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According to the poetry of the Midrash Tanchuma, Bereshit 1:1, the words of the Torah were inscribed “black fire on white fire.” For many years, I’ve wanted to look deeply into the black fire and visualize the full spectrum of the Torah’s sources, hidden within the black fire but revealed through a critical analysis of its layers of redaction. Below, I’ve set the text of the first Torah portion in the annual Torah reading cycle, using color-coding to distinguish the stratigraphic layers forming the composition of the Masoretic text according to the Supplementary Hypothesis presented by Tsemaḥ Yoreh in his Kernel to Canon series of books (2013-2017). As Dr. Yoreh explains,
The Supplementary Hypothesis asserts that the Pentateuch was composed by several different writers. This reflects an overwhelming academic consensus on Biblical authorship, even among scholars who do not subscribe to the Supplementary Hypothesis in particular.[….] According to the Supplementary Hypothesis, Biblical narrative is layered. No editor took a blowtorch to the parts of the Bible he disagreed with and destroyed them; if he had, we would not find these repetitions and contradictions. Instead, Biblical narrative began with a coherent, foundational bedrock, which over time accreted more and more storylines. Unlike geological processes, though, this process of addition was deliberate. What happened if one author disagreed with his predecessor’s storyline or worldview? He did not simply take an axe to the narrative; instead, he attempted to bury his predecessor’s point of view by repeating his own over and over again, thus skewing our understanding of the story in new ways. Every generation of readers sees the world differently, and thus every generation of writers seeks to adapt their predecessors’ cultural heritage to their own situation. We are not meant simply to dismiss earlier stories; rather, the intention of later writers is to transform our understanding of those stories via their additions.
⬛ The oldest layer appearing in Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah is thought to have been composed in the late 8th or early 7th century BCE in the southern Kingdom of Judah. This layer, commonly known as ‘J’, is indicated with a BLUE text. (The earliest layer of narrative in the Torah does not appear in Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah.)
⬛ The next strata, thought to have been composed during the exilic to early post-exilic period (571–486 BCE) is, as Dr. Yoreh explains, “responsible for supplementing the ‘J’ narrative with dates, names, and numbers, thus ‘ordering’ and authenticating ‘J’s account.” This layer, commonly referred to as ‘P’ (for ‘Priestly’) appears here in GREEN text.
⬛ The most recent layer of text, is a post-exilic (pre-3rd century BCE) text that Dr. Yoreh refers to as the “Bridger” which supplements earlier strata with genealogies and popular myths, providing narrative bridges between distant story cycles. This ‘B’ layer is presented here in FUCHSIA.
Parashat Ḥayyei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18) in the annual Torah reading cycle, is read on the fourth shabbat of the month of Marḥeshvan. The parashah is preceded by Parashat Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24); parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19–28:9) follows it.
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| Source (Hebrew) | Translation (English) |
|---|---|
כג א וַיִּהְיוּ֙ חַיֵּ֣י שָׂרָ֔ה מֵאָ֥ה שָׁנָ֛ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֖י חַיֵּ֥י שָׂרָֽה׃ ב וַתָּ֣מׇת שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיָּבֹא֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃ ג וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י מֵת֑וֹ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־חֵ֖ת לֵאמֹֽר׃ ד גֵּר־וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב אָנֹכִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם תְּנ֨וּ לִ֤י אֲחֻזַּת־קֶ֙בֶר֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה מֵתִ֖י מִלְּפָנָֽי׃ |
23 1 Now Sarah’s life was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years, (thus) the years of Sarah’s life. 2 Sarah died in Arba-town, that is now Ḥevron, in the land of K’naan. Avraham set about to lament for Sarah and to weep over her; 3 then Avraham arose from the presence of his dead and spoke to the men of Ḥet, saying: 4 “I am a sojourner settled among you; give me title to a burial holding among you, so that I may bury my dead from my presence.” |
ה וַיַּעֲנ֧וּ בְנֵי־חֵ֛ת אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ ו שְׁמָעֵ֣נוּ ׀ אֲדֹנִ֗י נְשִׂ֨יא אֱלֹהִ֤ים אַתָּה֙ בְּתוֹכֵ֔נוּ בְּמִבְחַ֣ר קְבָרֵ֔ינוּ קְבֹ֖ר אֶת־מֵתֶ֑ךָ אִ֣ישׁ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ אֶת־קִבְר֛וֹ לֹֽא־יִכְלֶ֥ה מִמְּךָ֖ מִקְּבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ׃ ז וַיָּ֧קׇם אַבְרָהָ֛ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְעַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ לִבְנֵי־חֵֽת׃ ח וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אִתָּ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁכֶ֗ם לִקְבֹּ֤ר אֶת־מֵתִי֙ מִלְּפָנַ֔י שְׁמָע֕וּנִי וּפִגְעוּ־לִ֖י בְּעֶפְר֥וֹן בֶּן־צֹֽחַר׃ ט וְיִתֶּן־לִ֗י אֶת־מְעָרַ֤ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר בִּקְצֵ֣ה שָׂדֵ֑הוּ בְּכֶ֨סֶף מָלֵ֜א יִתְּנֶ֥נָּה לִּ֛י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָֽבֶר׃ |
