| 1And there was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that had been in the days of Abraham, and Isaac went to Abimelech the king of the Philistines, to Gerar. |
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אוַיְהִ֤י רָעָב֙ בָּאָ֔רֶץ מִלְּבַד֙ הָֽרָעָ֣ב הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה בִּימֵ֣י אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ יִצְחָ֛ק אֶל־אֲבִימֶ֥לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים גְּרָֽרָה: |
| 2And the Lord appeared to him, and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land that I will tell you. |
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בוַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אַל־תֵּרֵ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יְמָה שְׁכֹ֣ן בָּאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ: |
| Do not go down to Egypt: For he had in mind to go down to Egypt as his father had gone down in the days of the famine. He [God] said to him, “Do not go down to Egypt.” You are [as] a perfect burnt offering, and being outside the Holy Land is not fitting for you. [Tanchuma Buber, Toledoth 6; Gen. Rabbah 64:3] |
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אַל־תֵּרֵד מִצְרָיְמָה:
שֶׁהָיָה דַּעְתּוֹ לָרֶדֶת מִצְרַיְמָה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיָּרַד אָבִיו בִּימֵי הָרָעָב; אָמַר לוֹ: אַל תֵּרֵד מִצְרָיְמָה, שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹלָה תְמִימָה, וְאֵין חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ כְּדַאי לְךָ:
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| 3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you, and I will bless you, for to you and to your seed will I give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham, your father. |
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גגּ֚וּר בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֔את וְאֶֽהְיֶ֥ה עִמְּךָ֖ וַֽאֲבָֽרֲכֶ֑ךָּ כִּֽי־לְךָ֣ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֗ אֶתֵּן֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָֽאֲרָצֹ֣ת הָאֵ֔ל וַֽהֲקִֽמֹתִי֙ אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתִּי לְאַבְרָהָ֥ם אָבִֽיךָ: |
| these: הָאֵל is equivalent to הָאֵלה |
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הָאֵל:
כְּמוֹ הָאֵלֶּה:
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| 4And I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and I will give your seed all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will bless themselves by your seed, |
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דוְהִרְבֵּיתִ֤י אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּכֽוֹכְבֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְנָתַתִּ֣י לְזַרְעֲךָ֔ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הָֽאֲרָצֹ֖ת הָאֵ֑ל וְהִתְבָּֽרֲכ֣וּ בְזַרְעֲךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י הָאָֽרֶץ: |
| And they will bless themselves by your seed: A man tells his son, "May your children be like the children of Yitzchak". And the same in all of Scripture. And the following is the archetype of all (48:20): Through you shall Israel bless, saying, may [G-d] see you as Ephraim and Manasseh. We also found with regards to the curse, (Numbers 5:27), "And the woman shall be a curse" whereby one who curses his enemy says "may you be like that particular woman". Similarly (Isaiah 65:15), "May you leave your name as an oath to my chosen" whereby one who takes an oath says "May I be like that particular person if I did such and such and such". |
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וְהִתְבָּֽרֲכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ:
אָדָם אוֹמֵר לִבְנוֹ יְהֵא זַרְעֲךָ כְּזַרְעוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק, וְכֵן בְּכָל הַמִּקְרָא, וְזֶה אָב לְכֻלָּן בְּךָ יְבָרֵךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר יְשִׂמְךָ וְגוֹ' (בראשית מ״ח:כ׳); וְאַף לְעִנְיַן הַקְּלָלָה מָצִינוּ כֵן וְהָיְתָה הָאִשָּׁה לְאָלָה (במדבר ה'), שֶׁהַמְקַלֵּל שׂוֹנְאוֹ אוֹמֵר תְּהֵא כִּפְלוֹנִית, וְכֵן וְהִנַּחְתֶּם שִׁמְכֶם לִשְׁבוּעָה לִבְחִירַי (ישעיהו ס"ה), שֶׁהַנִּשְׁבָּע אוֹמֵר אֱהֵא כִפְלוֹנִי אִם עָשִׂיתִי כָּךְ וְכָךְ:
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| 5Because Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My instructions." |
