📖 Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 16

עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד: עַל הַתּוֹרָה, וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה, וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים.

THE SERVICE OF LOVING-KINDNESS THE world rests upon three things: upon the Torah, upon Divine Worship, and upon the service of loving-kindness.

עַל הַתּוֹרָה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה״ וְכוּ'. וְאוֹמֵר: ״לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ״. עַל הָעֲבוֹדָה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּתְפִלַּת יְשָׁרִים רְצוֹנוֹ״. עַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי חֶסֶד חָפַצְתִּי וְלֹא זָבַח״.

"Upon the Torah," whence do we know (this)? Because it is written, "If my covenant of day and night stand not" (Jer. 33:25); and (another text) says, "This book of the Torah shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night" (Josh. 1:8). Whence do we know (that the world rests) upon the service of loving-kindness? Because it is said, "For I desired love, || and not sacrifice" (Hos. 6:6). Whence do we know (that the world rests) upon Divine Worship? Because it is written, "And the prayer of the upright is his delight" (Prov. 15:8).

עַל הָעוֹשֶׂה גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים לַחֲתָנִים מִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִים? מֵהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁגָּמַל חֶסֶד לְאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן וּלְעֶזְרוֹ. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: ״חֲבִיבָה עָלַי חֶסֶד מִזְּבָחִים וְעוֹלוֹת שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל חֲבִיבִין וַעֲתִידִין לְהַקְרִיב לְפָנַי עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי חֶסֶד חָפַצְתִּי וְלֹא זָבַח״.

Whence do we learn of the service of loving-kindness for bridegrooms? We learn (this) from the Holy One, blessed be He; for He Himself bestowed loving-kindness upon Adam and his help-mate. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the ministering angels: Come ye and let us show loving-kindness to Adam and his help-mate. The Holy One, blessed be He, descended with the ministering angels to show loving-kindness to Adam and his help-mate. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: More beloved unto Me is the service of loving-kindness than sacrifices and burnt-offering which Israel, in the future, will bring on the altar before Me, as it is said, "For I desired love, and not sacrifice" (Hos. 6:6).

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה מִמִּי אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מִיַּעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ. כְּשֶׁנָּשָׂא אֶת לֵאָה עָשָׂה שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מַלֵּא שְׁבֻעַ זֹאת״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi José said: From whom do we learn of the seven days of banquet? From our father Jacob. For when our father Jacob married Leah, he made a banquet with rejoicing for seven days, as it is said, "Fulfil the week of this one" (Gen. 29:27).

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: כָּתַב אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לְיִצְחָק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּתֵּן אַבְרָהָם אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ לְיִצְחָק״. וְלָקַח הַכְּתָב וּנְתָנוֹ בְּיַד עַבְדּוֹ אֱלִיעֶזֶר. אָמַר: הוֹאִיל וְהַכְּתָב בְּיָדוֹ, כָּל מָמוֹנוֹ בְּיָדִי, לֵילֵךְ וּלְהִשְׁתַּבֵּחַ בְּבֵית אָבִיו וּבְמִשְׁפַּחְתּוֹ.

Rabbi Simeon said: Our father Abraham wrote (in his will and bequeathed) all that he had as an inheritance to Isaac, as it is said, "And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac" (Gen. 25:5). He took the document and gave it into the hands of Eliezer, his servant, (who) said, Since the document is in my hand all his money is in my hand, so that he might go and be recommended (thereby) in his father's house and with his family.

מִקִּרְיַת אַרְבַּע עַד חָרָן מַהֲלַךְ שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם, וּבְשָׁלוֹשׁ שָׁעוֹת בָּא הָעֶבֶד לְחָרָן. וְהָיָה הָעֶבֶד תָּמֵהַּ בְּלִבּוֹ וְאָמַר: ״הַיּוֹם יָצָאתִי וְהַיּוֹם בָּאתִי״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וָאָבֹא הַיּוֹם אֶל הָעָיִן״.

From Kirjath || Arba unto Haran was a journey of seventeen days; and in three hours the servant came to Haran. He was astonished in his mind and he said: This day I went forth, and this day I arrived, as it is said, "And I came this day unto the fountain" (Gen. 24:42).

רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ אָמַר: רָצָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִגְמֹל חֶסֶד לְיִצְחָק, וְשָׁלַח מַלְאָךְ לִפְנֵי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, וְנִקְפְּצָה הַדֶּרֶךְ עָלָיו, וּבְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁעוֹת בָּא הָעֶבֶד לְחָרָן.