5 The men of Ḥet answered Avraham, saying to him: 6 “Hear us, my lord! You are one exalted by Elohim in our midst – in the choicest of our burial-sites you may bury your dead, no man among us will deny you his burial-site for burying your dead!” 7 Avraham arose, he bowed low to the People of the Land, to the men of Ḥet, 8 and spoke with them, saying: “If it be then according to your wish that I bury my dead from my presence, hear me and interpose for me to Efrōn son of Tsoḥar, 9 that he may give me title to the cave of Makhpelah, that is his, that is at the edge of his field, for the full silver-worth let him give me title in your midst for a burial holding.” |
י וְעֶפְר֥וֹן יֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּת֣וֹךְ בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת וַיַּ֩עַן֩ עֶפְר֨וֹן הַחִתִּ֤י אֶת־אַבְרָהָם֙ בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֔ת לְכֹ֛ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִיר֖וֹ לֵאמֹֽר׃ יא לֹֽא־אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ וְהַמְּעָרָ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֖וֹ לְךָ֣ נְתַתִּ֑יהָ לְעֵינֵ֧י בְנֵי־עַמִּ֛י נְתַתִּ֥יהָ לָּ֖ךְ קְבֹ֥ר מֵתֶֽךָ׃ יב וַיִּשְׁתַּ֙חוּ֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י עַ֥ם הָאָֽרֶץ׃ יג וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־עֶפְר֜וֹן בְּאׇזְנֵ֤י עַם־הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַ֛ךְ אִם־אַתָּ֥ה ל֖וּ שְׁמָעֵ֑נִי נָתַ֜תִּי כֶּ֤סֶף הַשָּׂדֶה֙ קַ֣ח מִמֶּ֔נִּי וְאֶקְבְּרָ֥ה אֶת־מֵתִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה׃ יד וַיַּ֧עַן עֶפְר֛וֹן אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֥ר לֽוֹ׃ טו אֲדֹנִ֣י שְׁמָעֵ֔נִי אֶ֩רֶץ֩ אַרְבַּ֨ע מֵאֹ֧ת שֶֽׁקֶל־כֶּ֛סֶף בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ מַה־הִ֑וא וְאֶת־מֵתְךָ֖ קְבֹֽר׃ |
10 Now Efrōn had a seat amidst the men of Ḥet, and Efrōn the Ḥitti answered Avraham in the ears of the men of Ḥet, of all who had entry to the council-gate of his city, saying: 11 “Not so, my lord, hear me! The field I give to you, and the cave that is therein, to you I give it; before the eyes of the men of My People I give it to you – bury your dead!” 12 Avraham bowed before the People of the Land 13 and spoke to Efrōn in the ears of the People of the Land, saying: “But if you yourself would only hear me out! I will give the silver-payment for the field, accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.” 14 Efrōn answered Avraham, saying to him: 15 “My lord – hear me! A piece of land worth four hundred silver weight, what is that between me and you! You may bury your dead!” |
טז וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָהָם֮ אֶל־עֶפְרוֹן֒ וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל אַבְרָהָם֙ לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר׃ |
16 Avraham hearkened to Efrōn: Avraham weighed out to Efrōn the silver-worth of which he had spoken in the ears of the men of Ḥet – four hundred silver weight at the going merchants’ rate. |
שני יז וַיָּ֣קׇם ׀ שְׂדֵ֣ה עֶפְר֗וֹן אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּמַּכְפֵּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י מַמְרֵ֑א הַשָּׂדֶה֙ וְהַמְּעָרָ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֔וֹ וְכׇל־הָעֵץ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּכׇל־גְּבֻל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ יח לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם לְמִקְנָ֖ה לְעֵינֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת בְּכֹ֖ל בָּאֵ֥י שַֽׁעַר־עִירֽוֹ׃ יט וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֩ קָבַ֨ר אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־שָׂרָ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֶל־מְעָרַ֞ת שְׂדֵ֧ה הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֛ה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵ֖א הִ֣וא חֶבְר֑וֹן בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃ כ וַיָּ֨קׇם הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה וְהַמְּעָרָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בּ֛וֹ לְאַבְרָהָ֖ם לַאֲחֻזַּת־קָ֑בֶר מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵי־חֵֽת׃ |
17 Thus was established the field of Efrōn, that is in Makhpelah, that faces Mamré, the field as well as the cave that is in it, and the trees that were in all the field, that were in all their territory round about, 18 for Avraham as an acquisition, before the eyes of the men of Ḥet, of all who had entry to the council-gate of his city. 19 Afterward Avraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Makhpelah, facing Mamré, that is now Ḥevron, in the land of K’naan. 20 Thus was established the field as well as the cave that is in it for Avraham as a burial holding, from the men of Ḥet.[1] Like Chapter 17, Chapter 23 is a typical Priestly narrative. 1. The quantitative information (Sarah’s age) which characterizes P appears in the first verse of the chapter. 2. The exactitude of the geographical location of the burial site and the meticulous description of the transaction are typical of P’s organized thinking. 3. This narrative is alluded to in other Priestly texts such as this source’s additions to the original texts of Genesis 48 and 50. 4. The language is undoubtedly Priestly, e.g. the expression: “The length of X’s life” (vs. 1) appears several times in P’s death notices; the legal categories – stranger and alien (vs. 4), are typical to P’s law code; the term “achuzah” (place, inheritance) (vs. 9) is a common term in Priestly literature and rarely appears elsewhere (and compare 47:11). 5. Sarah’s death is not alluded to except in the P additions to Gen. 48 and 50, and the final verse of Genesis 24, which are all relatively late (relative to the texts they appear in). This chapter may thus be confidently attributed to a later author, and considering the above stated evidence, it is quite likely that this author is P. |