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העֵ֕קֶב אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֥ע אַבְרָהָ֖ם בְּקֹלִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֔י מִצְוֹתַ֖י חֻקּוֹתַ֥י וְתֽוֹרֹתָֽי: |
| Because Abraham hearkened to My voice: when I tested him. |
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שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בקולי:
כְּשֶׁנִּסִּיתִי אוֹתוֹ:
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| and kept My charge: [Referring to] decrees to distance [himself] from transgressing the warnings in the Torah, e.g. secondary prohibitions to prevent incest from occurring, and the Rabbinic decrees to safeguard the prohibitions of the Sabbath. |
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וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי:
גְּזֵרוֹת לְהַרְחָקָה עַל הָאַזְהָרוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, כְּגוֹן שְׁנִיּוֹת לָעֲרָיוֹת וּשְׁבוּת לַשַּׁבָּת (יבמות כ"א):
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| My commandments: [Referring to] things, which, had they not been written, would have been fit to be commanded, e.g. [prohibitions against] robbery and bloodshed. |
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מצותי:
דְּבָרִים שֶׁאִלּוּ לֹא נִכְתְּבוּ רְאוּיִן הֵם לְהִצְטַוּוֹת, כְּגוֹן גֶּזֶל וּשְׁפִיכוּת דָּמִים:
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| My statutes: [Referring to] things that the evil inclination and the nations of the world argue against, e.g. [the prohibitions against] eating pork and wearing garments of wool and linen for which no reason [is given], but [which are] the decree of the King and His statutes over His subjects. |
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חֻקּוֹתַי:
דְּבָרִים שֶׁיֵּצֶר הָרָע וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְשִׁיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּגוֹן אֲכִילַת חֲזִיר וּלְבִישַׁת שַׁעַטְנֵז, שֶׁאֵין טַעַם בַּדָּבָר, אֶלָּא גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ וְחֻקּוֹתָיו עַל עֲבָדָיו:
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| and My instructions: To include the Oral Law, the laws given to Moses from Sinai. [Yoma 28b] |
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וְתֽוֹרֹתָֽי:
לְהָבִיא תּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה הֲלָכָה לְמֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי (בראשית רבה):
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| 6And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. |
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ווַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִצְחָ֖ק בִּגְרָֽר: |
| 7And the men of the place asked about his wife, and he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "[She is] my wife," [because he said,] "Lest the men of the place kill me because of Rebecca, for she is of comely appearance." |
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זוַיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ לְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא כִּ֤י יָרֵא֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר אִשְׁתִּ֔י פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ עַל־רִבְקָ֔ה כִּֽי־טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽוא: |
| about his wife: Heb. לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, lit., to his wife, about his wife, like (above 20:13): “Say about me (לִי), ‘He is my brother.’” |
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לְאִשְׁתּוֹ:
עַל אִשְׁתּוֹ, כְּמוֹ אִמְרִי לִי אָחִי הוּא (בראשית כ׳:י״ג):
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| 8And it came to pass, when he had been there for many days, that Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, looked out of the window, and he saw, and behold, Isaac was jesting with Rebecca his wife. |
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חוַיְהִ֗י כִּ֣י אָֽרְכוּ־ל֥וֹ שָׁם֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים בְּעַ֖ד הַֽחַלּ֑וֹן וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה יִצְחָק֙ מְצַחֵ֔ק אֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ: |
| when he had been there for many days: He said [to himself], “From now on, I need not worry since they have not violated her until now,” and he did not take precautions to beware. |
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כִּי אָֽרְכוּ־:
