#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
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VERSE: Gn25-20a
RASHIS COVERED: Gn25-20a Gn22-20a Gn22-23a Gn25-26d Gn24-57a Gn24-57b
========================= Gn25-20a ==============================
SUCCINT SUMMARY:
----------------
Rashi sometimes gathers a collection of verses, each with some
numerical attribute, and does an accounting audit using
spreadsheet methods.
EXAMPLE
-------
- Gn17-17 Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born
- Gn25-20 Isaac was 40 (hence Sarah 130) when Isaac married
- Gn23-01 Sarah 127 at time of her death(Isaac 37)
- Gn22-01 Akaydah of Isaac (Sometime between Isaac 0 and 37)
- Gn22-20 Bethuayl (Isaacs Father in law) born at Akaydah
- Gn22-23 Rivkah (Isaacs wife) born at time of Akaydah
- Assume Isaac 25-30 By Akaydah(Sarah 115-120,Rivkah 0-5)
- Hence Rivkah 12 when Sarah dies at 127(Isaac 37)
- Hence Rivkah 15 when Isaac marries her
- Gn25-26 Isaac 60 (Rivkah 35) when she gives birth
The only place we have leeway is in the assumption of how
old Isaac was at the Akaydah(This will be discussed below)
It would appear that Rivkah had been born then or was about
5 (and known for her charitable nature). God ordered Abraham
to do the Akaydah to teach Isaac the value of Self-restraint.
After his mothers death (Rivkah was 12) Isaac waited 3 years
so that she shouldnt rush into marriage.
I would also appear that Isaac delayed marrying a concubine
(to have children) until Rivkah was 35 (the middle age for
the expected 70 year life of that time). More details and
discussion below.
=================================================================
ITEM DETAIL
======================== ========================================
RASHI RULE CLASS: SPREADSHEETS
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS ALGEBRA
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #30
SEE BELOW LIST690b
List of verses on Rivkahs age when she married Isaac
----------------- --------------------------
SEE BELOW LIST690a
Rashis requiring Spreadsheets/Algebra
----------------- --------------------------
RASHI RULE CLASS: GRAMMARr
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS SPECIAL WORDS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST005j
List of verses with AFTER THESE THINGS = after a while
----------------- --------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPHS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST060a
List of verses with consecutive paragraphs with same theme
----------------- --------------------------
RASHI SUBRULE CLASS VERB CONJUGATIONS
RASHI WORKBOOK PRINCIPLE #9
SEE BELOW LIST703g
List of verses with PAST=past perfect(HAD ALREADY...)
===============================================================
================== LIST690b ===========================
List of verses on Rivkahs age when she married Isaac
=======================================================
VERSE Isaac Rivkah Event at that age of Isaac
======= ===== ====== =================================
Gn17-17 0 Sarah is 90 when Isaac born *1
Gn22-01 25-30 0-5 Isaacs age at time of Akaydah*2
Gn22-20a 25-30 0-5 Bethuayl had been born*3
Gn22-23a 25-30 0-5 Rivkah had already been born*3
Gn23-01 37 12 Sarah 127 at time of death *1 *4
Gn24-59 40 15 Rivkah and nursemaid GoTo Isaac*1
Gn25-20a 40 15 Marriage to Rivkah*1 *12
Gn25-26d 60 35 Birth of Esauv and Yaakov*1*5
NOTES
-----
*1 Certain ages are explicitly said in the verses
Note how verse Gn24-59 links to Gn25-20; so it too is
explicitly said
*2 This is the one event (Akaydah=sacrifice of Isaac)
where the age is not explicitly given.
