Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the 'girl' mentioned in Genesis 24:28?
A: The 'girl' refers to Rebecca (Rivka), who had just encountered Abraham's servant Eliezer at the well. She ran to tell her family about the events, leading to her eventual marriage to Isaac (Yitzchak). Rashi explains that her quick action demonstrated her kindness and enthusiasm for performing mitzvot.
Q: Why did Rebecca run to tell her mother's household?
A: Rebecca ran to share the news of Eliezer's arrival and his mission to find a wife for Isaac. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 60:7) highlights her excitement and righteousness in immediately informing her family, showing her suitability to become part of Abraham's household.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Rebecca's actions in this verse?
A: Rebecca teaches us the importance of acting with enthusiasm when doing good deeds (mitzvot). The Talmud (Pesachim 4a) emphasizes that 'the zealous perform mitzvot early,' and Rebecca's quick response exemplifies this principle, showing her eagerness to fulfill G-d's plan.
Q: Why does the verse specify 'her mother's house' instead of her father's?
A: Rashi explains that Rebecca's father Betuel was wicked (he later tried to poison Eliezer), while her mother and brother Lavan were the primary decision-makers in the household. The Torah highlights 'her mother's house' to show where the proper guidance came from in this situation.
Q: How does this verse connect to Jewish marriage traditions?
A: This moment begins the process of shidduch (Jewish matchmaking), showing how Divine providence guides proper matches. The Rambam (Hilchot Ishut 2:2) later derives principles about proper marriage arrangements from this story, emphasizing family involvement and the importance of character (like Rebecca's kindness).
The Verse in Context
The verse (Ruth 1:18) describes Ruth's decisive action after Naomi urges her to return to Moab. Instead of departing, Ruth demonstrates her unwavering commitment to Naomi and the Jewish people by running to share her resolve with Naomi's household. This moment marks Ruth's full embrace of Jewish destiny.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi notes that Ruth's haste ("וַתָּרָץ") reflects her enthusiasm for converting to Judaism. Her running symbolizes the zeal of a righteous convert (גֵּר צֶדֶק) who eagerly embraces Torah. Rashi also emphasizes that Ruth went to "her mother’s house" (בֵּית אִמָּהּ) - the matriarchal home - suggesting the transmission of Jewish values through the maternal line, foreshadowing Ruth's future role as ancestor of King David.
Midrashic Insights
The Midrash (Ruth Rabbah 2:11) elaborates that Ruth's declaration to Naomi's household included:
Halachic Perspective
Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Biah 14:6) cites Ruth as the paradigm of proper conversion - demonstrating complete acceptance of Torah commandments before witnesses (Naomi's household). Her public declaration fulfills the halachic requirement of kabbalat mitzvot before a beit din.
Symbolic Meaning
The Vilna Gaon explains that Ruth's "running" represents the soul's yearning to cleave to the Divine. Just as Ruth hastened toward Jewish identity, every Jew should enthusiastically pursue spiritual growth. The verse's conclusion - "these things" - alludes to the 613 commandments Ruth implicitly accepted through her conversion.