Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we follow Eliezer, the faithful eved of Avraham, as he sets out on his mission to find a shidduch for Yitzchak. Armed with ten of his master's camels and all the bounty of Avraham's household, Eliezer travels to Aram-naharaim, the city of Nachor. Upon arriving at the well outside the city at evening time, he stands by the water and davens to Hashem with tremendous yiras Shamayim, asking for a clear sign to identify the right maiden for Yitzchak.

Eliezer proposes a specific test based on the girl's middos: if he asks for a sip of water and she offers to water his camels as well, she will be the one chosen by Hashem. Before he even finishes speaking, Rivkah, the daughter of Besuel, comes out to the spring. Her extraordinary chesed and refinement immediately shine through as she runs to fulfill Eliezer's request and tirelessly draws water for all ten of his camels.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיִּקַּחAnd tookהָעֶבֶדthe servantעֲשָׂרָהtenגְמַלִּיםcamelsמִגְּמַלֵּיfrom the camels ofאֲדֹנָיוhis masterוַיֵּלֶךְand he wentוְכָלwith allטוּבthe bounty ofאֲדֹנָיוhis masterבְּיָדוֹin his handוַיָּקָםand he aroseוַיֵּלֶךְand he wentאֶלtoאֲרַםAramנַהֲרַיִםNaharayimאֶלtoעִירthe city ofנָחוֹר׃Nachor

רַשִׁ״י

מגמליFrom the camels ofאדוניו.his masterנִכָּרִיןdistinguishableהָיוּthey wereמִשְּׁאָרfrom the rest ofגְּמַלִּים,the camelsשֶׁהָיוּfor they wouldיוֹצְאִיןgo outזְמוּמִיןmuzzledמִפְּנֵיbecause ofהַגֶּזֶל,robberyשֶׁלֹּאso that notיִרְעוּthey would grazeבִשְׂדוֹתin the fields ofאֲחֵרִיםothersבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

וכלand allטובthe goods ofאדוניוhis masterבידו.were in his handשְׁטָרa deed ofמַתָּנָהgiftכָּתַבhe wroteלְיִצְחָקto Yitzchakעַלonכָּלallאֲשֶׁרthatלוֹ,was hisכְּדֵיin orderשֶׁיִּקְפְּצוּthat they would leapלִשְׁלֹחַto sendלוֹto himבִּתָּםtheir daughterבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

ארםAramנהרים.of two riversבֵּיןbetweenשְׁתֵּיtwoנְהָרוֹתriversיוֹשֶׁבֶת:it sits

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וַיַּבְרֵךְAnd he made kneelהַגְּמַלִּיםthe camelsמִחוּץoutsideלָעִירto the cityאֶלbyבְּאֵרthe well ofהַמָּיִםthe waterלְעֵתat the time ofעֶרֶבeveningלְעֵתat the time ofצֵאתthe going out ofהַשֹּׁאֲבֹת׃the women who draw

רַשִׁ״י

ויברךAnd he made kneelהגמלים.the camelsהִרְבִּיצָם:he made them crouch

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיֹּאמַרAnd he saidיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֵיGod ofאֲדֹנִיmy masterאַבְרָהָםAvrahamהַקְרֵהcause to happenנָאpleaseלְפָנַיbefore meהַיּוֹםtodayוַעֲשֵׂהand doחֶסֶדkindnessעִםwithאֲדֹנִיmy masterאַבְרָהָם׃Avraham

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

הִנֵּהBeholdאָנֹכִיIנִצָּבam standingעַלbyעֵיןthe spring ofהַמָּיִםthe waterוּבְנוֹתand the daughters ofאַנְשֵׁיthe men ofהָעִירthe cityיֹצְאֹתare coming outלִשְׁאֹבto drawמָיִם׃water

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וְהָיָהand it shall beהַנַּעֲרָthe maidenאֲשֶׁרwhomאֹמַרI will sayאֵלֶיהָto herהַטִּיtiltנָאpleaseכַדֵּךְyour pitcherוְאֶשְׁתֶּהand I will drinkוְאָמְרָהand she will sayשְׁתֵהdrinkוְגַםand alsoגְּמַלֶּיךָyour camelsאַשְׁקֶהI will waterאֹתָהּherהֹכַחְתָּYou have designatedלְעַבְדְּךָfor Your servantלְיִצְחָקfor Yitzchakוּבָהּand through herאֵדַעI will knowכִּיthatעָשִׂיתָYou have doneחֶסֶדkindnessעִםwithאֲדֹנִי׃my master