Rashi at Gn22-23a points out that the topic sentence
of Gn22-20:24 is RIVKAHS birth. In other words the
3 Biblical paragraphs
- Akaydah
- Rivkahs birth and news of it
- Sarahs death
Form a sequence
From this sequence we see that the following 3 events
- the Akaydah
- news of Rivkahs birth
- Rivkahs birth
happened between
- Sarah age 90(birth of Isaac)
- Sarah age 127 (Death of Sarah)
See footnote #3 and #4 for further details
See LIST060A for the CONSECUTIVE PARAGRAPH PRINCIPLE
and its application to these paragraphs
*3 See LIST005J -- The Biblical expression
-- AFTER THESE THINGS
denotes Sequence: AFTER A WHILE*10
Further support for this AFTER-A-WHILE
interpretation may be found
in the fact that the Bible uses the past perfect:
The Bible says:
-- After the akaydah Abraham heard that Milkah
-- HAD ALREADY GIVEN birth to Bethuayl
-- Bethuayl HAD ALREADY given birth to Rivkah
This translation:HAD-ALREADY-GIVEN-BIRTH (Past perfect)
comes from the grammatical principle that
- past tense is translated as past perfect--HAD ALREADY
- future tense + Overturning VAV is translated as PAST
See LIST703g
*4 See footnotes #2 and #3. We know the Akaydah happened
some time between Sarah age 90 and Sarah age 127. We
also know that Rivkah had ALREADY been born at the Akaydah
Here is one REASONABLE approach
- Rivkah was 5 at The Akaydah. She was already known
as a charitable girl. Hence it was obvious (based
on family considerations) that she could marry Isaac
- Rivkah was 12 when Sarah died (Isaac 37). It wouldnt
be proper to marry a 12 year old as soon as she reaches
adulthood. Hence Isaac waited 3 years till she had
seen the world a bit (37+3=40; 12+3=15).
- Backtracking we see that the Akaydah probably happened
when Isaac was 30. The Akaydah symbolized for Isaac
the same as circumcision for Abraham...it symbolized
self-restraint---thus Isaac prepared for his marriage
to Rivkah for 7 years (The same as Jacob)*11
*5 Isaac was 40 (Rivkah 15) when they married. He was 60
(She 35) when she gave birth. Why the 20 year delay?
The standard text of Rashi reads as follows
--------------------------------------------
10 years from Rivkah 3 to 13
10 years during which husbands can wait for children
--------------------------------------------
After that he had to divorce her or get a new wife
to have children.
We interpret the situation as follows
------------------------------------------
Isaac waited till Rivkah was 35
35 years is the midpoint of a 70 year life
After that he would have to seek children elsewhere
------------------------------------------
See footnote *13 for a discussion and proofs
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES --------------
*10 A literal reading of the Rashis at Gn25-20a
and Gn23-02c seems to say that
- the Akaydah happened when Isaac was 37
- Sarah died because Abraham offered Isaac
- Thus the following 3 happened at the same time
-- Akaydah
-- birth of Rivkah
-- Sarahs death
But this literal reading is DIRECTLY CONTRADICTED
by the Rashi principle that
- AFTER THESE THINGS denotes SEQUENCE AFTER A WHILE
See LIST005j for a review of relevant verses
It is also directly contradicted by use of the PAST
PERFECT (HAD ALREADY BEEN GIVEN) See LIST703g
*11 The above is all reasonable. However if the reader doesnt
like this approach then I invite the reader to take
the 5 facts I have enumerated
- Sarah 90 when Isaac was born
- Akaydah happened between Isaac 0 and Isaac 37
- Sarah 127 (Isaac 37) at age of death
- Rivkah already born at Akaydah
- Isaac married rivkah at 40
The reader may then make their own spreadsheet
and use principles and or Midrashim to make it
reasonable.
For my claim that the Akaydah taught self-restraint
see http://www.Rashiyomi.com/akaydah.htm
*12 We note some language in Rashi consistent with
our interpretation
--------------------------------------------
During THAT PERIOD (the Akaydah) Rivkah was born
--------------------------------------------
There is an emphasis that Rivkah was born during
the PERIOD OF THE AKAYDAH, not at that exact time
Similarly Rashi states
-----------------------------------------------
Isaac waited 3 years after she was capable of childbirth
-----------------------------------------------
That is he waited from 12 to 15.
