6) Abraham answered him, “On no account must you take my son back there! (7) The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who promised me on oath, saying, ‘I will assign this land to your offspring’—He will send His angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there. (8) And if the woman does not consent to follow you, you shall then be clear of this oath to me; but do not take my son back there.” (9) So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore to him as bidden. (10) Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and set out, taking with him all the bounty of his master; and he made his way to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor. (11) He made the camels kneel down by the well outside the city, at evening time, the time when women come out to draw water. (12) And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, grant me good fortune this day, and deal graciously with my master Abraham: (13) Here I stand by the spring as the daughters of the townsmen come out to draw water; (14) let the maiden to whom I say, ‘Please, lower your jar that I may drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels’—let her be the one whom You have decreed for Your servant Isaac. Thereby shall I know that You have dealt graciously with my master.” (15) He had scarcely finished speaking, when Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder. (16) The maiden was very beautiful, a virgin whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up. (17) The servant ran toward her and said, “Please, let me sip a little water from your jar.” (18) “Drink, my lord,” she said, and she quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and let him drink. (19) When she had let him drink his fill, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they finish drinking.” (20) Quickly emptying her jar into the trough, she ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. (21) The man, meanwhile, stood gazing at her, silently wondering whether the LORD had made his errand successful or not. (22) When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing a half-shekel, and two gold bands for her arms, ten shekels in weight. (23) “Pray tell me,” he said, “whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” (24) She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” (25) And she went on, “There is plenty of straw and feed at home, and also room to spend the night.” (26) The man bowed low in homage to the LORD (27) and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His steadfast faithfulness from my master. For I have been guided on my errand by the LORD, to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” (28) The maiden ran and told all this to her mother’s household. (29) Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man at the spring— (30) when he saw the nose-ring and the bands on his sister’s arms, and when he heard his sister Rebekah say, “Thus the man spoke to me.” He went up to the man, who was still standing beside the camels at the spring. (31) “Come in, O blessed of the LORD,” he said, “why do you remain outside, when I have made ready the house and a place for the camels?” (32) So the man entered the house, and the camels were unloaded. The camels were given straw and feed, and water was brought to bathe his feet and the feet of the men with him. (33) But when food was set before him, he said, “I will not eat until I have told my tale.” He said, “Speak, then.” (34) “I am Abraham’s servant,” he began. (35) “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich: He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and asses. (36) And Sarah, my master’s wife, bore my master a son in her old age, and he has assigned to him everything he owns. (37) Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell; (38) but you shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.’ (39) And I said to my master, ‘What if the woman does not follow me?’ (40) He replied to me, ‘The LORD, whose ways I have followed, will send His angel with you and make your errand successful; and you will get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father’s house. (41) Thus only shall you be freed from my adjuration: if, when you come to my kindred, they refuse you—only then shall you be freed from my adjuration.’ (42) “I came today to the spring, and I said: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if You would indeed grant success to the errand on which I am engaged! (43) As I stand by the spring of water, let the young woman who comes out to draw and to whom I say, ‘Please, let me drink a little water from your jar,’ (44) and who answers, ‘You may drink, and I will also draw for your camels’—let her be the wife whom the LORD has decreed for my master’s son.’ (45) I had scarcely finished praying in my heart, when Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew. And I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ (46) She quickly lowered her jar and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. (47) I inquired of her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And I put the ring on her nose and the bands on her arms. (48) Then I bowed low in homage to the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right way to get the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. (49) And now, if you mean to treat my master with true kindness, tell me; and if not, tell me also, that I may turn right or left.” (50) Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The matter was decreed by the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. (51) Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be a wife to your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.” (52) When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed low to the ground before the LORD. (53) The servant brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and he gave presents to her brother and her mother. (54) Then he and the men with him ate and drank, and they spent the night. When they arose next morning, he said, “Give me leave to go to my master.” (55) But her brother and her mother said, “Let the maiden remain with us some ten days; then you may go.” (56) He said to them, “Do not delay me, now that the LORD has made my errand successful. Give me leave that I may go to my master.” (57) And they said, “Let us call the girl and ask for her reply.” (58) They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will.” (59) So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. (60) And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “O sister! May you grow Into thousands of myriads; May your offspring seize The gates of their foes.” (61) Then Rebekah and her maids arose, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went his way. (62) Isaac had just come back from the vicinity of Beer-lahai-roi, for he was settled in the region of the Negeb. (63) And Isaac went out walking in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching. (64) Raising her eyes, Rebekah saw Isaac. She alighted from the camel (65) and said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field toward us?” And the servant said, “That is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. (66) The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. (67) Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rebekah as his wife. Isaac loved her, and thus found comfort after his mother’s death.