רַשִׁ״י

אתהYouהכחת.have designatedרְאוּיָהfittingהִיאshe isלוֹfor himשֶׁתְּהֵאthat she will beגּוֹמֶלֶתone who performsחֲסָדִים,acts of kindnessוּכְדַאיand worthyלִכָּנֵסto enterבְּבֵיתוֹinto the houseשֶׁלofאַבְרָהָם;Avrahamוּלְשׁוֹןand the expressionהֹכַחְתָּyou have designatedבֵּרַרְתָּ,you have selectedאפרו"בישטapprouvestבלע"ז:in foreign tongue

רַשִׁ״י

ובהand through herאדע.let me knowלְשׁוֹןan expression ofתְּחִנָּה,supplicationהוֹדַעmake knownלִיto meבָּהּ:through her

רַשִׁ״י

כיthatעשיתthou hast shownחסד.kindnessאִםifתִּהְיֶהshe will beמִמִּשְׁפַּחְתּוֹfrom his familyוְהוֹגֶנֶתand fittingלוֹfor himאֵדַעI shall knowכִּיthatעָשִׂיתthou hast shownחֶסֶד:kindness

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיְהִיAnd it wasהוּאheטֶרֶםhad not yetכִּלָּהfinishedלְדַבֵּרspeakingוְהִנֵּהand beholdרִבְקָהRivkahיֹצֵאתwas coming outאֲשֶׁרwhoיֻלְּדָהwas bornלִבְתוּאֵלto Besuelבֶּןson ofמִלְכָּהMilkahאֵשֶׁתwife ofנָחוֹרNachorאֲחִיbrother ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamוְכַדָּהּand her pitcherעַלuponשִׁכְמָהּ׃her shoulder

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וְהַנַּעֲרָAnd the maidenטֹבַתwas good ofמַרְאֶהappearanceמְאֹדveryבְּתוּלָהa virginוְאִישׁand a manלֹאhad notיְדָעָהּknown herוַתֵּרֶדand she went downהָעַיְנָהto the springוַתְּמַלֵּאand she filledכַדָּהּher jarוַתָּעַל׃and she came up

רַשִׁ״י

בתולה.a virginמִמְּקוֹםfrom the place ofבְּתוּלִיםvirginityבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

ואישand a manלאnotידעה.had known herשֶׁלֹּאthat notכְּדַרְכָּהּ,in her mannerלְפִיbecauseשֶׁבְּנוֹתthat the daughters ofהַגּוֹיִםthe non-Jewsהָיוּwereמְשַׁמְּרוֹתguardingמְקוֹםthe place ofבְּתוּלֵיהֶןtheir virginityוּמַפְקִירוֹתand abandoningעַצְמָןthemselvesמִמָּקוֹםfrom a placeאַחֵר,otherהֵעִידHe testifiedעַלonזוֹthis oneשֶׁנְּקִיָּהthat she was cleanמִכֹּל:from all

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיָּרָץAnd ranהָעֶבֶדthe servantלִקְרָאתָהּtoward herוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidהַגְמִיאִינִיlet me sipנָאpleaseמְעַטa littleמַיִםwaterמִכַּדֵּךְ׃from your jar

רַשִׁ״י

וירץAnd ranהעבדthe servantלקראתה.towards herלְפִיbecauseשֶׁרָאָהthat he sawשֶׁעָלוּthat roseהַמַּיִםthe watersלִקְרָאתָהּtowards herבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

הגמיאיניGive me to drinkנא.pleaseלְשׁוֹןan expression ofגְּמִיעָה,sippingהומיי"רhumerבלע"ז:in foreign tongue

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd she saidשְׁתֵהdrinkאֲדֹנִיmy lordוַתְּמַהֵרand she hurriedוַתֹּרֶדand she loweredכַּדָּהּher pitcherעַלuponיָדָהּher handוַתַּשְׁקֵהוּ׃and she gave him drink