כד א וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃ ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי׃ ג וְאַשְׁבִּ֣יעֲךָ֔ בַּֽיהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וֵֽאלֹהֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יוֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ ד כִּ֧י אֶל־אַרְצִ֛י וְאֶל־מוֹלַדְתִּ֖י תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִ֥י לְיִצְחָֽק׃ |
24 1 Now Avraham was old, advanced in days, and YHVH had blessed Avraham in everything. 2 Avraham said to his servant, the elder of his household, who ruled over all that was his: “Pray put your hand under my thigh! 3 I want you to swear by YHVH, the elo’ah of Heaven and the elo’ah of Earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the women of the K’naani, among whom I am settled; 4 rather, you are to go to my land and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, for Yitsḥaq.” |
ה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אוּלַי֙ לֹא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם׃ |
5 The servant said to him: “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to go after me to this land; may I then bring your son back there, back to the land from which you once went out?” |
ו וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אַבְרָהָ֑ם הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה׃ ז יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לְקָחַ֜נִי מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִי֮ וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ מֽוֹלַדְתִּי֒ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּר־לִ֜י וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר נִֽשְׁבַּֽע־לִי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לְזַ֨רְעֲךָ֔ אֶתֵּ֖ן אֶת־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את ה֗וּא יִשְׁלַ֤ח מַלְאָכוֹ֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֛ה לִבְנִ֖י מִשָּֽׁם׃ ח וְאִם־לֹ֨א תֹאבֶ֤ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את רַ֣ק אֶת־בְּנִ֔י לֹ֥א תָשֵׁ֖ב שָֽׁמָּה׃ |
6 Avraham said to him: “Watch out that you do not ever bring my son back there! 7 YHVH, the elo’ah of Heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from my kindred, who spoke to me, who swore to me, saying: ‘I give this land to your seed’ – he himself will send his messenger on before you, so that you take a wife for my son from there. 8 Now if the woman is not willing to go after you, you will be clear from this sworn-oath of mine, only: You are not to bring my son back there!” |
ט וַיָּ֤שֶׂם הָעֶ֙בֶד֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַֽע ל֔וֹ עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ שלישי י וַיִּקַּ֣ח הָ֠עֶ֠בֶד עֲשָׂרָ֨ה גְמַלִּ֜ים מִגְּמַלֵּ֤י אֲדֹנָיו֙ וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וְכׇל־ט֥וּב אֲדֹנָ֖יו בְּיָד֑וֹ וַיָּ֗קׇם וַיֵּ֛לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֥ם נַֽהֲרַ֖יִם אֶל־עִ֥יר נָחֽוֹר׃ יא וַיַּבְרֵ֧ךְ הַגְּמַלִּ֛ים מִח֥וּץ לָעִ֖יר אֶל־בְּאֵ֣ר הַמָּ֑יִם לְעֵ֣ת עֶ֔רֶב לְעֵ֖ת צֵ֥את הַשֹּׁאֲבֹֽת׃ יב וַיֹּאמַ֓ר ׀ יְהֹוָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם הַקְרֵה־נָ֥א לְפָנַ֖י הַיּ֑וֹם וַעֲשֵׂה־חֶ֕סֶד עִ֖ם אֲדֹנִ֥י אַבְרָהָֽם׃ יג הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וּבְנוֹת֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הָעִ֔יר יֹצְאֹ֖ת לִשְׁאֹ֥ב מָֽיִם׃ יד וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אֲדֹנִֽי׃ |
9 The servant put his hand under the thigh of Avraham his lord, and swore to him (an oath) about this matter. 10 The servant took ten camels from his lord’s camels and went, all kinds of good-things from his lord in his hand. He arose and went to Aram Of-Two-Rivers, to Naḥor’s town. 11 He had the camels kneel outside the town at the water well at setting time, at the time when the water-drawers go out, 12 and said: “YHVH, elo’ah of my lord Avraham, pray let it happen today for me, and deal faithfully with my lord Avraham! 13 Here, I have stationed myself by the water spring as the women of the town go out to draw water. 14 May it be that the maiden to whom I say: ‘Pray lower your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says: ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels to drink’ – let her be the one that you have decided on for your servant, for Yitsḥaq, by means of her may I know that you have dealt faithfully with my lord.” |
טו וַֽיְהִי־ה֗וּא טֶ֘רֶם֮ כִּלָּ֣ה לְדַבֵּר֒ וְהִנֵּ֧ה רִבְקָ֣ה יֹצֵ֗את אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֻלְּדָה֙ לִבְתוּאֵ֣ל בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֔ה אֵ֥שֶׁת נָח֖וֹר אֲחִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְכַדָּ֖הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָֽהּ׃ טז וְהַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ טֹבַ֤ת מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א יְדָעָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֣רֶד הָעַ֔יְנָה וַתְּמַלֵּ֥א כַדָּ֖הּ וַתָּֽעַל׃ יז וַיָּ֥רׇץ הָעֶ֖בֶד לִקְרָאתָ֑הּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הַגְמִיאִ֥ינִי נָ֛א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃ |
15 And it was: Not yet had he finished speaking, when here, Rivqah came out,[2] A more exact rendering of the Hebrew of vs. 15 is: “Before he had finished speaking there was Rebecca coming out, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah…”. Note that her family identification appears only after the verb. This is difficult syntactically in Hebrew as well as in English – the NRSV translation corrects this syntactical inconsistency by inserting the family identification between the subject (Rebecca) and the verb (coming out), and see our discussion below in the following comment. – she had been born to Betuel, son of Milkah, wife of Naḥor, brother of Avraham –[3] Rebecca is identified here very precisely with the same family ties as in Genesis 22:20-24 (B). As a user of this website pointed out, the qal passive yuldah “was born to” is used in this identification of Rebecca, which as I’ve mentioned above (see comments to 22:20-24), is a marker of B. There are two more reasons one may see this familial identification (who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,) as B: The first reason (and the stronger one) is that Rebecca is identified differently in vs. 48, she is not the GRANDdaughter of Nahor in vs. 48, rather she is the daughter of Nahor (The NRSV, aware of this discrepancy translated kinsman instead of brother, I corrected it in vs. 48 but not elsewhere). The second reason is that the phrase (who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,) fits uncomfortably in vs. 15. It should appear right after Rebecca’s name, but in the Hebrew it appears right after the verb “coming out” (yotzet) (this was corrected in the NRSV translation). This insight should then lead us to assume that the other family identifications in this chapter (vss. 24, 47) may have been inserted as well by the Bridger. The reason for this multiple emphasis is obvious, since if B differs from J, then as I’ve remarked previously, the way he’d emphasize his point of view as the correct one is by repeating it. her pitcher on her shoulder. 16 The maiden was exceedingly beautiful to look at, a virgin – no man had known her. Going down to the spring, she filled her pitcher and came up again. 17 The servant ran to meet her and said: “Pray let me sip a little water from your pitcher!” |
יח וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שְׁתֵ֣ה אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתֹּ֧רֶד כַּדָּ֛הּ עַל־יָדָ֖הּ וַתַּשְׁקֵֽהוּ׃ |
18 She said: “Drink, my lord!” And in haste she let down her pitcher on her arm and gave him to drink. |
יט וַתְּכַ֖ל לְהַשְׁקֹת֑וֹ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר גַּ֤ם לִגְמַלֶּ֙יךָ֙ אֶשְׁאָ֔ב עַ֥ד אִם־כִּלּ֖וּ לִשְׁתֹּֽת׃ כ וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתְּעַ֤ר כַּדָּהּ֙ אֶל־הַשֹּׁ֔קֶת וַתָּ֥רׇץ ע֛וֹד אֶֽל־הַבְּאֵ֖ר לִשְׁאֹ֑ב וַתִּשְׁאַ֖ב לְכׇל־גְּמַלָּֽיו׃ |
19 When she had finished giving him to drink, she said: “I will also draw for your camels, until they have finished drinking.” 20 In haste she emptied her pitcher into the drinking-trough, then she ran to the well again to draw, and drew for all his camels. |
כא וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מִשְׁתָּאֵ֖ה לָ֑הּ מַחֲרִ֕ישׁ לָדַ֗עַת הַֽהִצְלִ֧יחַ יְהֹוָ֛ה דַּרְכּ֖וֹ אִם־לֹֽא׃ כב וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם׃ כג וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ בַּת־מִ֣י אַ֔תְּ הַגִּ֥ידִי נָ֖א לִ֑י הֲיֵ֧שׁ בֵּית־אָבִ֛יךְ מָק֥וֹם לָ֖נוּ לָלִֽין׃ |
21 The man kept staring at her, (waiting) silently to find out whether YHVH had granted success to his journey or not. 22 It was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took a gold nose-ring, a half-coin in weight, and two bracelets for her wrists, ten gold-pieces in weight, 23 and said: “Whose daughter are you? Pray tell me! And is there perhaps in your father’s house a place for us to spend the night?” |
כד וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו בַּת־בְּתוּאֵ֖ל אָנֹ֑כִי בֶּן־מִלְכָּ֕ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְנָחֽוֹר׃ כה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו גַּם־תֶּ֥בֶן גַּם־מִסְפּ֖וֹא רַ֣ב עִמָּ֑נוּ גַּם־מָק֖וֹם לָלֽוּן׃ |
24 She said to him: “I am the daughter of Betuel, son of Milkah, whom she bore to[4] In J Rebecca is identified only as the daughter of Betuel, and see previous comment. Naḥor.” 25 And she said to him: “Yes, there is straw, yes, plenty of fodder with us, (and) yes, a place to spend the night.” |
כו וַיִּקֹּ֣ד הָאִ֔ישׁ וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ רביעי כז וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בָּר֤וּךְ יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹֽא־עָזַ֥ב חַסְדּ֛וֹ וַאֲמִתּ֖וֹ מֵעִ֣ם אֲדֹנִ֑י אָנֹכִ֗י בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ נָחַ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֔ה בֵּ֖ית אֲחֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי׃ |
26 In homage the man bowed low before YHVH 27 and said: “Blessed be YHVH, elo’ah of my lord Avraham, who has not relinquished his faithfulness and his trustworthiness from my lord! While as for me, YHVH has led me on the journey to the house of my lord’s brothers!” |
כח וַתָּ֙רׇץ֙ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ וַתַּגֵּ֖ד לְבֵ֣ית אִמָּ֑הּ כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ כט וּלְרִבְקָ֥ה אָ֖ח וּשְׁמ֣וֹ לָבָ֑ן וַיָּ֨רׇץ לָבָ֧ן אֶל־הָאִ֛ישׁ הַח֖וּצָה אֶל־הָעָֽיִן׃ ל וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כִּרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־הַנֶּ֗זֶם וְֽאֶת־הַצְּמִדִים֮ עַל־יְדֵ֣י אֲחֹתוֹ֒ וּכְשׇׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֞י רִבְקָ֤ה אֲחֹתוֹ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּֽה־דִבֶּ֥ר אֵלַ֖י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־הָאִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֛ה עֹמֵ֥ד עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים עַל־הָעָֽיִן׃ לא וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים׃ |
28 The maiden ran and told her mother’s household according to these words. 29 Now Rivqah had a brother, his name was Lavan. Lavan ran to the man, outside, to the spring: 30 and it was, as soon as he saw the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and as soon as he heard Rivqah his sister’s words, saying: ‘Thus the man spoke to me,’ that he came out to the man – there, he was still standing by the camels, by the spring – 31 and said: “Come, you who are blessed by YHVH, why are you standing outside? I myself have cleared out the house and a place for the camels!” |