והמשל בזה למלך שחלק אבנים טובות הבאים מהמחצב לאומנים לתקנם בתכלית היופי וההכנה ולעשות להם משבצות זהב כדרך סגולות המלכים וגזר אומר כי האיש הזריז והמשתדל לעשות התיקון בכל ההשתדלות ובכל התיקון והיופי כאשר צוה המלך והיו לו האבנים הטובות לו לחלקו ונחלתו להשתעשע ולהתנאות בהם ונתן האבנים במספר הרבה מאוד לכל איש ואיש לא' נתן שלש מאות אלף ולא' שלש מאות וחמשים אלף הן חסר הן יתר וקבע להם הזמן אשר יספיק למלאכה יום אחד לכל אבן ואבן ובמלאת הימים ישלח המלך לקחת האבנים הטובות.
() קְרֵיבִין לְגַבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, מַה דְּלָא הֲוָה הָכִי אֲפִילּוּ לְצַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים דְּאִתְקְרִיבוּ גַּבֵּי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּכַמָּה שְׁנִין. אַבְרָהָם לָא עָאל בְּאִינוּן יוֹמִין עִלָּאִין עַד דְּהֲוָה סִיב כְּמָה דְאִתְּמָר. וְכֵן דָּוִד דִּכְתִיב (מלכים א א) וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים. אֲבָל מָארִיהּ דִּתְשׁוּבָה מִיָּד עָאל וְאִתְדָּבַּק בֵּיהּ בְּקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא.
Precious Minutes
(יח) וַתִּפְקְדֶ֥נּוּ לִבְקָרִ֑ים לִ֝רְגָעִ֗ים תִּבְחָנֶֽנּוּ׃
(1) Truly man has a term of service on earth; His days are like those of a hireling— (2) Like a slave who longs for [evening’s] shadows, Like a hireling who waits for his wage. (3) So have I been allotted months of futility; Nights of misery have been apportioned to me. (4) When I lie down, I think, “When shall I rise?” Night drags on, And I am sated with tossings till morning twilight. (5) My flesh is covered with maggots and clods of earth; My skin is broken and festering. (6) My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle, And come to their end without hope. (7) Consider that my life is but wind; I shall never see happiness again. (8) The eye that gazes on me will not see me; Your eye will seek me, but I shall be gone. (9) As a cloud fades away, So whoever goes down to Sheol does not come up; (10) He returns no more to his home; His place does not know him. (11) On my part, I will not speak with restraint; I will give voice to the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. (12) Am I the sea or the Dragon, That You have set a watch over me? (13) When I think, “My bed will comfort me, My couch will share my sorrow,” (14) You frighten me with dreams, And terrify me with visions, (15) Till I prefer strangulation, Death, to my wasted frame. (16) I am sick of it. I shall not live forever; Let me be, for my days are a breath. (17) What is man, that You make much of him, That You fix Your attention upon him? (18) You inspect him every morning, Examine him every minute. (19) Will You not look away from me for a while, Let me be, till I swallow my spittle? (20) If I have sinned, what have I done to You, Watcher of men? Why make of me Your target, And a burden to myself? (21) Why do You not pardon my transgression And forgive my iniquity? For soon I shall lie down in the dust; When You seek me, I shall be gone.