Rabbi Abbahu said: The Holy One, blessed be He, wished to show loving-kindness to Isaac, and he sent an angel before Eliezer; and the way was shortened for him, so that the servant came to Haran in three hours.

וְהַכֹּל [צָפוּי] לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּבַת מְלָכִים שֶׁלֹּא יָצְאָה לִשְׁאֹב מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה יָצְאָה לִשְׁאֹב מַיִם בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. וְהַנַּעֲרָה שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה יוֹדַעַת מִי הוּא הָאִישׁ קִבְּלָה עָלֶיהָ לְהִזְדַּוֵּג לְיִצְחָק. לָמָּה? שֶׁהָיְתָה רְאוּיָה מִמְּעֵי אִמָּהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״בְּמֹאזְנַיִם לַעֲלוֹת הֵמָּה מֵהֶבֶל יָחַד״.

And everything is revealed before the Holy One, blessed be He. A daughter of kings, who in all her life had never gone forth to draw water, went out to draw water in that hour. And the girl, who did not know who the man was, accepted (the proposal) to be married to Isaac. Why? Because she had been destined for him from his mother's womb, as it is said, "In the balances they will go up, they are together lighter than vanity" (Ps. 62:10).

וְעָנוּ לָבָן וּבְתוּאֵל: ״הוֹאִיל וְהַדָּבָר יָצָא מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה, אֵין אָנוּ יְכוֹלִין לְעַכֵּב״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיַּעַן לָבָן וּבְתוּאֵל וַיֹּאמְרוּ״ וְכוּ'. ״הִנֵּה רִבְקָה לְפָנֶיךָ, קַח וָלֵךְ״.

Laban and Bethuel answered: Since (this) word has come forth from the mouth of the Almighty, we cannot prevent it, as it is said, "Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good" (Gen. 24:50). "Behold, Rebecca is before thee; take her and go" (Gen. 24:51).

וְהִשְׁכִּים הָעֶבֶד בַּבֹּקֶר וְרָאָה אֶת מַלְאָךְ עוֹמֵד וּמַמְתִּין לוֹ בַּחוּץ. אָמַר לָהֶם: ״אַל תְּאַחֲרוּ אוֹתִי, שֶׁהֲרֵי הָאִישׁ שֶׁבָּא אֶתְמוֹל עִמִּי וְהִצְלִיחַ דַּרְכִּי, הֲרֵי הוּא עוֹמֵד וּמַמְתִּין לִי בַּחוּץ״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אַל תְּאַחֲרוּ אֹתִי וַה' הִצְלִיחַ דַּרְכִּי״. אָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ מִשְׁתֵּה רִבְקָה, וּכְחַזָּן שֶׁהוּא עוֹמֵד וּמְבָרֵךְ לַכַּלָּה בְּתוֹךְ חֻפָּתָהּ, כֵּן עָמְדוּ וּבֵרְכוּ אֶת רִבְקָה אֲחוֹתָם לְיִצְחָק, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְבָרְכוּ אֶת רִבְקָה אֲחֹתָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לָהּ״ וְכוּ'.

The servant arose early in the morning and saw the angel standing and waiting for him in the street. He said to them: "Do not hinder me, for the Lord hath prospered my way" (Gen. 24:56). For behold, the man who came with me yesterday, he has prospered my way; behold, he is standing || and waiting for me in the street, as it is said, "And he said to them, Do not hinder me, for the Lord hath prospered my way." They ate and drank at Rebecca's (bridal) banquet. Like a precentor, who is standing and blessing the bride in her bridal canopy, so they stood and blessed Rebecca their sister (wedded) to Isaac, as it is said, "And they blessed Rebecca, and said unto her, Our sister…" (Gen. 24:60).

בְּשֵׁשׁ שָׁעוֹת מֵהַיּוֹם יָצָא הָעֶבֶד מֵהָאָרֶץ וְלָקַח אֶת רִבְקָה וְאֶת דְּבוֹרָה מֵנִיקְתָּהּ, וְהִרְכִּיב אוֹתָן עַל הַגְּמַלִּים. וּבִשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יִתְיַחֵד עִם הַנַּעֲרָה בַּלַּיְלָה, נִקְפְּצָה הָאָרֶץ לְפָנָיו, וּבְשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁעוֹת בָּא הָעֶבֶד לְחֶבְרוֹן לְעֵת תְּפִלַּת הַמִּנְחַת עֶרֶב. וְיָצָא יִצְחָק לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת הַמִּנְחָה וְרָאָה הַגְּמַלִּים בָּאִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה״ וְכוּ'.

