Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why does the Torah mention that Yitzchak (Isaac) was 40 years old when he married Rivka (Rebecca)?
A: The Torah emphasizes Yitzchak's age to teach us about patience and divine timing. According to Rashi, Yitzchak waited until age 40 to marry, just as Avraham (Abraham) waited until he was mature enough to make the right choice in a spouse. This teaches the importance of waiting for the proper time in life's important decisions.
Q: Why is Rivka described as the daughter of Betuel and sister of Lavan?
A: The Torah mentions Rivka's family connections to highlight her background. Betuel was known for his wickedness (as explained in Midrash), while Lavan later became a deceitful figure. Despite coming from this environment, Rivka grew to be a righteous matriarch, teaching us that one's family background doesn't determine their spiritual potential.
Q: What is the significance of Rivka coming from Padan-aram?
A: Padan-aram was the ancestral home of Avraham's family. The Torah mentions this to show continuity - just as Avraham sent his servant back to his homeland to find a wife for Yitzchak, so too the next generation maintained this connection. This teaches the importance of maintaining family traditions and values.
Q: Why does the Torah call Lavan 'the Aramean'?
A: The description 'the Aramean' (HaArami) emphasizes Lavan's character. According to the Talmud (Pesachim 113b), this title hints at his deceitful nature, as he later tried to trick Yaakov (Jacob). This serves as a contrast to Rivka's righteousness, showing that she rose above her family's negative traits.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yitzchak and Rivka's marriage?
A: Their marriage teaches several important lessons: 1) The value of patience in waiting for the right spouse (Yitzchak waited until 40), 2) That divine providence guides proper matches (as seen in the story of Eliezer finding Rivka), and 3) That one can rise above their family background, as Rivka did from her questionable family environment.
Age of Yitzchak at Marriage
The verse states that Yitzchak was forty years old when he married Rivka. Rashi (on Bereishit 25:20) explains that this age is significant because it parallels the time between Yitzchak's birth and Sarah's death. Since Sarah was ninety years old when Yitzchak was born and passed away at 127 (Bereishit 23:1), Yitzchak was thirty-seven at her death. The three-year gap until his marriage at forty is understood by the Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 57:1) as a period of mourning for his mother, demonstrating his deep respect for her.
Rivka's Lineage
The verse emphasizes Rivka's background as the daughter of Betuel the Aramean and sister of Lavan the Aramean. Ramban (on Bereishit 25:20) notes that the Torah highlights her Aramean lineage to contrast Avraham's family with the morally corrupt environment of Aram. Despite this, Rivka's righteousness (as later demonstrated in her actions) shows that she transcended her origins, fulfilling the divine plan for the continuity of the Jewish people.
The Significance of "Paddan-Aram"
The mention of Paddan-Aram connects Rivka to the same region as Avraham's original journey (Bereishit 11:31). The Talmud (Yevamot 61a) teaches that marrying within Avraham's extended family was crucial to maintaining spiritual purity. Rashi (on Bereishit 24:10) explains that Paddan-Aram was the center of Betuel and Lavan's household, reinforcing the providential nature of Eliezer's mission to find a suitable wife for Yitzchak from Avraham's kin.
Lavan's Mention
The verse identifies Rivka as the sister of Lavan the Aramean, foreshadowing future events. The Midrash (Tanchuma, Toledot 8) comments that mentioning Lavan here hints at the challenges Yitzchak and Rivka would later face with him, particularly concerning Yaakov and Esav. This serves as a reminder that even righteous individuals must contend with difficult family dynamics in fulfilling their divine mission.