However this has been misread as
-----------------------------------------------
Isaac waited till she was 3 years old: Capable of relations
-----------------------------------------------
This harps on the fact that relations with a 3 year
old is considered male-female-relations.
However it is clearly absurd to assume that Isaac
married Rivkah at 3
*13 There are several ways to contradict the actual
text of Rashi
* Rivkah could NOT have been 3 at marriage or born
at the Akaydah since the Bible explicitly says
that Rivkah had ALREADY BEEN BORN at the Akaydah
and Abraham was told the NEWS, AWHILE after the
Akaydah (see LIST703g and LIST060a for details)
* Rashi is based on the Talmud in Yevamoth 64
But the Talmud does NOT say what Rashi says!!!
* The Talmud explicitly states that both Isaac
and Rivkah were barren (Alternatively Isaac
was in Israel and the 10 year rule to marry
elsewhere for children doesnt apply there)
So the most reasonable assumption is that
Rashi cited the 35-YEAR-RULE (A Man should
marry someone else for children if his wife
has not given birth by 35). However a later
scribe seeing a requirement to marry someone
else for children confused this with the
10 YEAR RULE mentioned above.
In summary: Rashi is based on Yevamoth and the
Talmud directly contradicts what Rashi says here
In fact the whole point of the Talmud is that
we can NOT infer the 10 year rule from Isaac
and Rivkah. Hence I think the above textual
emendation reasonable(Though we do not have
further sources to back it up).
Readers who are still dissatisfied should review
the Talmud Yevamoth 64 and try and come up
with their own explanation.
=====================================================
==================== LIST690a ==================================
List of verses where Rashi illumines thru use
of spreadsheets, mathematics, and algebra.
The latest addition is the Rashi about the Birth of Rivkah
All items may be found at
http://www.Rashiyomi.com/
================================================================
VERSE Item Spreadsheet is used for
============ ==================================================
dt21-17a.htm How to give 1st-born double *1
ex38-24b.htm Computation of relative value of Biblical currency
nu03-39b.htm Accounting of Levite children
nu31-26a.htm Division of booty in war
gn05-32b.htm Computation of relative ages of Noachs children
gn25-20a.htm Proof that Rivkah was 15 when she married Isaac
NOTES
-----
*1 Many people are familiar with the concept of the
FORMULA PLUG IN. That is a problem is solved by a
formula which you plug into.
But some problems intrinsically cannot (initally)
be solved by a formula. Instead you have to
formulate the problem algebraically and solve;only
then do you have the formula.
In other words these problems are solved by
the EQUATION vs the FORMULA
Thus the statement that the eldest gets double
suggests the following model.
- Suppose the are B brothers
- Suppose 1 of them is eldest
- The Fathers total assets are T (Total)
- Let A be the amount each brother inherits
We have no formula for A
- Then each of the B-1 brothers obtains A
- The eldest obtains double, 2A.