At six hours of the day the servant went forth from Haran, and he took Rebecca and Deborah her nurse and made them ride upon the camels. So that the servant should not be alone with the maiden (Rebecca) by night, the earth was contracted before him, and in three hours the servant came to Hebron at the time of the prayer of the afternoon-evening. And Isaac had gone forth to say the afternoon-evening prayer, as it is said, "And Isaac went forth to meditate in the field towards even" (Gen. 24:63).

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אָמַר אַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק בְּנוֹ, ״הָעֶבֶד הַזֶּה חָשׁוּד עַל כָּל עֲרָיוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, הָעֶבֶד הַזֶּה מְרַמֶּה בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: 'כְּנַעַן בְּיָדוֹ מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה'. רְאֵה שֶׁמָּא נָגַע בַּצִּנּוֹר. תָּבִיא הַנַּעֲרָה הָאֹהֱלָה וְתוֹצִיא בְּתוּלֶיהָ בָּאֶצְבַּע. אִם טְהוֹרָה בִּבְתוּלֶיהָ, הֲרֵי הִיא רְאוּיָה לְךָ לְאִשָּׁה מִמְּעֵי אִמָּהּ״. וְהוֹצִיא אֶת בְּתוּלֶיהָ בָּאֶצְבַּע וְהֶרְאָם לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִיו, וְאַחַר כָּךְ לְקָחָהּ לְאִשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְבִיאֶהָ יִצְחָק הָאֹהֱלָה שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ וַיִּנָּחֵם יִצְחָק אַחֲרֵי אִמּוֹ״, שֶׁהָיוּ מַעֲשֵׂה רִבְקָה דּוֹמִין לְמַעֲשֵׂה שָׂרָה. וְכָךְ הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נְהוּגִין לְהוֹצִיא אֶת בְּתוּלֵי הַנַּעֲרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלָקַח אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה וְאִמָּהּ וְהוֹצִיאוּ״ וְכוּ'.

Rabbi Simeon said: Abraham spake to Isaac his son (saying), This servant is suspected of all the transgressions of the Torah, and deceit is in this servant, as it is said, "He is a Canaanite, the balances of deceit are in his hand; he loveth to defraud" (Hos. 12:7). See, lest he has defiled her, therefore bring the girl into the tent and examine her tactually; || and if she be undefiled, behold, she is destined for thee from her mother's womb. He brought her into the tent and examined her tactually, and he showed the result to Abraham his father, and afterwards he took her to be his wife, as it is said, "And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother… And Isaac was comforted after his mother's death" (Gen. 24:67); for the deeds of Rebecca were like unto those of Sarah. Hence the Israelites have the custom of producing the tokens of the damsel's virginity, as it is said, "Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity" (Deut. 22:15).

זְקַן (עַבְדּוֹ) [בֵּיתוֹ] שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם הָיָה עַבְדּוֹ אֱלִיעֶזֶר. וּמֵהֵיכָן הָיָה עַבְדּוֹ? אֶלָּא שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים, בָּאוּ כָּל גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר לִיתֵּן לוֹ מַתָּנוֹת, וְלָקַח נִמְרוֹד עַבְדּוֹ אֱלִיעֶזֶר וּנְתָנוֹ לוֹ עֶבֶד עוֹלָם.

The steward of Abraham's household was his servant Eliezer, and whence was his servant? When (Abraham) went forth from Ur of the Chaldees all the magnates of the kingdom came to give him gifts; and Nimrod took his first-born (son) Eliezer and gave him to (Abraham) as a perpetual slave.

וּכְשֶׁגָּמַל חֶסֶד לְיִצְחָק, הוֹצִיאוֹ לַחֵרוּת, וְנָתַן לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׂכָרוֹ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, וְקִיְּמוֹ לְמֶלֶךְ, וְהוּא עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן.

