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Genesis 24:67 - Love heals mourning's pain?

Genesis 24:67 - בראשית 24:67

Hebrew Text

וַיְבִאֶהָ יִצְחָק הָאֹהֱלָה שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת־רִבְקָה וַתְּהִי־לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ וַיִּנָּחֵם יִצְחָק אַחֲרֵי אִמּוֹ׃

English Translation

And Yiżĥaq brought her into his mother Sara’s tent, and took Rivqa, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Yiżĥaq was comforted after his mother’s death.

Transliteration

Vayevi'eha Yitzhak ha'ohela Sarah imo vayikach et-Rivka vatehi-lo le'isha vaye'ehaveha vayinachem Yitzhak acharei imo.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ יִצְחָ֗ק הָאֹ֙הֱלָה֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה וַתְּהִי־ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם יִצְחָ֖ק אַחֲרֵ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃ <span class="mam-spi-pe">{פ}</span><br>
וַיְבִאֶ֣הָ יִצְחָ֗ק הָאֹ֙הֱלָה֙ שָׂרָ֣ה אִמּ֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֧ח אֶת־רִבְקָ֛ה וַתְּהִי־ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶ֑הָ וַיִּנָּחֵ֥ם יִצְחָ֖ק אַחֲרֵ֥י אִמּֽוֹ׃ {פ}

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Parasha Commentary

Isaac's Marriage to Rebecca

The verse (Bereshit 24:67) describes Isaac bringing Rebecca into his mother Sarah’s tent, marrying her, loving her, and finding comfort after his mother’s death. This passage holds deep significance in Jewish tradition, as it marks the continuation of the Abrahamic covenant through Isaac and Rebecca.

Entering Sarah’s Tent

Rashi explains that when Isaac brought Rebecca into Sarah’s tent, three miracles that had ceased with Sarah’s death returned:

  • The Shabbat candles remained lit from one week to the next.
  • A blessing was present in the dough (the challah remained plentiful).
  • The Divine Presence (Shekhinah) rested over the tent.
These miracles demonstrated that Rebecca was a worthy successor to Sarah in righteousness (Rashi on Bereshit 24:67, citing Midrash Bereshit Rabbah 60:16).

Isaac’s Love for Rebecca

The Torah states that Isaac loved Rebecca, which Ramban (Nachmanides) explains as a natural progression of their sacred bond. Unlike Abraham and Sarah, whose marriage preceded their spiritual mission, Isaac and Rebecca’s union was forged with divine providence (through Eliezer’s prayer and the sign at the well). Their love was not merely emotional but rooted in shared devotion to God’s will (Ramban on Bereshit 24:67).

Comfort After Sarah’s Death

The Talmud (Bava Batra 16b) teaches that mourning for a righteous parent is profound, and true comfort only comes through the continuity of their legacy. Isaac was comforted after Sarah’s death because Rebecca emulated Sarah’s virtues, ensuring the spiritual and physical sustenance of the household (Midrash Tanchuma, Chayei Sarah 4). The Sforno adds that Isaac’s consolation came from seeing God’s promise fulfilled—the next generation of the covenant secured through Rebecca.

The Symbolism of the Tent

The tent represents the Jewish home, a microcosm of holiness. Sarah’s tent was a place of divine connection, and Rebecca’s entry signifies the transmission of this sacred role. The Kli Yakar emphasizes that just as Sarah was the foundation of the first matriarchal lineage, Rebecca now assumed that role, ensuring the future of the Jewish people through her marriage to Isaac.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Yevamot 61b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the nature of marriage and the relationship between Isaac and Rebecca, illustrating how Isaac was comforted after his mother's death through his marriage to Rebecca.
📖 Bava Batra 16b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the virtues of Sarah and how her tent was a place of blessing, which was restored when Rebecca entered it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Yitzchak bring Rivka into his mother Sarah's tent?
A: According to Rashi (Genesis 24:67), when Yitzchak brought Rivka into Sarah's tent, three miracles that had been present in Sarah's lifetime returned: the Shabbat candles burned from one Friday to the next, the dough was blessed (there was always enough challah), and a cloud of Divine presence hovered over the tent. This showed that Rivka was a worthy successor to Sarah in righteousness.
Q: What does it mean that Yitzchak was comforted after his mother's death?
A: The Torah teaches that the love between Yitzchak and Rivka brought him comfort after the loss of his mother Sarah. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 60:16) explains that for three years after Sarah's death, Yitzchak was in mourning, and only when he married Rivka did he find consolation. This shows the profound bond between husband and wife in Jewish tradition.
Q: Why does the Torah mention that Yitzchak loved Rivka?
A: The Torah emphasizes Yitzchak's love for Rivka to teach that marital love is a fundamental value in Judaism. Rambam (Hilchot Ishut 15:19) explains that a husband must love his wife as himself and honor her more than himself. This verse sets an example for the ideal Jewish marriage, where love grows after marriage through shared values and commitment.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yitzchak and Rivka's marriage?
A: The Talmud (Yevamot 62b) learns from this verse that a man without a wife lives without joy, blessing, and goodness. Yitzchak and Rivka's marriage teaches that a proper Jewish home is built on love, shared spiritual goals (symbolized by the miracles in the tent), and mutual comfort. Their relationship became the foundation for the future Jewish people.
Q: How did Rivka compare to Sarah?
A: The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 60:15) states that just as Sarah was modest and righteous, so too was Rivka. When the miracles of Sarah's tent reappeared with Rivka, it showed she was Sarah's spiritual heir. This continuity was crucial since Sarah was the first Matriarch and Rivka would become the mother of Yaakov, from whom the 12 tribes descended.