רַשִׁ״י

ותרדAnd she loweredכדה.her pitcherמֵעַלfrom uponשִׁכְמָהּ:her shoulder

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַתְּכַלAnd she finishedלְהַשְׁקֹתוֹgiving him drinkוַתֹּאמֶרand she saidגַּםalsoלִגְמַלֶּיךָfor your camelsאֶשְׁאָבI will drawעַדuntilאִםthatכִּלּוּthey have finishedלִשְׁתֹּת׃drinking

רַשִׁ״י

עדUntilאםthatכלו.they finishedהֲרֵיbeholdאִםifמְשַׁמֵּשׁservesבִּלְשׁוֹןin the meaning ofאֲשֶׁר,thatאִםifכִּלּוּthey finishedדַיenough ofסִפּוּקוֹן,their sufficiencyשֶׁזּוֹfor thisהִיאisגְּמַרthe completion ofשְׁתִיָּתָן,their drinkingכְּשֶׁשָּׁתוּwhen they drankדֵּיenough ofסִפּוּקָן:their sufficiency

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַתְּמַהֵרAnd she hurriedוַתְּעַרand she emptiedכַּדָּהּher jarאֶלintoהַשֹּׁקֶתthe troughוַתָּרָץand she ranעוֹדagainאֶלtoהַבְּאֵרthe wellלִשְׁאֹבto drawוַתִּשְׁאַבand she drewלְכָלfor allגְּמַלָּיו׃his camels

רַשִׁ״י

ותער.And she emptiedלְשׁוֹןan expression ofנְפִיצָה,pouringוְהַרְבֵּהand manyיֵשׁthere areבִּלְשׁוֹןin the language ofמִשְׁנָהMishnahהַמְעָרֶהone who poursמִכְּלִיfrom a vesselאֶלtoכֶּלִי,a vesselוּבַמִּקְרָאand in Scriptureיֵשׁthere isלוֹto itדּוֹמֶהa similar usageאַלdo notתְּעַרpour outנַפְשִׁיmy soulתהיליםTehillimקמא141,אֲשֶׁרbecauseהֶעֱרָהhe poured outלַמָּוֶתto deathנַפְשׁוֹhis soulישעיהוYeshayahuנ"ג53:

רַשִׁ״י

השקת.The troughאֶבֶןa stoneחֲלוּלָהhollowed outשֶׁשּׁוֹתִיםthat drinkבָּהfrom itהַגְּמַלִּים:the camels

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְהָאִישׁAnd the manמִשְׁתָּאֵהwas wonderingלָהּat herמַחֲרִישׁkeeping silentלָדַעַתto knowהַהִצְלִיחַwhether had made successfulיְהוָהHashemדַּרְכּוֹhis journeyאִםorלֹא׃not

רַשִׁ״י

משתאה.was wonderingלְשׁוֹןan expression ofשְׁאִיָּה,desolationכְּמוֹlikeשָׁאוּare wastedעָרִים,citiesתִּשָּׁאֶהshall be desolateשְׁמָמָהwasteשםthereו'and:

רַשִׁ״י

משתאה.was astonishedמִשְׁתּוֹמֵםwonderingוּמִתְבַּהַלand bewilderedעַלoverשֶׁרָאָהthat he sawדְבָרוֹhis matterקָרוֹבcloseלְהַצְלִיחַ,to succeedingאֲבָלbutאֵינוֹhe does notיוֹדֵעַknowאִםifמִמִּשְׁפַּחַתfrom the family ofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamהִיאshe isאִםorלָאו.notוְאַלand do notתִּתְמַהּbe puzzledבַּת'by the letter Tavשֶׁלofמִשְׁתָּאֵה,mishtaehשֶׁאֵיןfor there is notלְךָto youתֵּבָהa wordשֶׁתְּחִלַּתwhose beginning ofיְסוֹדָהּits root isשִׁי"ןShinוּמְדַבֶּרֶתand it speaksבִּלְשׁוֹןin the form ofמִתְפַּעֵלMitpaelשֶׁאֵיןwhere there is notתָּי"וa Tavמַפְרִידָהseparatingבֵּיןbetweenשְׁתֵּיthe twoאוֹתִיּוֹתlettersשֶׁלofעִקָּרthe main part ofהַיְסוֹדthe rootכְּגוֹןsuch asמִשְׁתָּאֵה,mishtaehמִשְׁתּוֹלֵלmishtolelמִגִּזְרַתfrom the root ofשׁוֹלָל,sholalוַיִּשְׁתּוֹמֵםand he was appalledמִגִּזְרַתfrom the root ofשְׁמָמָה,shemamahוְיִשְׁתַּמֵּרand are keptחֻקּוֹתthe statutes ofעָמְרִיOmriמיכהMichahו'sixמִגִּזְרַתfrom the root ofוַיִּשְׁמֹר,and he keptאַףevenכָּאןhereמִשְׁתָּאֵהmishtaehמִגִּזְרַתfrom the root ofתִּשָּׁאֶה,tishaehוּכְשֵׁםand just asשֶׁאַתָּהyouמוֹצֵאfindלְשׁוֹןthe expression ofמְשׁוֹמֵםdesolationבְּאָדָםregarding a personנִבְהָלbewilderedוְנֶאֱלָםand speechlessוּבַעַלand a master ofמַחֲשָׁבוֹת,thoughtsכְּמוֹlikeעַלatיוֹמוֹhis dayנָשַׁמּוּwere astonishedאַחֲרֹנִיםthose who came afterאיובIyovי"חeighteen,שֹׁמּוּbe astonishedשָׁמַיִםO heavensירמיהוYirmeyahuב'two,אֶשְׁתּוֹמַםwas appalledכְּשָׁעָהfor about an hourחֲדָאoneדניאלDanielד'four,כָּךְsoתְּפָרֵשׁyou should explainלְשׁוֹןthe expression ofשְׁאִיָּהruinבְּאָדָםregarding a personבָּהוּלbewilderedוּבַעַלand a master ofמַחֲשָׁבוֹתthoughtsוְאֻנְקְלוֹסand Onkelosתִּרְגֵּםtranslated itלְשׁוֹןas an expression ofשְׁהִיָּה,lingeringוְגַבְרָאand the manשָׁהֵי,lingeredשׁוֹהֵאtarryingוְעוֹמֵדand standingבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאֶחָדoneלִרְאוֹתto seeהַהִצְלִיחַwhether had made prosperousה'Hashemדַּרְכּוֹ;his wayוְאֵיןand there is notלְתַרְגֵּםto translateשָׁתֵי,drinkingשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdאֵינוֹit is notלְשׁוֹןan expression ofשְׁתִיָּה,drinkingשֶׁאֵיןfor there is noאָלֶףAlephנוֹפֶלֶתfallingבִּלְשׁוֹןin the expression ofשְׁתִיָּהdrinking:

רַשִׁ״י

משתאהwas wonderingלה.about herמִשְׁתּוֹמֵםwonderingעָלֶיהָ,about herכְּמוֹjust asאִמְרִיsayלִיof meאָחִיmy brotherהוּאhe isבראשיתBereishisכ׳:י״ג20וּכְמוֹ13וַיִּשְׁאֲלוּand just asאַנְשֵׁיand they askedהַמָּקוֹםthe men ofלְאִשְׁתּוֹthe placeשםabout his wifeכ"וthere:

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וַיְהִיand it wasכַּאֲשֶׁרwhenכִּלּוּhad finishedהַגְּמַלִּיםthe camelsלִשְׁתּוֹתto drinkוַיִּקַּחand tookהָאִישׁthe manנֶזֶםa ringזָהָבof goldבֶּקַעa bekaמִשְׁקָלוֹits weightוּשְׁנֵיand twoצְמִידִיםbraceletsעַלuponיָדֶיהָher handsעֲשָׂרָהtenזָהָבgoldמִשְׁקָלָם׃their weight

רַשִׁ״י

בקע.Bekaרֶמֶזa hintלְשִׁקְלֵיto the Shekels ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבֶּקַעa Bekaלַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת:per head

רַשִׁ״י

ושניand twoצמידים.braceletsרֶמֶזa symbolלִשְׁנֵיof the twoלוּחוֹתTabletsמְצֻמָּדוֹת:joined

רַשִׁ״י

עשרהtenזהבgoldמשקלם.their weightרֶמֶזa hintלַעֲשֶׂרֶתto the tenהַדִּבְּרוֹתCommandmentsשֶׁבָּהֶן:that are in them

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd he saidבַּתthe daughter ofמִיwhomאַתְּare youהַגִּידִיtellנָאpleaseלִיmeהֲיֵשׁis thereבֵּיתin the house ofאָבִיךְyour fatherמָקוֹםroomלָנוּfor usלָלִין׃to spend the night