אָמַר, מֵעַתָּה אֵין לִי לִדְאֹג, מֵאַחַר שֶׁלֹּא אֲנָסוּהָ עַד עַכְשָׁו, וְלֹא נִזְהַר לִהְיוֹת נִשְׁמָר:
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| that Abimelech…looked, etc: He saw him engaging in marital relations. [Gen. Rabbah 64:5] |
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וַיַּשְׁקֵף אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וגומר:
רָאָהוּ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ:
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| 9So Abimelech called Isaac, and he said, "Behold, she is your wife; so how could you have said, 'She is my sister'?" And Isaac said to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die because of her. '" |
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טוַיִּקְרָ֨א אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ לְיִצְחָ֗ק וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַ֣ךְ הִנֵּ֤ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֙ הִ֔וא וְאֵ֥יךְ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ יִצְחָ֔ק כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן־אָמ֖וּת עָלֶֽיהָ: |
| 10And Abimelech said, "What have you done to us? The most prominent of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." |
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יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ מַה־זֹּ֖את עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֑נוּ כִּ֠מְעַ֠ט שָׁכַ֞ב אַחַ֤ד הָעָם֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ וְהֵֽבֵאתָ֥ עָלֵ֖ינוּ אָשָֽׁם: |
| The most prominent of the people: Heb. אַחַד הָעָם, the most prominent one of the people, meaning the king. [Gen. Targum Onkelos and Jonathan] |
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אַחַד הָעָם:
הַמְיֻחָד בָּעָם, זֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ:
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| and you would have brought guilt upon us: Had he had relations, you would have brought guilt upon us. |
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וְהֵֽבֵאתָ עָלֵינוּ אָשָֽׁם:
אִם שָׁכַב כְּבָר, הֵבֵאתָ עָלֵינוּ אָשָׁם:
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| 11And Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death." |
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יאוַיְצַ֣ו אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הַנֹּגֵ֜עַ בָּאִ֥ישׁ הַזֶּ֛ה וּבְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת: |
| 12And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found in that year a hundred fold, and the Lord blessed him. |
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יבוַיִּזְרַ֤ע יִצְחָק֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא וַיִּמְצָ֛א בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַהִ֖וא מֵאָ֣ה שְׁעָרִ֑ים וַיְבָֽרֲכֵ֖הוּ יְהֹוָֽה: |
| in that land: [The land yielded an abundant harvest] even though it was not considered as esteemed as the Land of Israel itself, i.e., as the land of the seven nations (Gen. Rabbah 64:6). |
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בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא:
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ חֲשׁוּבָה כְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַצְמָהּ, כְּאֶרֶץ שִׁבְעָה גוֹיִם (בראשית רבה):
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| in that year: Even though it was not as it should have been, for it was a year of famine (Gen. Rabbah ad loc.). |
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בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִוא:
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָהּ כְּתִקְנָהּ, שֶׁהָיְתָה שְׁנַת רְעָבוֹן (בראשית רבה):
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| in that land…in that year: Why both of them? To tell us that the land was hard and that the year was a hard one. |
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בָּאָרֶץ הַהִוא בַּשָּׁנָה הַהִוא:
שְׁנֵיהֶם לָמָּה? לוֹמַר, שֶׁהָאָרֶץ קָשָׁה וְהַשָּׁנָה קָשָׁה:
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| a hundred fold: For they had estimated how much it [the land] was fit to produce, and it produced for each measure that they had estimated, one hundred [measures], and our Rabbis said that the purpose of this estimate was for tithing. [Gen. Rabbah 64:6] |
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מֵאָה שְׁעָרִים:
