The life of Sarah Part 5 (Gen 24:55-62)

55 Her brother and her mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.”

Her brother and her mother said—But where was Bethuel? He wished to prevent the marriage therefore an angel came and killed him (Bereishit Rabbah 60:12).

A while—יָמִים means a year—just as (Lev 25:29) “the time of its redemption shall be one full year (יָמִים)”—for the custom was to give a maiden twelve months to provide herself with ornaments (Bereishit Rabbah 60:12).

At least ten—Meaning ten months. But if you say that it does really mean “days,” it is not usual for people who make a request to ask for a little and to say “If you do not agree to this, then give us even more” (Ketubot 57b).

Ketubot 57b:2

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived, that a virgin is given twelve months to prepare for her wedding? Rav Ḥisda said it is based on the fact that the verse states with regard to Rebekah: “Her brother and mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us for days, or ten” (Gen 24:55).

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Ketubot 57b:3

The Gemara first analyzes the language of the verse: What is the meaning of “days”? If we say two days, the minimum number justifying the use of the plural, does a person really speak like this? Rebekah’s relatives said to Abraham’s servant that they wanted her to stay for two days, after which he said to them no, as he did not want to wait even that long. If so, is it possible that after that they said to him that they wanted her to stay for ten days? Consequently, it is impossible to explain the word “days” as two days and “ten” as ten days. Rather, what is the meaning of “days”? It means: A year, as it is written: “For days he shall have redemption” (Lev 25:29), and there it is explained that “days” is referring to a year. Consequently, in the verse “Her brother and mother said, “Let the young woman remain with us for days, at least ten” (Gen 24:55), “days” refers to a year, and “ten” refers to a shorter period of similar magnitude, i.e. ten months, in order to prepare for her wedding.

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Nedarim 37b:8

The ornamentation of the scribes are expressions that the scribes understood in a manner that differs slightly from its plain understanding. For example: “And after that [aḥar] you may pass on” (Gen 18:5); “After that [aḥar] she will go” (Gen 24:55); “Afterward [aḥar] you shall be gathered” (Num 31:2); “The singers in front, the musicians last [aḥar]” (Psa 68:26); “Your righteousness is like the mountains of God” (Psa 36:7).

In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, GEN 4:3

If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may redeem it within a year of its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of redemption. LEV 25:29

57 They said, “Let us call the young woman and ask her.”

And ask her—From this we may infer that a woman should not be given in marriage except with her own consent (Bereishit Rabbah 60:12).

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58 And they called Rebekah and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.”

She said, “I will go”—Of my own accord even though you do not consent (Bereishit Rabbah 60:12).

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. LUK 1:38

62 Now Isaac had returned from Beer-lahai-roi and was dwelling in the Negeb.

Had returned from Beer-lahai-roi—For he had gone there to bring Hagar back to Abraham that he might take her again as his wife (Bereishit Rabbah 60:14).

And was dwelling in the Negeb, near to that well, as it is said (Gen 20:1), “From there Abraham journeyed toward the Negeb territory and lived between Kadesh and Shur,” and the well was there, as is said (Gen 16:14), “It lies between Kadesh and Bered.”