- Together this exhausts the Fathers estate, T
Hence we have (B-1)A + 2A = (B+1)A = T
This gives rise to the formula A = T / (B+1)
An example is a father with 100,000 and 4 children
- T=100,000
- B=4
- So each child take T/(B+1) = 100000/5 = 20,000
- Eldest takes 2*20000=40000
- Other 3 take 20000
- Total distribution =3*20000+40000=100000
See Rambam Inheritance Chapter 2
================================================================
================= LIST060a ================================
The following list contains consecutive chapters
with a common theme. For further examples see
the CP (Consecutive chapter) series at
http://www.RashiYomi.com/calendar1.htm
The Consecutive Chapter series was given in
July 2000
===========================================================
VERSE COMMON THEME 1st Chapter 2nd Chapter
======== =============== =============== ================
Gn22-23a Isaac-Rivkah Akaydah Rivkah-born*1
Ex18-01a Gods miracles Exodus Defeat of Amalek
Nu13-02a Slander Miryam on Moses Spies on Israel
Nu26-64a Entry to Israel Census Girl inheritance
Nu27-12a Entry to Israel Girl inheritance Joshua and Moes
Nu15-41d Important Laws Idolatry Sabbath
Dt33-07a Repentance Reuven Judah
Nu08-02a Temple gifts Gold vessels Service
Ex17-08a God cares for us Water-Manna Defeat of Amalek
Ex21-01a A Just life The Altar Monetary Law
Nu20-01b Atonement Red Heiffer Miryam's death
NOTES
-----
*1 Actual there are 3 paragraphs as follows
- Gn22-01:19 Akaydah
- Gn22-20:24 Birth of Rivkah
- Gn23-01:-- Death of Sarah
Rashi points out that the TOPIC SENTENCE of Gn22-20:24
is the birth of Rivkah. Rashi also points out that
the 3 paragraphs form a TEMPORAL SEQUENCE
For further details see LIST690B
===========================================================
========================== LIST005j ==================================
List of verses with AFTER THESE THINGS =after a while*1
======================================================================
VERSE 1st EVENT 2nd EVENT (AFTER) WHY 1 after Other
======== ===================== ==================== ==================
Gn15-01a Abraham kills in war You-ll have children Dont worry
Gn22-01a Ishmael older brother Isaac is chosen one Despite youth
Gn39-07a Joseph promoted/liked Bosses wife seduces Not cautious
Gn40-01a Joseph incarcarated Met Pharohs staff Help escape
Es02-01 Xerxes killed wife Chose a new wife ------
Es03-01 Mrdchi did king favor Haman promoted Mrdchai will save
1K17-17 Elijah gave earnings Son got ill 2nd miracle needed
1K21-01 Punished for violatin Another violation Punished again
---- ----------------- -------------- -------------
Gn48-01a Oath:Where Jcb buried Jacob got ill Fulfill oath
Jo24-29 Oath:Serve God Joshua died Life work done
Gn22-20a Sacrifice of Isaac Isaacs wife born He wont die
NOTES
-----
*1 Rashi further distinguishes between
- AFTER (Aleph-Cheth-Resh) which means IMMEDIATELY AFTER and
- AFTER (Aleph-Cheth-Resh-yud) which means EVENTUALLY
For example:
- IMMEDIATELY after Xerxes killed his wife, the process for
chosing a new wife began.
- EVENTUALLY after Jacob had instructed Joseph that he
must be buried in Israel, not Egypt, Jacob became
terminally ill*10
-------------------------- LONGER FOOTNOTES ------------------
*10 Remarkably the above table gives ALL Biblical examples!
There are only 11 (8 with Aleph-Cheth-Resh and 3
with Aleph-Cheth-Resh-yud).The Table is deliberately
terse--MOST of the examples however should be clear
The more interested reader should check the examples
and see how they fit the given principle
=======================================================================
============================ LIST703g ==============================
List of verses with PAST=past perfect(HAD ALREADY...)*7
====================================================================
VERSE TEXT WITH PAST PERFECT WHY PAST PERFECT
======= ========================================== =================
Gn01-02 The earth HAD ALREADY been astonishing Previous worlds*1
Gn01-05 God HAD ALREADY called the darkness NIGHT Previous worlds*1
Gn04-01 Adam HAD ALREADY (sexually) known his wife Causal link*2
Gn21-01 God HAD ALREADY remembered Sarah Causal link*2
Gn25-34 Jacob HAD ALREADY given Esauv food No blackmail*3
Ex12-36 God HAD ALREADY given grace to the Jews Loaned twice*4
Gn37-36 And the MDANIM HAD ALREADY sold Joseph*5 Reversal of order
Ex24-01 And God HAD ALREADY told Moses to come up Reversal of order
Gn22-23 Bethuayl HAD GIVEN BIRTH to Rivkah*6 Rivkah 5 at Akydh
NOTES
-----
*1 The Genesis Rabbah Chapter 3, Braiitha 7 states
>God had created many worlds before this one
>He however destroyed them and it is only
>this world that pleased him.