ר' יוסי אומר אדם נידון בכל יום שנאמר (איוב ז, יח) ותפקדנו לבקרים רבי נתן אומר אדם נידון בכל שעה שנא' (איוב ז, יח) לרגעים תבחננו
Mishnah: During four different times, the world is judged. On Passover, regarding produce; on Shavuot, regarding the fruits of the trees; On New Year's [ie. 1 Tishrei], all of those who are in this world pass before Him like children of Maron, as it is said, "He who fashions their hearts at once; He who understands all their doings (Psalms 33:15)." And on Sukkot, we are judged regarding water. ...What produce? .If we are speaking about the standing, ripe produce- then one can object "all these occurrences that have happened to it already, when where they judged?" Rather we are speaking about the produce that will be planted later this year. Is this to say that this produce is judged only once? But I will challenge you from a baraita: "produce which was subjected to a natural disaster or a disturbance- if it happened before Pesach, it was judged during last years Pesach (before it was planted). If it happened after Pesach, it was judged this past Pesach (when it was already planted) likewise, a person who is subjected to a natural disaster or a disturbance- if it happened before Yom Kippur, it was judged during last years Yom Kippur. If it happened after Yom Kippur, it was judged this past Yom Kippur" Says Rava: we see from here (this beraita) that produce is judged twice. Says Abaye: Therefore, when one sees that his slow growing crop is prospering, let him quickly plant his fast growing crop, in order that it should have grown slightly before the next judgement. Which tanna is our mishna in accordance with? neither Rebbi Meir, or Rebbi Yehudah, or Rebbi Yossi, nor Rebbi Natan. As we taught in a baraita: " All are judged on Rosh Hashana and their judgement is sealed on Yom Kippur, these are the words of R' Meir. R' Yehudah says: All are judged on Rosh Hashana and their judgement is sealed on each in its own proper time on Pesach for produce of the field, on Atzeret (Shavuot) for the fruits of the tree, on the festival (Sukkot) for water, and people are judged on Rosh Hashana and their judgement is sealed on Yom Kippur R' Yossi says: People are judged every day, as it says (Job 7:18) "and I will remmember him in the mornings" R' Natan says: People are judged every hour, as it says (Job 7, 18) "for seconds I will test him"... And if you will suggest that our Mishna is in fact R' Yehudah, and our Mishnah was listing the times of the year that the judgement is sealed, still our Mishnah is a contradiction with reguard to the judgement of people Says Rava:.. This Tanna is the academy of R' Yishmael for the academy of R' Yishmael taught at four times in the year the world is judged on Pesach for produce of the field, on Atzeret (Shavuot) for the fruits of the tree, on the festival (Sukkot) for water, and people are judged on Rosh Hashana and their judgement is sealed on Yom Kippur and the Mishna was speaking about the beginning of the judgement Says R' Chisda: "What is R' Yossi's reasoning?" (the gemara retorts) why, his reason is as he stated (based on the verse): "and I will remember him in the mornings" rather, this is what we (R' Chisda) are asking "why didnt R' Yossi say like R' Natan said? because he would say (about the verse of R' Natan) that "testing" is just an examination (not a judgement) (we can retort to R' Yossi) "remembering" is also just an examination (not a judgement) Therefore, says R' Chisda, the source for R' Yossi is from here (Kings 1 8:59) "to excecute the justice of his servant and his nation Israel each and every day" and R' Chisda said further: a king and a congregation (which both await judgement) the king has precedence, as it says "to execute the justice of his servant and his nation Israel" what is the reason? if you want you can say it isn't proper to have the king wait outside and if you want you can say (the king should receive judgement) before the anger (of G-D) is increased Says R' Yosef in accordance with who do we pray for the sick and the weak? in accordance with R' Yossi and if you want you can say even in accordance with the Rabbis and R' Yitzchak because R' Yitzchak said: prayer is helpful both before and after the judgement is sealed it was taught in a baraita: "says R' Yehudah in the name of R' Akiva why did the Torah say to bring an omer measurement on Pesach? Because Pesach is the time of the (judgement for) produce the Holy One said: bring before me an omer on Pesach in order that your produce in the fields should be blessed and why did the Torah say to bring two loaves of bread on Atzeret (Shavuot)? Because Atzeret is the time for the (judgement for) the fruits of the tree. The Holy One said: Bring before me two breads on Atzeret in order that your fruits of the tree be blessed and why did the Torah say to pour water on Sukkot? The Holy One said: Pour before me water on Sukkot in order that the rain of the year be blessed. And Say before me on Rosh Hashana kingship, remembrance, and shofar kingship in order that you make me king over yourselves, remembrance so that your remembrance comes before me for good, and how? With the Shofar" Says R' Abahu why do we blow with the horn of a ram? Said the Holy One: blow before me with a ram's horn in order that I remember for you the binding of Isaac son of Abraham, and I will consider it as if you bound yourselves before me (and says) R' Yitzchak: why do we blow on Rosh Hashana? (The gemara objects) why do we blow? why, the Torah said explicitly "blow" rather (what we are asking is) why do we blow a teruah? (The gemara objects) why do we blow a teruah? why, the Torah said explicitly "blow a teruah" rather (what we are asking is) .. why do we blow and sound a teruah when we are sitting, ...