לב וַיָּבֹ֤א הָאִישׁ֙ הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַיְפַתַּ֖ח הַגְּמַלִּ֑ים וַיִּתֵּ֨ן תֶּ֤בֶן וּמִסְפּוֹא֙ לַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וּמַ֙יִם֙ לִרְחֹ֣ץ רַגְלָ֔יו וְרַגְלֵ֥י הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אִתּֽוֹ׃ לג ויישם וַיּוּשַׂ֤ם לְפָנָיו֙ לֶאֱכֹ֔ל וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל עַ֥ד אִם־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי דְּבָרָ֑י וַיֹּ֖אמֶר דַּבֵּֽר׃ |
32 The man came into the house and unbridled the camels, they gave straw and fodder to the camels and water for washing his feet and the feet of the men that were with him. 33 (Food) was put before him to eat, but he said: “I will not eat until I have spoken my words.” He said: “Speak!” |
לד וַיֹּאמַ֑ר עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אָנֹֽכִי׃ לה וַיהֹוָ֞ה בֵּרַ֧ךְ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֛י מְאֹ֖ד וַיִּגְדָּ֑ל וַיִּתֶּן־ל֞וֹ צֹ֤אן וּבָקָר֙ וְכֶ֣סֶף וְזָהָ֔ב וַעֲבָדִם֙ וּשְׁפָחֹ֔ת וּגְמַלִּ֖ים וַחֲמֹרִֽים׃ לו וַתֵּ֡לֶד שָׂרָה֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת אֲדֹנִ֥י בֵן֙ לַֽאדֹנִ֔י אַחֲרֵ֖י זִקְנָתָ֑הּ וַיִּתֶּן־ל֖וֹ אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ׃ לז וַיַּשְׁבִּעֵ֥נִי אֲדֹנִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־תִקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִבְּנוֹת֙ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י יֹשֵׁ֥ב בְּאַרְצֽוֹ׃ לח אִם־לֹ֧א אֶל־בֵּית־אָבִ֛י תֵּלֵ֖ךְ וְאֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ אִשָּׁ֖ה לִבְנִֽי׃ לט וָאֹמַ֖ר אֶל־אֲדֹנִ֑י אֻלַ֛י לֹא־תֵלֵ֥ךְ הָאִשָּׁ֖ה אַחֲרָֽי׃ מ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י יְהֹוָ֞ה אֲשֶׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנָ֗יו יִשְׁלַ֨ח מַלְאָכ֤וֹ אִתָּךְ֙ וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ אִשָּׁה֙ לִבְנִ֔י מִמִּשְׁפַּחְתִּ֖י וּמִבֵּ֥ית אָבִֽי׃ מא אָ֤ז תִּנָּקֶה֙ מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔י כִּ֥י תָב֖וֹא אֶל־מִשְׁפַּחְתִּ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֤א יִתְּנוּ֙ לָ֔ךְ וְהָיִ֥יתָ נָקִ֖י מֵאָלָתִֽי׃ |
34 He said: “I am Avraham’s servant. 35 YHVH has blessed my lord exceedingly, so that he has become great, he has given him sheep and oxen, silver and gold, servants and maids, camels and donkeys. 36 Sarah, my lord’s wife, bore my lord a son after she had grown old, and he has given him all that is his. 37 Now my lord had me swear, saying: ‘You are not to take a wife for my son from the women of the K’naani, in whose land I am settled! 38 No! To my father’s house you are to go, to my clan, and take a wife for my son.’ 39 I said to my lord: ‘Perhaps the woman will not go after me!’ 40 He said to me: ‘YHVH, in whose presence I have walked, will send his messenger with you, he will grant success to your journey, so that you take a wife for my son from my clan and from my father’s house. 41 Only then will you be clear from my oath-curse: When you come to my clan, if they do not give her to you, you will be clear from my oath-curse.'” |
מב וָאָבֹ֥א הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־הָעָ֑יִן וָאֹמַ֗ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אִם־יֶשְׁךָ־נָּא֙ מַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ׃ מג הִנֵּ֛ה אָנֹכִ֥י נִצָּ֖ב עַל־עֵ֣ין הַמָּ֑יִם וְהָיָ֤ה הָֽעַלְמָה֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣את לִשְׁאֹ֔ב וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י אֵלֶ֔יהָ הַשְׁקִֽינִי־נָ֥א מְעַט־מַ֖יִם מִכַּדֵּֽךְ׃ מד וְאָמְרָ֤ה אֵלַי֙ גַּם־אַתָּ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַ֥ם לִגְמַלֶּ֖יךָ אֶשְׁאָ֑ב הִ֣וא הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־הֹכִ֥יחַ יְהֹוָ֖ה לְבֶן־אֲדֹנִֽי׃ מה אֲנִי֩ טֶ֨רֶם אֲכַלֶּ֜ה לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־לִבִּ֗י וְהִנֵּ֨ה רִבְקָ֤ה יֹצֵאת֙ וְכַדָּ֣הּ עַל־שִׁכְמָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֥רֶד הָעַ֖יְנָה וַתִּשְׁאָ֑ב וָאֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יהָ הַשְׁקִ֥ינִי נָֽא׃ מו וַתְּמַהֵ֗ר וַתּ֤וֹרֶד כַּדָּהּ֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה וָאֵ֕שְׁתְּ וְגַ֥ם הַגְּמַלִּ֖ים הִשְׁקָֽתָה׃ מז וָאֶשְׁאַ֣ל אֹתָ֗הּ וָאֹמַר֮ בַּת־מִ֣י אַתְּ֒ וַתֹּ֗אמֶר בַּת־בְּתוּאֵל֙ בֶּן־נָח֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽלְדָה־לּ֖וֹ מִלְכָּ֑ה וָאָשִׂ֤ם הַנֶּ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפָּ֔הּ וְהַצְּמִידִ֖ים עַל־יָדֶֽיהָ׃ מח וָאֶקֹּ֥ד וָֽאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖ה לַיהֹוָ֑ה וָאֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ אֲדֹנִ֣י אַבְרָהָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִנְחַ֙נִי֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֱמֶ֔ת לָקַ֛חַת אֶת־בַּת־אֲחִ֥י אֲדֹנִ֖י לִבְנֽוֹ׃ מט וְ֠עַתָּ֠ה אִם־יֶשְׁכֶ֨ם עֹשִׂ֜ים חֶ֧סֶד וֶֽאֱמֶ֛ת אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֖י הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֑י וְאִם־לֹ֕א הַגִּ֣ידוּ לִ֔י וְאֶפְנֶ֥ה עַל־יָמִ֖ין א֥וֹ עַל־שְׂמֹֽאל׃ |