The Midrash Rabbah learns this from various sources
but the PAST PERFECT verbs brought here are the main
source. (For example the Midrash also learns this from
the phrase
>1-1-31 & God saw all he had made and
>BEHOLD it was good
which has the connotation of
>BEHOLD it was good this time but not the
>previous times
While this is supportive it is not conclusive. The
main argument is from the PAST PERFECT verbs as
indicated above
Although the TEXT of the Genesis Rabbah 3:7 does not
seem to indicate that the creation of previous worlds
is derived from the PAST PERFECT nevertheless I found
an explicit statement of this connection between the
PAST PERFECT and the creation of previous worlds in
the Soncino Translation of the Zohar, 16a.
*2 Rashi suggests that the PAST PERFECT (HAD DONE) allows
>rearranging the sequence of chapters
thereby indicating
>causal links.
For example the natural sequence
>1-2-26:28 Intimacy
>1-4-1 Pregnancy/birth
>1-3 Snake gets Eve to sin/expulsion from Paradise
is changed to
>1-2-26:28 Intimacy
>1-3 Snake gets Eve to sin/expulsion from Paradise
>1-4-1 Pregnancy birth
The changed sequence suggests a
>CAUSAL LINK
between
>INTIMACY & SIN OF SNAKE
In other words, because Adam and Eve were cohabiting before
everybody the snake (a nickname for a slimy person) desired
her and plotted to kill Adam (by having Eve give him the
forbidden food) whereby he could marry her. Although this
appears speculative it is bolstered by the use of the PAST
PERFECT which allows a rearrangement of order.
Similarly the sequence
>1-18:19 The 3 angels
>1-18 prophecy that Sarah will give birth
>1-19 Destrucion of Sedom/Saving of Lot
>1-21-1 Sarah gave birth
>1-20 Abduction of Sarah
>1-20-14:18 Sarah saved; Abraham prays for Avimelech
is reversed to
>1-18:19 The 3 angels
>1-18 prophecy that Sarah will give birth
>1-19 Destrucion of Sedom/Saving of Lot
>1-20 Abduction of Sarah
>1-20-14:18 Sarah saved; Abraham prays for Avimelech
>1-21-1 Sarah gave birth
The changed sequence suggests a
>CAUSAL LINK
between
>Abraham praying that Avimelech should give birth
>Abraham-Sarah having a child
Chazal in fact say
>Whoever prays for his friend
>gets answered first (if he needs the same thing)
*3 1-25-29:34 describes Esauv coming home hungry and asking
Jacob for food who in turn asks Esauv to sell him the birthright.
The verses (without proper translation) appear to say that Jacob
only gave the weary Esauv food AFTER he sold his birthright. In
other words he blackmailed him into selling his birthright.
However with the proper translation the verses says
>Esauv asked for food
>Jacob asked for the birthright
>Jacob HAD ALREADY given food to Esauv.
Thus there was no blackmail. It is curious that some major
midrashim do not mention this (I in fact learned the
interpretation of this verse from my 8-th grade Chumash
Teacher, Rabbi Nathan Belitsky who taught us at an early
age that there were grammatical methods to refute slander
on Biblical characters).
*4 In other words we read the verses that
>1-12-34 the Jews exodused form Egypt
>1-12-35 they loaned silver/gold vessels
>1-12-36 they HAD ALREADY been loaning vessels
I would imagine the simple interpretation is that eg
>as slaves they loaned utensils
>they acted like they lost them
>"I lost what you gave me; can you spare me another"
>and because God HAD ALREADY given them grace
>they ended up loaning more vessels
*5 This simple but elegant example was provided by Harry
Rashbaum in my Shomray Emunah Rashi class
*6 See LIST690b for a discussion
*7 To indicate the ordinary past the Bible uses
- the Hebrew letter VAV followed by
- the future tense
All examples in the above list use the pure past which
according to Rashi means HAD ALREADY (PAST PERFECT)
===============================================================
---------------------------------------------------
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Volume 20 Number 7
#*#*#*#*# (C) 2001, RashiYomi Inc. Dr Hendel President #*#*#*#*#
Volume 20 Number 7