(יט) כַּ֭מָּה לֹא־תִשְׁעֶ֣ה מִמֶּ֑נִּי לֹֽא־תַ֝רְפֵּ֗נִי עַד־בִּלְעִ֥י רֻקִּֽי׃
(1) Truly man has a term of service on earth; His days are like those of a hireling— (2) Like a slave who longs for [evening’s] shadows, Like a hireling who waits for his wage. (3) So have I been allotted months of futility; Nights of misery have been apportioned to me. (4) When I lie down, I think, “When shall I rise?” Night drags on, And I am sated with tossings till morning twilight. (5) My flesh is covered with maggots and clods of earth; My skin is broken and festering. (6) My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle, And come to their end without hope. (7) Consider that my life is but wind; I shall never see happiness again. (8) The eye that gazes on me will not see me; Your eye will seek me, but I shall be gone. (9) As a cloud fades away, So whoever goes down to Sheol does not come up; (10) He returns no more to his home; His place does not know him. (11) On my part, I will not speak with restraint; I will give voice to the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. (12) Am I the sea or the Dragon, That You have set a watch over me? (13) When I think, “My bed will comfort me, My couch will share my sorrow,” (14) You frighten me with dreams, And terrify me with visions, (15) Till I prefer strangulation, Death, to my wasted frame. (16) I am sick of it. I shall not live forever; Let me be, for my days are a breath. (17) What is man, that You make much of him, That You fix Your attention upon him? (18) You inspect him every morning, Examine him every minute. (19) Will You not look away from me for a while, Let me be, till I swallow my spittle? (20) If I have sinned, what have I done to You, Watcher of men? Why make of me Your target, And a burden to myself? (21) Why do You not pardon my transgression And forgive my iniquity? For soon I shall lie down in the dust; When You seek me, I shall be gone.
(ב) כִּ֤י אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים וּשְׁנ֣וֹת חַיִּ֑ים וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם יוֹסִ֥יפוּ לָֽךְ׃
(1) My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your mind retain my commandments; (2) For they will bestow on you length of days, Years of life and well-being. (3) Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you; Bind them about your throat, Write them on the tablet of your mind, (4) And you will find favor and approbation In the eyes of God and man. (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not rely on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths smooth. (7) Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and shun evil. (8) It will be a cure for your body, A tonic for your bones. (9) Honor the LORD with your wealth, With the best of all your income, (10) And your barns will be filled with grain, Your vats will burst with new wine. (11) Do not reject the discipline of the LORD, my son; Do not abhor His rebuke. (12) For whom the LORD loves, He rebukes, As a father the son whom he favors. (13) Happy is the man who finds wisdom, The man who attains understanding. (14) Her value in trade is better than silver, Her yield, greater than gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies; All of your goods cannot equal her. (16) In her right hand is length of days, In her left, riches and honor. (17) Her ways are pleasant ways, And all her paths, peaceful. (18) She is a tree of life to those who grasp her, And whoever holds on to her is happy. (19) The LORD founded the earth by wisdom; He established the heavens by understanding; (20) By His knowledge the depths burst apart, And the skies distilled dew. (21) My son, do not lose sight of them; Hold on to resourcefulness and foresight. (22) They will give life to your spirit And grace to your throat. (23) Then you will go your way safely And not injure your feet. (24) When you lie down you will be unafraid; You will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. (25) You will not fear sudden terror Or the disaster that comes upon the wicked, (26) For the LORD will be your trust; He will keep your feet from being caught. (27) Do not withhold good from one who deserves it When you have the power to do it [for him]. (28) Do not say to your fellow, “Come back again; I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it with you. (29) Do not devise harm against your fellow Who lives trustfully with you. (30) Do not quarrel with a man for no cause, When he has done you no harm. (31) Do not envy a lawless man, Or choose any of his ways; (32) For the devious man is an abomination to the LORD, But He is intimate with the straightforward. (33) The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the abode of the righteous. (34) At scoffers He scoffs, But to the lowly He shows grace. (35) The wise shall obtain honor, But dullards get disgrace as their portion.