42 “Now I came to the well today and said: ‘YHVH, elo’ah of my lord Avraham, pray, if you wish to grant success to the journey on which I am going, 43 here: I have stationed myself by the water spring; may it be that the girl who comes out to draw, to whom I say: ‘Pray give me a little water from your pitcher to drink,’ 44 and she says to me: ‘You drink, and I will also draw for your camels’ – let her be the woman whom YHVH has decided on for the son of my lord.’ 45 (And) I, even before I had finished speaking in my heart, here, Rivqah came out, her pitcher on her shoulder, she went down to the spring and drew. I said to her: ‘Pray give me to drink!’ 46 In haste she let down her pitcher from herself and said: ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels to drink. I drank, and she also gave the camels to drink.’ 47 Then I asked her, I said: ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said: ‘The daughter of Betuel, son of[5] See comments 2 and 3. Naḥor, whom Milkah bore to him.’[6] See comment 2. I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists, 48 and in homage I bowed low before YHVH, and blessed YHVH, elo’ah of my lord Avraham, who led me on the true journey to take the daughter of my lord’s brother for his son. 49 So now, if you wish to deal faithfully and truly with my lord, tell me, and if not, tell me, that I may (know to) turn right or left.” |
נ וַיַּ֨עַן לָבָ֤ן וּבְתוּאֵל֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵיְהֹוָ֖ה יָצָ֣א הַדָּבָ֑ר לֹ֥א נוּכַ֛ל דַּבֵּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ רַ֥ע אוֹ־טֽוֹב׃ נא הִנֵּֽה־רִבְקָ֥ה לְפָנֶ֖יךָ קַ֣ח וָלֵ֑ךְ וּתְהִ֤י אִשָּׁה֙ לְבֶן־אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃ |
50 Lavan and Betuel answered, they said: “The matter has come from YHVH; we cannot speak anything to you evil or good. 51 Here is Rivqah before you, take her and go, that she may be a wife for the son of your lord, as YHVH has spoken.” |
נב וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֛ע עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַ֖רְצָה לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ חמישי נג וַיּוֹצֵ֨א הָעֶ֜בֶד כְּלֵי־כֶ֨סֶף וּכְלֵ֤י זָהָב֙ וּבְגָדִ֔ים וַיִּתֵּ֖ן לְרִבְקָ֑ה וּמִ֨גְדָּנֹ֔ת נָתַ֥ן לְאָחִ֖יהָ וּלְאִמָּֽהּ׃ נד וַיֹּאכְל֣וּ וַיִּשְׁתּ֗וּ ה֛וּא וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים אֲשֶׁר־עִמּ֖וֹ וַיָּלִ֑ינוּ וַיָּק֣וּמוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שַׁלְּחֻ֥נִי לַֽאדֹנִֽי׃ |
52 It was when Avraham’s servant heard their words, that he bowed to the ground before YHVH. 53 And the servant brought out objects of silver and objects of gold and garments, and gave them to Rivqah, and he gave presents to her brother and to her mother. 54 They ate and drank, he and the men that were with him, and spent the night. When they arose at daybreak, he said: “Send me off to my lord.” |
נה וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָחִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ יָמִ֖ים א֣וֹ עָשׂ֑וֹר אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃ |
55 But her brother and her mother said: “Let the maiden stay with us a few days, perhaps ten – after that she may go.” |
נו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַל־תְּאַחֲר֣וּ אֹתִ֔י וַֽיהֹוָ֖ה הִצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֑י שַׁלְּח֕וּנִי וְאֵלְכָ֖ה לַֽאדֹנִֽי׃ |
56 He said to them: “Do not delay me, for YHVH has granted success to my journey; send me off, that I may go back to my lord.” |
נז וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ נִקְרָ֣א לַֽנַּעֲרָ֑ וְנִשְׁאֲלָ֖ה אֶת־פִּֽיהָ׃ נח וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ לְרִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלֶ֔יהָ הֲתֵלְכִ֖י עִם־הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֑ה |
57 They said: “Let us call the maiden and ask (for an answer from) her own mouth.” 58 They called Rivqah and said to her: “Will you go with this man?” |
וַתֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֵֽךְ׃ |
She said: “I will go.” |
נט וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֛וּ אֶת־רִבְקָ֥ה אֲחֹתָ֖ם וְאֶת־מֵנִקְתָּ֑הּ וְאֶת־עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְאֶת־אֲנָשָֽׁיו׃ ס וַיְבָרְכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ אַ֥תְּ הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר שֹׂנְאָֽיו׃ |
59 They sent off Rivqah their sister with her nurse, and Avraham’s servant with his men, 60 and they gave Rivqah farewell-blessing and said to her: “Our sister, may you become thousandfold myriads! May your seed inherit the gate of those who hate him!” |
סא וַתָּ֨קׇם רִבְקָ֜ה וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ וַתִּרְכַּ֙בְנָה֙ עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּקַּ֥ח הָעֶ֛בֶד אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ סב וְיִצְחָק֙ בָּ֣א מִבּ֔וֹא בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִ֑י וְה֥וּא יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ הַנֶּֽגֶב׃ סג וַיֵּצֵ֥א יִצְחָ֛ק לָשׂ֥וּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לִפְנ֣וֹת עָ֑רֶב וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּ֥ה גְמַלִּ֖ים בָּאִֽים׃ סד וַתִּשָּׂ֤א רִבְקָה֙ אֶת־עֵינֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֖רֶא אֶת־יִצְחָ֑ק וַתִּפֹּ֖ל מֵעַ֥ל הַגָּמָֽל׃ סה וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־הָעֶ֗בֶד מִֽי־הָאִ֤ישׁ הַלָּזֶה֙ הַהֹלֵ֤ךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה֙ לִקְרָאתֵ֔נוּ וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הָעֶ֖בֶד ה֣וּא אֲדֹנִ֑י וַתִּקַּ֥ח הַצָּעִ֖יף וַתִּתְכָּֽס׃ |
61 Rivqah and her maids arose, they mounted the camels and went after the man. The servant took Rivqah and went away. 62 Now Yitsḥaq had come from where you come to the Well of the Living-one Who-Sees-Me-for he had settled in the Negev. 63 And Yitsḥaq went out to stroll in the field around the turning of sunset. He lifted up his eyes and saw: here, camels coming! 64 Rivqah lifted up her eyes and saw Yitsḥaq; 65 she got down from the camel and said to the servant: “Who is the man over there that is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said: “That is my lord.” She took a veil and covered herself. |
סו וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר הָעֶ֖בֶד לְיִצְחָ֑ק אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃ סז וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ יִצְחָ֗ק הָאֹ֙הֱלָה֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה וַתְּהִי־ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם יִצְחָ֖ק אַחֲרֵ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃ |
66 Now the servant recounted to Yitsḥaq all the things that he had done. 67 Yitsḥaq brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother, he took Rivqah and she became his wife, and he loved her.[7] This text, replete with repetitions, is sometimes divided into separate sources by the documentary hypothesis. The repetitions in this text, however, are more indicative of ancient Near Eastern literary style than of multiple authors, since there are no major textual discontinuities. Thus was Yitsḥaq comforted after his mother.[8] The death of Sarah is only mentioned in P contexts (see comments to Chapter 23) and thus the final half verse of this chapter is probably attributable to this source. |
ששי כה א וַיֹּ֧סֶף אַבְרָהָ֛ם וַיִּקַּ֥ח אִשָּׁ֖ה וּשְׁמָ֥הּ קְטוּרָֽה׃ ב וַתֵּ֣לֶד ל֗וֹ אֶת־זִמְרָן֙ וְאֶת־יׇקְשָׁ֔ן וְאֶת־מְדָ֖ן וְאֶת־מִדְיָ֑ן וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּ֖ק וְאֶת־שֽׁוּחַ׃ ג וְיׇקְשָׁ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־שְׁבָ֖א וְאֶת־דְּדָ֑ן וּבְנֵ֣י דְדָ֔ן הָי֛וּ אַשּׁוּרִ֥ם וּלְטוּשִׁ֖ם וּלְאֻמִּֽים׃ ד וּבְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עֵיפָ֤ה וָעֵ֙פֶר֙ וַחֲנֹ֔ךְ וַאֲבִידָ֖ע וְאֶלְדָּעָ֑ה כׇּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י קְטוּרָֽה׃ ה וַיִּתֵּ֧ן אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ לְיִצְחָֽק׃ ו וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃ |
25 1 Now Avraham had taken another wife, her name was Qeturah. 2 She bore him Zimran and Yoqshan, M’dan and Midyan, Yishbaq and Shuaḥ. 3 Yoqshan fathered Sh’va and D’dan, D’dan’s sons were the Ashurim, the L’tushim, and the L’ummim. 4 Midyan’s sons (were) Efah, Efer, Ḥanokh, Avida, and Elda’ah. All these (were) Qeturah’s sons. 5 But Avraham gave over all that was his to Yitsḥaq. 6 And to the sons of the concubines that Avraham had, Avraham gave gifts, and he sent them away from Yitsḥaq his son while he was still alive, eastward, to the Eastland.[9] Note the use of the 3rd feminine singular qal “yaldah”, more prevalent in the Bridger’s genealogies than in P genealogies (P more frequently uses the hiphil or the niphal of the verb yalad). The function of this genealogy is to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham to increase his progeny while Abraham still lived. According to J, P, and E, Isaac and Ishmael are Abraham’s only children. Both J and P’s promises of progeny refer to the far future. Note also that Dedan, mentioned in this Abrahamite genealogy (vs. 3), was actually the grandson of Ham according to P (10:7). |
ז וְאֵ֗לֶּה יְמֵ֛י שְׁנֵֽי־חַיֵּ֥י אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲשֶׁר־חָ֑י מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וְשִׁבְעִ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְחָמֵ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃ ח וַיִּגְוַ֨ע וַיָּ֧מׇת אַבְרָהָ֛ם בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָ֖ה זָקֵ֣ן וְשָׂבֵ֑עַ וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃ ט וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹת֜וֹ יִצְחָ֤ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־מְעָרַ֖ת הַמַּכְפֵּלָ֑ה אֶל־שְׂדֵ֞ה עֶפְרֹ֤ן בֶּן־צֹ֙חַר֙ הַֽחִתִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י מַמְרֵֽא׃ י הַשָּׂדֶ֛ה אֲשֶׁר־קָנָ֥ה אַבְרָהָ֖ם מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵי־חֵ֑ת שָׁ֛מָּה קֻבַּ֥ר אַבְרָהָ֖ם וְשָׂרָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ יא וַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ מ֣וֹת אַבְרָהָ֔ם וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֑וֹ וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִצְחָ֔ק עִם־בְּאֵ֥ר לַחַ֖י רֹאִֽי׃ |
7 Now these are the days and years of the life of Avraham, which he lived: 8 A hundred years and seventy years and five years, then he expired. Avraham died at a good ripe-age, old and satisfied (in days), and was gathered to his kinspeople. 9 Yitsḥaq and Yishmael his sons buried him, in the cave of Makhpelah, in the field of Efrōn son of Tsoḥar the Ḥitti, that faces Mamré, 10 the field that Avraham had acquired from the men of Ḥet. There were buried Avraham and Sarah his wife. 11 Now it was after Avraham’s death, that Elohim blessed Yitsḥaq his son. And Yitsḥaq settled by the Well of the Living-one Who-Sees-Me. |
שביעי יב וְאֵ֛לֶּה תֹּלְדֹ֥ת יִשְׁמָעֵ֖אל בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָלְדָ֜ה הָגָ֧ר הַמִּצְרִ֛ית שִׁפְחַ֥ת שָׂרָ֖ה לְאַבְרָהָֽם׃ יג וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁמוֹת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל בִּשְׁמֹתָ֖ם לְתוֹלְדֹתָ֑ם בְּכֹ֤ר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָיֹ֔ת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃ יד וּמִשְׁמָ֥ע וְדוּמָ֖ה וּמַשָּֽׂא׃ טו חֲדַ֣ד וְתֵימָ֔א יְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵֽדְמָה׃ מפטיר טז אֵ֣לֶּה הֵ֞ם בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ וְאֵ֣לֶּה שְׁמֹתָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֵיהֶ֖ם וּבְטִֽירֹתָ֑ם שְׁנֵים־עָשָׂ֥ר נְשִׂיאִ֖ם לְאֻמֹּתָֽם׃ יז וְאֵ֗לֶּה שְׁנֵי֙ חַיֵּ֣י יִשְׁמָעֵ֔אל מְאַ֥ת שָׁנָ֛ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה וְשֶׁ֣בַע שָׁנִ֑ים וַיִּגְוַ֣ע וַיָּ֔מׇת וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃ יח וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־שׁ֗וּר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כׇל־אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל׃ |