שֶׁאֲמָדוּהָ כַּמָּה רְאוּיָה לַעֲשׂוֹת, וְעָשְׂתָה עַל אַחַת שֶׁאֲמָדוּהָ מֵאָה. וְרַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ אֹמֶד זֶה לְמַעַשְׂרוֹת הָיָה:
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| 13And the man became great, and he grew constantly greater until he had grown very great. |
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יגוַיִּגְדַּ֖ל הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ הָלוֹךְ֙ וְגָדֵ֔ל עַ֥ד כִּֽי־גָדַ֖ל מְאֹֽד: |
| he had grown very great: For they would say, “Rather the manure of Isaac’s mules than Abimelech’s silver and gold” (Gen. Rabbah 64:7). |
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כִּֽי־גָדַל מאוד:
שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים זֶבֶל פִּרְדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל יִצְחָק וְלֹא כַסְפּוֹ וּזְהָבוֹ שֶׁל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ (בראשית רבה):
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| 14And he had possessions of sheep and possessions of cattle and much production, and the Philistines envied him. |
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ידוַֽיְהִי־ל֤וֹ מִקְנֵה־צֹאן֙ וּמִקְנֵ֣ה בָקָ֔ר וַֽעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֑ה וַיְקַנְא֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ פְּלִשְׁתִּֽים: |
| and much production: Heb. וַעִבֻדָּה רַבָּה, much activity, in Old French ouvrene (enterprises). עִבוֹדָה means one job, whereas עִבֻדָּה means much production. |
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וַֽעֲבֻדָּה רַבָּה:
פְּעֻלָּה רַבָּה בִּלְשׁוֹן לע"ז אוברי"נא, עֲבוֹדָה מַשְׁמָע עֲבוֹדָה אַחַת; עֲבֻדָּה מַשְׁמָע פְּעֻלָּה רַבָּה:
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| 15And all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father the Philistines stopped them up and filled them with earth. |
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טווְכָל־הַבְּאֵרֹ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָֽפְרוּ֙ עַבְדֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו בִּימֵ֖י אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֑יו סִתְּמ֣וּם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיְמַלְא֖וּם עָפָֽר: |
| the Philistines stopped them up: Because they said, “They are a danger to us due to the armies that will come upon us.” [Onkelos renders:] טְמוּנוּן פְּלִשְׁתָּאֵי an expression of stopping up, and in the language of the Talmud, “stops up (מְטַמְטֵם) the heart.” |
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סִתְּמוּם פְּלִשְׁתִּים:
מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ תַּקָּלָה הֵם לָנוּ מִפְּנֵי הַגְּיָסוֹת הַבָּאוֹת עָלֵינוּ, טַמּוֹנוּן פְּלִשְׁתָּאֵי לְשׁוֹן סְתִימָה, וּבִלְשׁוֹן הַתַּלְמוּד מְטַמְטֵם אֶת הַלֵּב:
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| 16And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you have become much stronger than we." |
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טזוַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־יִצְחָ֑ק לֵ֚ךְ מֵֽעִמָּ֔נוּ כִּֽי־עָצַ֥מְתָּ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מְאֹֽד: |
| 17And Isaac went away from there, and he encamped in the valley of Gerar and dwelt there. |
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יזוַיֵּ֥לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֖ם יִצְחָ֑ק וַיִּ֥חַן בְּנַֽחַל־גְּרָ֖ר וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב שָֽׁם: |
| in the valley of Gerar: far from the city. |
|
בְּנַֽחַל־גְּרָר:
רָחוֹק מִן הָעִיר:
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| 18And Isaac again dug the wells of water which they had dug in the days of his father, Abraham, and the Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham's death; and he gave them names like the names that his father had given them. |
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יחוַיָּ֨שָׁב יִצְחָ֜ק וַיַּחְפֹּ֣ר | אֶת־בְּאֵרֹ֣ת הַמַּ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר חָֽפְרוּ֙ בִּימֵי֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֔יו וַיְסַתְּמ֣וּם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אַֽחֲרֵ֖י מ֣וֹת אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיִּקְרָ֤א לָהֶן֙ שֵׁמ֔וֹת כַּשֵּׁמֹ֕ת אֲשֶׁר־קָרָ֥א לָהֶ֖ן אָבִֽיו: |