When (Eliezer had thus) dealt kindly with Isaac, he set him free, and the Holy One, blessed be He, gave him his reward in this world, so that there should not be a reward for the wicked in the world to come; and He raised him to kingship, and he is Og, king of Bashan.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה מִמִּי אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מִיַּעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, שֶׁעָשָׂה שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה וְלָקַח אֶת לֵאָה. וְעוֹד הוֹסִיף שִׁבְעָה יָמִים אֲחֵרִים מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה וְלָקַח אֶת רָחֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֶּאֱסֹף לָבָן אֶת כָּל אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם וַיַּעַשׂ מִשְׁתֶּה״. אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: אַתֶּם גְּמַלְתֶּם חֶסֶד עִם יַעֲקֹב עַבְדִּי וַאֲנִי אֶתֵּן שְׂכַרְכֶם לִבְנֵיכֶם לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, ״כִּי בוֹ נָתַן ה' תְּשׁוּעָה לַאֲרָם״. שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה מִמִּי אָנוּ לְמֵדִין? מִשִּׁמְשׁוֹן נְזִיר אֱלֹהִים, כְּשֶׁיָּרַד לְאֶרֶץ פְּלִשְׁתִּים וְלָקַח לוֹ אִשָּׁה וְעָשָׂה שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי מִשְׁתֶּה וְשִׂמְחָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי כִּרְאוֹתָם אוֹתוֹ וַיִּקְחוּ שְׁלֹשִׁים מֵרֵעִים וַיִּהְיוּ אִתּוֹ״. מֶה הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין אִתּוֹ? הָיוּ אוֹכְלִין וְשׁוֹתִין וּשְׂמֵחִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֹּאמֶר לָהֶם שִׁמְשׁוֹן אָחוּדָה נָּא לָכֶם חִידָה״, וּכְתִיב אַחַר אוֹמֵר: ״וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהַגִּיד אֶת הַחִידָה שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים״.

Rabbi José said: From whom do we learn (that there should be) seven days of (the wedding) banquet? From our father Jacob, who || made a banquet with rejoicing for seven days, and he took Leah (as his wife). Again he kept another seven days of banquet and rejoicing, and took Rachel (as his wife), as it is said, "And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast" (Gen. 29:22). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Ye have shown loving-kindness to Jacob, My servant. I will give a reward to your children, so that there be no reward for the wicked in the world to come: "Because by him the Lord had given victory unto Syria" (2 Kings 5:1). From whom do we learn (that there should be) seven days of banquet? From Samson the Nazirite of God, for when he went down to the land of the Philistines, he took a wife and kept seven days of banquet and rejoicing, as it is said, "And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him" (Judg. 14:11). What were they doing with him? They were eating and drinking and rejoicing, as it is said, "And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you" (Judg. 14:12); and another text says, "They could not declare the riddle in three days" (Judg. 14:14).

הֶחָתָן דּוֹמֶה לַמֶּלֶךְ. מָה הַמֶּלֶךְ הַכֹּל מְקַלְּסִין אוֹתוֹ שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה, כָּךְ חָתָן הַכֹּל מְקַלְּסִין אוֹתוֹ שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּשְׁתֶּה. מָה הַמֶּלֶךְ לוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי כָבוֹד, כָּךְ הֶחָתָן לוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי כָבוֹד. מָה הַמֶּלֶךְ שִׂמְחָה וּמִשְׁתֶּה לְפָנָיו כָּל הַיָּמִים, כָּךְ הֶחָתָן שִׂמְחָה וּמִשְׁתֶּה לְפָנָיו כָּל שִׁבְעַת יָמִים. מָה הַמֶּלֶךְ אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא לַשּׁוּק לְבַדּוֹ, כָּךְ הֶחָתָן אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא לַשּׁוּק לְבַדּוֹ. מָה הַמֶּלֶךְ פָּנָיו מְאִירוֹת כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה, כָּךְ חָתָן פָּנָיו מְאִירוֹת כְּאוֹר הַחַמָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהוּא כְּחָתָן יֹצֵא מֵחֻפָּתוֹ״.

The bridegroom is like a king. Just as a king is praised by everybody, so is the bridegroom praised by everybody (during) the seven days of the feast. Just as a king is dressed in garments of glory, so the bridegroom is dressed in garments of glory. Just as a king is rejoicing, with feasts in his presence, all his days, so || the bridegroom is rejoicing and has feasts before him all the seven days of the banquet. Just as the king does not go into the market-place alone, likewise the bridegroom does not go into the market-place alone. Just as the face of a king is shining like the light of a sun, so the face of the bridegroom is shining like the light of a sun, as it is said, "And he is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoicing to run his course" (Ps. 19:5).