12 Now these are the progeny of Yishmael son of Avraham, whom Hagar the Mitsri-woman, Sarah’s maid, bore to Avraham. 13 And these are the names of the sons of Yishmael, by their names after (the order of) their progeny: 14 Yishmael’s firstborn, Nevayōt; and Qedar, Adb’el, Mivsam, Mishma, Dūmah, Massa, 15 Ḥadad and Teima, Y’tur, Nafish and Qedma. 16 These are the sons of Yishmael, these their names, in their villages and in their corrals, twelve leaders for their tribes. 17 And these are the years of the life of Yishmael: a hundred years and thirty years and seven years, then he expired. He died and was gathered to his kinspeople. 18 Now they dwelt from Ḥavila to Shur, which faces Mitsrayim, back to where you come toward Ashurah; in the presence of all his brothers did (his inheritance) fall. |
The Masoretic text presented here is from Rabbi Dr. Seth (Avi) Kadish’s Miqra al pi ha-Mesorah. For the translation in English, I have adapted the translation of Everett Fox in the Schocken Bible (Everett Fox 1995), mostly to re-Hebraize divine names, place names, and personal names. I have also replaced “Sons of Ḥet” with “men of Ḥet” for consistency with the “women of Ḥet” which Rivqa derides in Genesis 27:46. Aside from these, I have made minor punctuation changes. (To buy a print copy of the complete translation of The Schocken Bible vol. 1: The Five Books of Moses, visit Penguin/Random House.)
Notes
| 1 | Like Chapter 17, Chapter 23 is a typical Priestly narrative. 1. The quantitative information (Sarah’s age) which characterizes P appears in the first verse of the chapter. 2. The exactitude of the geographical location of the burial site and the meticulous description of the transaction are typical of P’s organized thinking. 3. This narrative is alluded to in other Priestly texts such as this source’s additions to the original texts of Genesis 48 and 50. 4. The language is undoubtedly Priestly, e.g. the expression: “The length of X’s life” (vs. 1) appears several times in P’s death notices; the legal categories – stranger and alien (vs. 4), are typical to P’s law code; the term “achuzah” (place, inheritance) (vs. 9) is a common term in Priestly literature and rarely appears elsewhere (and compare 47:11). 5. Sarah’s death is not alluded to except in the P additions to Gen. 48 and 50, and the final verse of Genesis 24, which are all relatively late (relative to the texts they appear in). This chapter may thus be confidently attributed to a later author, and considering the above stated evidence, it is quite likely that this author is P. |
|---|---|
| 2 | A more exact rendering of the Hebrew of vs. 15 is: “Before he had finished speaking there was Rebecca coming out, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah…”. Note that her family identification appears only after the verb. This is difficult syntactically in Hebrew as well as in English – the NRSV translation corrects this syntactical inconsistency by inserting the family identification between the subject (Rebecca) and the verb (coming out), and see our discussion below in the following comment. |
| 3 | Rebecca is identified here very precisely with the same family ties as in Genesis 22:20-24 (B). As a user of this website pointed out, the qal passive yuldah “was born to” is used in this identification of Rebecca, which as I’ve mentioned above (see comments to 22:20-24), is a marker of B. There are two more reasons one may see this familial identification (who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,) as B: The first reason (and the stronger one) is that Rebecca is identified differently in vs. 48, she is not the GRANDdaughter of Nahor in vs. 48, rather she is the daughter of Nahor (The NRSV, aware of this discrepancy translated kinsman instead of brother, I corrected it in vs. 48 but not elsewhere). The second reason is that the phrase (who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother,) fits uncomfortably in vs. 15. It should appear right after Rebecca’s name, but in the Hebrew it appears right after the verb “coming out” (yotzet) (this was corrected in the NRSV translation). This insight should then lead us to assume that the other family identifications in this chapter (vss. 24, 47) may have been inserted as well by the Bridger. The reason for this multiple emphasis is obvious, since if B differs from J, then as I’ve remarked previously, the way he’d emphasize his point of view as the correct one is by repeating it. |
| 4 | In J Rebecca is identified only as the daughter of Betuel, and see previous comment. |
| 5 | See comments 2 and 3. |
| 6 | See comment 2. |
| 7 | This text, replete with repetitions, is sometimes divided into separate sources by the documentary hypothesis. The repetitions in this text, however, are more indicative of ancient Near Eastern literary style than of multiple authors, since there are no major textual discontinuities. |
| 8 | The death of Sarah is only mentioned in P contexts (see comments to Chapter 23) and thus the final half verse of this chapter is probably attributable to this source. |
| 9 | Note the use of the 3rd feminine singular qal “yaldah”, more prevalent in the Bridger’s genealogies than in P genealogies (P more frequently uses the hiphil or the niphal of the verb yalad). The function of this genealogy is to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham to increase his progeny while Abraham still lived. According to J, P, and E, Isaac and Ishmael are Abraham’s only children. Both J and P’s promises of progeny refer to the far future. Note also that Dedan, mentioned in this Abrahamite genealogy (vs. 3), was actually the grandson of Ham according to P (10:7). |
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Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)
Tzemaḥ Yoreh
the Masoretic Text
Masoretic layer 'J'
Masoretic layer 'P'
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