| And Isaac again dug: [Meaning] the wells that they had dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up-before Isaac traveled from Gerar, he went back and dug them. |
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וַיָּשָׁב וַיַּחְפֹּר:
הַבְּאֵרוֹת אֲשֶׁר חָפְרוּ בִּימֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיו וּפְלִשְׁתִּים סִתְּמוּם, מִקֹּדֶם שֶׁנָּסַע יִצְחָק מִגְּרָר, חָזַר וַחֲפָרָן:
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| 19And Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and they found there a well of living waters. |
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יטוַיַּחְפְּר֥וּ עַבְדֵֽי־יִצְחָ֖ק בַּנָּ֑חַל וַיִּ֨מְצְאוּ־שָׁ֔ם בְּאֵ֖ר מַ֥יִם חַיִּֽים: |
| 20And the shepherds of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's shepherds, saying, "The water is ours"; so he named the well Esek, because they had contended with him. |
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כוַיָּרִ֜יבוּ רֹעֵ֣י גְרָ֗ר עִם־רֹעֵ֥י יִצְחָ֛ק לֵאמֹ֖ר לָ֣נוּ הַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּקְרָ֤א שֵֽׁם־הַבְּאֵר֙ עֵ֔שֶׂק כִּ֥י הִתְעַשְּׂק֖וּ עִמּֽוֹ: |
| Esek: Contention. |
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עֵשֶׂק:
עִרְעוּר:
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| because they had contended with him: They engaged with him about it with strife and contention. |
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כִּי הִתְעַשְּׂקוּ עִמּֽוֹ:
נִתְעַשְּׂקוּ עִמּוֹ עָלֶיהָ בִּמְרִיבָה וְעִרְעוּר:
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| 21And they dug another well, and they quarreled about it also; so he named it Sitnah. |
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כאוַיַּחְפְּרוּ֙ בְּאֵ֣ר אַחֶ֔רֶת וַיָּרִ֖יבוּ גַּם־עָלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּקְרָ֥א שְׁמָ֖הּ שִׂטְנָֽה: |
| Sitnah: nuysemant in Old French (harm, wrong, injury). |
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שִׂטְנָֽה:
נושימנ"ט:
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| 22And he moved away from there, and he dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, and he said, "For now the Lord has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land." |
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כבוַיַּעְתֵּ֣ק מִשָּׁ֗ם וַיַּחְפֹּר֙ בְּאֵ֣ר אַחֶ֔רֶת וְלֹ֥א רָב֖וּ עָלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ רְחֹב֔וֹת וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כִּ֣י עַתָּ֞ה הִרְחִ֧יב יְהֹוָ֛ה לָ֖נוּ וּפָרִ֥ינוּ בָאָֽרֶץ: |
| and we will be fruitful in the land: Heb. וּפָרִינוּ בָאָרֶץ, as the Targum translates it: וְנִיפוּשׁ בְּאַרְעָא, “and we will be fruitful in the land.” |
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וּפָרִינוּ בָאָֽרֶץ:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְנֵיפוּשׁ בְּאַרְעָא:
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| 23And he went up from there to Beer sheba. |
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כגוַיַּ֥עַל מִשָּׁ֖ם בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע: |
| 24And the Lord appeared to him on that night and said, "I am the God of Abraham, your father. Fear not, for I am with you, and I will bless you and multiply your seed for the sake of Abraham, My servant." |
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כדוַיֵּרָ֨א אֵלָ֤יו יְהֹוָה֙ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֔וּא וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָֽנֹכִ֕י אֱלֹהֵ֖י אַבְרָהָ֣ם אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֣ אָנֹ֔כִי וּבֵֽרַכְתִּ֨יךָ֙ וְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣י אֶת־זַרְעֲךָ֔ בַּֽעֲב֖וּר אַבְרָהָ֥ם עַבְדִּֽי: |
| 25And he built an altar there, and he called in the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there, and Isaac's servants dug a well there. |
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כהוַיִּ֧בֶן שָׁ֣ם מִזְבֵּ֗חַ וַיִּקְרָא֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֔ה וַיֶּט־שָׁ֖ם אָֽהֳל֑וֹ וַיִּכְרוּ־שָׁ֥ם עַבְדֵֽי־יִצְחָ֖ק בְּאֵֽר: |
| 26And Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and a group of his companions and Pichol, his general. |
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כווַֽאֲבִימֶ֕לֶךְ הָלַ֥ךְ אֵלָ֖יו מִגְּרָ֑ר וַֽאֲחֻזַּת֙ מֵֽרֵעֵ֔הוּ וּפִיכֹ֖ל שַׂר־צְבָאֽוֹ: |