Time, Stature, Soul
(א) וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן
(1) Abraham was now old, advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. (2) And Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh (3) and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, (4) but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac.” (5) And the servant said to him, “What if the woman does not consent to follow me to this land, shall I then take your son back to the land from which you came?” (6) Abraham answered him, “On no account must you take my son back there! (7) The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my native land, who promised me on oath, saying, ‘I will assign this land to your offspring’—He will send His angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there. (8) And if the woman does not consent to follow you, you shall then be clear of this oath to me; but do not take my son back there.” (9) So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore to him as bidden. (10) Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and set out, taking with him all the bounty of his master; and he made his way to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor. (11) He made the camels kneel down by the well outside the city, at evening time, the time when women come out to draw water. (12) And he said, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, grant me good fortune this day, and deal graciously with my master Abraham: (13) Here I stand by the spring as the daughters of the townsmen come out to draw water; (14) let the maiden to whom I say, ‘Please, lower your jar that I may drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels’—let her be the one whom You have decreed for Your servant Isaac. Thereby shall I know that You have dealt graciously with my master.” (15) He had scarcely finished speaking, when Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, the son of Milcah the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder. (16) The maiden was very beautiful, a virgin whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up. (17) The servant ran toward her and said, “Please, let me sip a little water from your jar.” (18) “Drink, my lord,” she said, and she quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and let him drink. (19) When she had let him drink his fill, she said, “I will also draw for your camels, until they finish drinking.” (20) Quickly emptying her jar into the trough, she ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels. (21) The man, meanwhile, stood gazing at her, silently wondering whether the LORD had made his errand successful or not. (22) When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing a half-shekel, and two gold bands for her arms, ten shekels in weight. (23) “Pray tell me,” he said, “whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?” (24) She replied, “I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.” (25) And she went on, “There is plenty of straw and feed at home, and also room to spend the night.” (26) The man bowed low in homage to the LORD (27) and said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not withheld His steadfast faithfulness from my master. For I have been guided on my errand by the LORD, to the house of my master’s kinsmen.” (28) The maiden ran and told all this to her mother’s household. (29) Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man at the spring— (30) when he saw the nose-ring and the bands on his sister’s arms, and when he heard his sister Rebekah say, “Thus the man spoke to me.” He went up to the man, who was still standing beside the camels at the spring. (31) “Come in, O blessed of the LORD,” he said, “why do you remain outside, when I have made ready the house and a place for the camels?” (32) So the man entered the house, and the camels were unloaded. The camels were given straw and feed, and water was brought to bathe his feet and the feet of the men with him. (33) But when food was set before him, he said, “I will not eat until I have told my tale.” He said, “Speak, then.” (34) “I am Abraham’s servant,” he began. (35) “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich: He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and asses. (36) And Sarah, my master’s wife, bore my master a son in her old age, and he has assigned to him everything he owns. (37) Now my master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell; (38) but you shall go to my father’s house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.’ (39) And I said to my master, ‘What if the woman does not follow me?’ (40) He replied to me, ‘The LORD, whose ways I have followed, will send His angel with you and make your errand successful; and you will get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father’s house. (41) Thus only shall you be freed from my adjuration: if, when you come to my kindred, they refuse you—only then shall you be freed from my adjuration.’ (42) “I came today to the spring, and I said: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if You would indeed grant success to the errand on which I am engaged! (43) As I stand by the spring of water, let the young woman who comes out to draw and to whom I say, ‘Please, let me drink a little water from your jar,’ (44) and who answers, ‘You may drink, and I will also draw for your camels’—let her be the wife whom the LORD has decreed for my master’s son.’ (45) I had scarcely finished praying in my heart, when Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder, and went down to the spring and drew. And I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ (46) She quickly lowered her jar and said, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels.’ So I drank, and she also watered the camels. (47) I inquired of her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ And she said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to him.’ And I put the ring on her nose and the bands on her arms. (48) Then I bowed low in homage to the LORD and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who led me on the right way to get the daughter of my master’s brother for his son. (49) And now, if you mean to treat my master with true kindness, tell me; and if not, tell me also, that I may turn right or left.” (50) Then Laban and Bethuel answered, “The matter was decreed by the LORD; we cannot speak to you bad or good. (51) Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be a wife to your master’s son, as the LORD has spoken.” (52) When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed low to the ground before the LORD. (53) The servant brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and he gave presents to her brother and her mother. (54) Then he and the men with him ate and drank, and they spent the night. When they arose next morning, he said, “Give me leave to go to my master.” (55) But her brother and her mother said, “Let the maiden remain with us some ten days; then you may go.” (56) He said to them, “Do not delay me, now that the LORD has made my errand successful. Give me leave that I may go to my master.” (57) And they said, “Let us call the girl and ask for her reply.” (58) They called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will.” (59) So they sent off their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham’s servant and his men. (60) And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “O sister! May you grow Into thousands of myriads; May your offspring seize The gates of their foes.” (61) Then Rebekah and her maids arose, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went his way. (62) Isaac had just come back from the vicinity of Beer-lahai-roi, for he was settled in the region of the Negeb. (63) And Isaac went out walking in the field toward evening and, looking up, he saw camels approaching. (64) Raising her eyes, Rebekah saw Isaac. She alighted from the camel (65) and said to the servant, “Who is that man walking in the field toward us?” And the servant said, “That is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself. (66) The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. (67) Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rebekah as his wife. Isaac loved her, and thus found comfort after his mother’s death.