רַשִׁ״י

ויאמרAnd he saidבתdaughter ofמיwhomאת.are youלְאַחַרAfterשֶׁנָּתַןthat he gaveלָהּto herשְׁאָלָהּ,he asked herלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasבָּטוּחַconfidentבִּזְכוּתוֹin the meritשֶׁלofאַבְרָהָםAvrahamשֶׁהִצְלִיחַthat He made successfulהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One blessed be Heדַּרְכּוֹ:his journey

רַשִׁ״י

ללין.to lodgeלִינָהa lodgingאַחַת,oneלִיןlinשֵׁםis a nounדָּבָר;of a thingוְהִיאand sheאָמְרָהsaidלָלוּןto lodge–כַּמָּהmanyלִינוֹת:lodgings

פָּסוּק טו

Pasuk 15

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd she saidאֵלָיוto himבַּתThe daughter ofבְּתוּאֵלBesuelאָנֹכִיI amבֶּןthe son ofמִלְכָּהMilkahאֲשֶׁרwhomיָלְדָהshe boreלְנָחוֹר׃to Nachor

רַשִׁ״י

בתdaughter ofבתואל.Besuelהֱשִׁיבַתּוּshe answered himעַלonרִאשׁוֹןthe firstרִאשׁוֹןfirstוְעַלand onאַחֲרוֹןthe lastאַחֲרוֹן:last

פָּסוּק טז

Pasuk 16

וַתֹּאמֶרAnd she saidאֵלָיוto himגַּםbothתֶּבֶןstrawגַּםand alsoמִסְפּוֹאfeedרַבis plentifulעִמָּנוּwith usגַּםalsoמָקוֹםa placeלָלוּן׃to spend the night

רַשִׁ״י

מספוא.Provenderכָּלallמַאֲכַלfood ofהַגְּמַלִיםthe camelsקָרוּיis calledמִסְפּוֹא,mispoכְּגוֹןsuch asתֶּבֶןstrawוּשְׂעוֹרִים:and barley

פָּסוּק יז

Pasuk 17

וַיִּקֹּדAnd he bowedהָאִישׁthe manוַיִּשְׁתַּחוּand he prostratedלַיהוָה׃to Hashem

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah traces Eliezer's journey and the immediate hashgacha pratis that unfolds at the well. After Eliezer davens for success, Rivkah appears and perfectly fulfills his test by showing immense chesed, quickly drawing water for both him and his camels. Stunned by this open siyata d'Shmaya, Eliezer presents her with a gold nose-ring and bracelets, inquires about her family, and asks if there is room to lodge. Once she identifies herself as Nachor's granddaughter and warmly offers ample straw, feed, and lodging, Eliezer bows low in heartfelt gratitude, praising Hashem for guiding him straight to his master's relatives.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

When Eliezer is looking for the perfect shidduch for Yitzchak Avinu, he doesn't ask Hashem for a sign of brilliant intellect or deep philosophical understanding. The entire test is built on one thing: simple, proactive chesed. When Eliezer asks for a sip of water, Rivkah doesn't just do the bare minimum. She runs, she hurries, and she offers to draw water for ten thirsty camels. This is the foundation of the Bais Avraham, not just doing a favor when asked, but looking to see what else is needed and running to do it with a full heart.

Lichoira, we often think of chesed as a grand project or a major undertaking. But the Torah is teaching us that real greatness is found in the way we handle the small, immediate needs of the people right in front of us. Rivkah didn't know she was being tested for the ultimate role of becoming an Imahos of Klal Yisrael; she was just being herself at a local well. Her natural reaction to a stranger's need was to pour out her energy without calculation.

In our own daily avodah, we are constantly presented with these "wellspring" moments. It could be a spouse coming home tired, a coworker struggling with a task, or a neighbor carrying heavy bags. The yetzer hara whispers to do just enough to be polite and then stop. The lesson of Rivkah Imenu is to push past that boundary of "enough" and ask ourselves: "What else can I do to make this person comfortable?"

Today, when someone asks you for a small favor, don't just do what they asked. Look for the "camels" in the situation, the extra, unstated need, and take one extra step to help them with a warm, smiling face.