| and a group of his companions: Heb. וַאִחֻזַת מֵרֵעֵהוּ, as the Targum renders: וְסִיעַת מֵרַחִמוֹהִי, a group of his friends [the “mem” meaning “of”] (Gen. Rabbah 64:9). Some interpret that in the word מֵרֵעֵהוּ, the “mem” is [part of] the root of the word, like (Jud. 14:11): “the thirty companions” (מֵרֵעִים) of Samson, in order that the word וַאִחֻזַת should be in the construct state [i.e., the group of his friends]. However, it is not polite to speak of royalty in this manner, i.e., “his group of companions,” because this would imply that he brought his entire group of companions, and that he had only one group of companions. Therefore, it should be interpreted in the previous manner, [i.e., that אִחֻזַת is not construct]. And do not be puzzled about the letter “thav” of אִחֻזַת. Although the word is not in the construct state, there are similar cases in Scripture (Ps. 60:13): “help against the adversary” עֶזְרָת מִצָּר (Isa. 51: 21): “drunk, but not from wine” (וּשְׁכֻרַת וְלֹא מִיָּיִן). |
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וַֽאֲחֻזַּת מֵֽרֵעֵהוּ:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְסִיעַת מֵרַחֲמוֹהִי, סִיעַת מֵאוֹהֲבָיו. וְיֵשׁ פּוֹתְרִין מֵרֵעֵהוּ מ' מִיסוֹד הַתֵּבָה, כְּמוֹ שְׁלֹשִׁים מֵרֵעִים דְּשִׁמְשׁוֹן, כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּהְיֶה תֵּבַת וַאֲחֻזַּת דְּבוּקָה; אֲבָל אֵין דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ לְדַבֵּר עַל הַמַּלְכוּת כֵּן, סִיעַת אוֹהֲבָיו, שֶׁאִם כֵּן, כָּל סִיעַת אוֹהֲבָיו הוֹלִיךְ עִמּוֹ, וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ אֶלָּא סִיעָה אַחַת שֶׁל אוֹהֲבִים – לָכֵן יֵשׁ לְפָתְרוֹ בַּלָּשׁוֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן; וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ עַל תָּי"ו שֶׁל אֲחֻזַּת וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין תֵּבָה סְמוּכָה, יֵשׁ דֻּגְמָתָהּ בַּמִּקְרָא עֶזְרָת מִצָּר (תהילים ס'), וּשְׁכֻרַת וְלֹא מִיָּיִן (ישעיהו נ"א):
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| a group: Heb. אִחֻזַת, an expression of a gathering or a band [of people] who are held (שֶׁנֶאֱחָזִין) together. |
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אחזת:
לְשׁוֹן קְבִיצָה וַאֲגֻדָּה שֶׁנֶּאֱחָזִין יַחַד:
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| 27And Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and you sent me away from you?" |
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כזוַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יִצְחָ֔ק מַדּ֖וּעַ בָּאתֶ֣ם אֵלָ֑י וְאַתֶּם֙ שְׂנֵאתֶ֣ם אֹתִ֔י וַתְּשַׁלְּח֖וּנִי מֵֽאִתְּכֶֽם: |
| 28And they said, "We have seen that the Lord was with you; so we said: Let there now be an oath between us, between ourselves and you, and let us form a covenant with you. |
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כחוַֽיֹּאמְר֗וּ רָא֣וֹ רָאִ֘ינוּ֘ כִּֽי־הָיָ֣ה יְהֹוָ֣ה | עִמָּךְ֒ וַנֹּ֗אמֶר תְּהִ֨י נָ֥א אָלָ֛ה בֵּֽינוֹתֵ֖ינוּ בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וְנִכְרְתָ֥ה בְרִ֖ית עִמָּֽךְ: |
| And they said, "We have seen: Heb. רָאוֹ רָאִינוּ, [a double expression meaning:] We saw it regarding your father; we saw it regarding you. [From Gen. Rabbah 64:10] |
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רָאוֹ רָאִינוּ:
רָאִינוּ בְאָבִיךָ, רָאִינוּ בְךָ:
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| Let there now be an oath between us, etc.: Let the oath that has existed between us from the days of your father be now also between us and you. [From Targum Onkelos] |
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תְּהִי נָא אָלָה בֵּֽינוֹתֵינוּ וגו':
הָאָלָה אֲשֶׁר בֵּינוֹתֵינוּ מִימֵי אָבִיךָ תְּהִי גַּם עַתָּה בינינו וביניך:
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| 29If you do [not] harm us, as we have not touched you, and as we have done with you only good, and we sent you away in peace, [so do] you now, blessed of the Lord." |
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כטאִם־תַּֽעֲשֵׂ֨ה עִמָּ֜נוּ רָעָ֗ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א נְגַֽעֲנ֔וּךָ וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשִׂ֤ינוּ עִמְּךָ֙ רַק־ט֔וֹב וַנְּשַׁלֵּֽחֲךָ֖ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם אַתָּ֥ה עַתָּ֖ה בְּר֥וּךְ יְהֹוָֽה: |
| we have not touched you: when we said to you, “Go away from us.” |
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לֹא נְגַֽעֲנוּךָ:
כְּשֶׁאָמַרְנוּ לְךָ לֵךְ מֵעִמָּנוּ:
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| you: You too, (other editions: now too) do to us likewise. |
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אַתָּה:
גַּם אַתָּה עֲשֵׂה לָנוּ כְּמוֹ כֵן:
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| 30So he made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. |
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לוַיַּ֤עַשׂ לָהֶם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וַיֹּֽאכְל֖וּ וַיִּשְׁתּֽוּ: |
| 31And they arose early in the morning, and they swore one to the other, and Isaac escorted them, and they went away from him in peace. |
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לאוַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיִּשָּֽׁבְע֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ לְאָחִ֑יו וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֣ם יִצְחָ֔ק וַיֵּֽלְכ֥וּ מֵֽאִתּ֖וֹ בְּשָׁלֽוֹם: |
| 32And it came to pass on that day, that Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and they said to him, "We have found water." |
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לבוַיְהִ֣י | בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ֙ עַבְדֵ֣י יִצְחָ֔ק וַיַּגִּ֣דוּ ל֔וֹ עַל־אֹד֥וֹת הַבְּאֵ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָפָ֑רוּ וַיֹּ֥אמְרוּ ל֖וֹ מָצָ֥אנוּ מָֽיִם: |
| 33And he named it Shibah; therefore, the city is named Beer sheba until this very day. |
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לגוַיִּקְרָ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ שִׁבְעָ֑ה עַל־כֵּ֤ן שֵֽׁם־הָעִיר֙ בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה: |
| Shibah: Because of the covenant [shevuah in Hebrew means oath]. |
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שִׁבְעָה:
עַל שֵׁם הַבְּרִית:
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| 34And Esau was forty years old, and he married Judith, the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon the Hittite. |
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לדוַיְהִ֤י עֵשָׂו֙ בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וַיִּקַּ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ אֶת־יְהוּדִ֔ית בַּת־בְּאֵרִ֖י הַֽחִתִּ֑י וְאֶת־בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת בַּת־אֵילֹ֖ן הַֽחִתִּֽי: |
| forty years old: Esau was compared to a swine, as it is said (Ps. 80:14): “The boar from the forest gnaws at it.” This swine, when it lies down, stretches out its hooves, as if to say, “See, I am a clean (kosher) animal.” So do these [the chiefs of Esau] rob and plunder and then pretend to be honorable. During the entire forty years, Esau kidnapped wives from their husbands and violated them. When he was forty years old, he said: “My father married at forty; I, too, will do the same.” [From Gen. Rabbah 65:1] |
|
בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה:
עֵשָׂו הָיָה נִמְשָׁל לַחֲזִיר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר יְכַרְסְמֶנָּה חֲזִיר מִיָּעַר (תהילים פ'), הַחֲזִיר הַזֶּה כְּשֶׁהוּא שׁוֹכֵב, פּוֹשֵׁט טְלָפָיו, לוֹמַר רְאוּ שֶׁאֲנִי טָהוֹר; כָּךְ אֵלּוּ גּוֹזְלִים וְחוֹמְסִים וּמַרְאִים עַצְמָם כְּשֵׁרִים; כָּל מ' שָׁנָה הָיָה עֵשָׂו צָד נָשִׁים מִתַּחַת בַּעֲלֵיהֶן וּמְעַנֶּה אוֹתָם, כְּשֶׁהָיָה בֶּן מ' אָמַר אַבָּא בֶּן מ' שָׁנָה נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה, אַף אֲנִי כֵן:
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| 35And they were a vexation of the spirit to Isaac and to Rebecca. |
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להוַתִּֽהְיֶ֖יןָ מֹ֣רַת ר֑וּחַ לְיִצְחָ֖ק וּלְרִבְקָֽה: |
| a vexation of the spirit: Heb. מֹרַת רוּחַ, an expression of defiance of spirit הַמְרָאַת רוּחַ like (Deut. 9:24): “You have been rebellious מַמְרִים.” All their deeds were to provoke and to grieve. [From Targum Onkelos] |
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מֹרַת רוּחַ:
לְשׁוֹן הַמְרָאוֹת רוּחַ, כְּמוֹ מַמְרִים הֱיִיתֶם, כָּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶן הָיוּ לְהַכְעִיס וּלְעִצָּבוֹן:
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| to Isaac and to Rebecca: for they worshipped idols. [From Midrash Tanchuma, Toledoth 8] |
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לְיִצְחָק וּלְרִבְקָֽה:
שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹבְדוֹת עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה (בראשית רבה):
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