Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah II,V Chayey Sarah
From: ToraByte Int'l <CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Wednesday, 18 Nov 1992 23:46:23 EST
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

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                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume II                      B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue V                        O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
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 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
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                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"And Abraham said to his eldest household servant,
  the one who ruled (over) all that he (Abraham) owned,
   Place your hand under my thigh,
    and I will make you swear by Hashem ..." (Genesis 24:2,3)

 The Sages identify Eliezer as Abraham's eldest and most trusted servant
(Tractate Yoma 28b). He ruled over Abraham's household in that he was the
custodian of Abraham's estate (Rosh).
 Why did Abraham have Eliezer place his hand under his thigh when he swore?
One possible answer is that this was the way that one swore to the one whom
one was subservient. This is because it symbolizes obedience and acquiescence
(Ibn Ezra, Rabbeinu Bachya). Hence, a servant would swear thusly to his
master, as would a son to his father (Rashbam). An alternative interpretation
is that Abraham had his servant swear to him by that which was holy and dear
to him. Abraham had circumcised himself at age of ninety nine as Hashem had
commanded. Abraham was forced to use his circumcision as the object by which
to swear, as other holy items such as a Torah Scroll or Tefillin (a.k.a.
Phylacteries) did yet exist (Rashi). This teaches us, that there are times
when one swears holding onto something that is holy and commanded to us by
Hashem, e.g. a Torah Scroll or Tefillin (Tractate Shevuos 38b, Torah Temimah).


                            Midrash of the Week
                            -------------------

"And Abraham was old, advanced in age ..." (Genesis 24:1)

 Why does the Bible say that Abraham was old? Was he not already described as
being old by Sarah (see Genesis 18:12)? The Sages say that some of the things
that cause a person to age are: fear; anger at one's children; and war
(Midrash Tanchuma, Rabbeinu Bachya). However, it was not due to these
phenomena that Abraham became old (Rabbeinu Bachya, Torah Temimah). With the
conception and birth of Isaac, Abraham and Sarah were rejuvenated by Hashem.
However, after Sarah died, Abraham became old once more (Keli Yakar, Tur).

Please direct any comments, questions, etc. to bytetorah@israel.nysernet.org,
which will be forwarded to me. Please pass it on to a friend. If you want to
subscribe, please send e-mail to listserv@israel.nysernet.org with the msg:
SUB bytetorah <first name> <last name>.  --Zev Itzkowitz        Copyright 1992
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish