בראשית רבה נ״טBereshit Rabbah 59

Parashah 59 of 100 in Bereshit Rabbah — 12 sections

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Section 1א׳

וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים (בראשית כד, א), כְּתִיב (משלי טז, לא): עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת שֵׂיבָה בְּדֶרֶךְ צְדָקָה תִּמָּצֵא, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אֲזַל לְמַמְלָא, רָאָה אוֹתָן כֻּלָּן שְׁחוֹרֵי רֹאשׁ, אָמַר לָהֶם תֹּאמַר מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת בֵּית עֵלִי אַתֶּם, דִּכְתִיב (שמואל א ב, לג): וְכָל מַרְבִּית בֵּיתְךָ יָמוּתוּ אֲנָשִׁים, אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ רַבִּי הִתְפַּלֵּל עָלֵינוּ, אָמַר לָהֶם לְכוּ וְטַפְּלוּ בִּצְדָקָה, וְאַתֶּם זוֹכִים לְזִקְנָה, מַה טַעֲמֵיהּ, עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת שֵׂיבָה. וְהֵיכָן הִיא מְצוּיָה, בְּדֶרֶךְ צְדָקָה תִּמָּצֵא. מִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד מֵאַבְרָהָם, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (בראשית יח, יט): וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶרֶךְ ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט, זָכָה לְזִקְנָה, וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים.

“Abraham was old, advanced in years, and the Lord blessed Abraham with everything” (Genesis 24:1). “Abraham was old, advanced in years.” It is written: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it will be found in the way of righteousness” (Proverbs 16:31). Rabbi Meir went to Mamla, he saw that they were all dark-haired. He said: ‘Are you, perhaps, all from the house of Eli, as it is written: “All those raised in your house will die as young men”?’ (I Samuel 2:33). They said to him: ‘Rabbi, pray for us.’ He said to them: ‘Go and engage in acts of righteousness and you will merit old age.’ What is his source? “Gray hair is a crown of glory.” And where can it be found? “It will be found in the way of righteousness.” From whom can you learn this? From Abraham, in whose regard it is written: “[For I love him, so that he will command his children and his household after him,] that they observe the way of the Lord, to perform righteousness and justice” (Genesis 18:19). He merited old age – “Abraham was old, advanced in years.”

Section 2ב׳

עֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן (משלי לא, כה), עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה, וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, אֵימָתַי הִיא שׂוֹחֶקֶת, מַתַּן שְׂכָרָהּ לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, מִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד מֵאַבְרָהָם, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (בראשית יח, יט): וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה, זָכָה לְזִקְנָה, וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן בָּא בַּיָּמִים. (משלי ג, טז): אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד. אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, אֲפִלּוּ שֶׁהוּא בָּא לְהַשְּׂמְאִיל לְאָדָם עשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד, מִמִי אַתָּה לָמֵד מֵאַבְרָהָם, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (בראשית יח, יט): וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט, זָכָה לְזִקְנָה, וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן.

“Might and grandeur are her garb, and she laughs to the final day” (Proverbs 31:25). “Might and grandeur are her garb” – of Torah; “and she laughs to the final day” – when does she laugh? It is in the future. From whom can you learn this? From Abraham. Because it is written in his regard: “[For I love him, so that he will command his children and his household after him,] that they observe the way of the Lord, to perform righteousness,” (Genesis 18:19), he merited old age – “Abraham was old, advanced in years.” “Length of days is on its right; on its left, is wealth and honor” (Proverbs 3:16). “Length of days is on its right” – in the World to Come; “on its left is wealth and honor” – in this world. Even if He comes to grant man [reward] in a left-handed fashion, the person receives wealth and honor. From whom do you derive this? From Abraham. Because it is written in his regard: “[For I love him, so that he will command his children and his household after him,] that they observe the way of the Lord, to perform righteousness and justice,” (Genesis 18:19), he merited old age – “Abraham was old, [advanced in years, and the Lord blessed Abraham with everything].”

Section 3ג׳

רַבִּי יִצְחָק פָּתַח (תהלים עא, יח): וְגַם עַד זִקְנָה וְשֵׂיבָה אֱלֹהִים אַל תַּעַזְבֵנִי, אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא לֹא הִיא זִקְנָה וְלֹא הִיא שֵּׂיבָה, אֶלָּא שֶׁאִם נָתַתָּ לִי זִקְנָה תֵּן לִי שֵׂיבָה עִמָּהּ, מִמִּי אַתָּה לָמֵד מֵאַבְרָהָם, עַל יְדֵי שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ (בראשית יח, יט): וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה' לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט, זָכָה לְזִקְנָה, וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן.

Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “Even when I am old and gray, God, do not forsake me” (Psalms 71:18) – Rabbi Aḥa said: Are old age and gray hair not synonymous? The explanation is that [David was saying:] ‘If You grant me old age, grant me gray hair.’ From whom can you learn this? From Abraham. Because it is written in his regard: “[For I love him, so that he will command his children and his household after him,] that they observe the way of the Lord, to perform righteousness and justice” (Genesis 18:19), he merited old age – “Abraham was old, advanced in years.”

Section 4ד׳

רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק פָּתַח (משלי כא, כא): רֹדֵף צְדָקָה וָחֶסֶד וגו', כַּד דְּמָךְ רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק דַּהֲוָה מְרַקֵּד אַתְּלַת שִׁבְשִׁין, נְפַקִין רוּחִין וְעַלְעוֹלִין וַעֲקָרוּן כָּל אִילָנַיָּא טָבַיָּא דְאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל, לָמָּה כֵן, דַּהֲוָה לָקֵיט מִנְהוֹן שִׁבְשִׁין וּמְהַלֵּךְ קֳדָם כַּלָּה, וַהֲווֹ רַבָּנָן אָמְרִין לָמָה עָבֵיד כְּדֵין, לָמָה הוּא מְבַזֶּה אֶת אוֹרָיְתָא, אָמַר רַבִּי זְעִירָא שִׁבְקוּתֵיהּ דְּהוּא יָדַע מָה הוּא עָבֵיד. כַּד דְּמָךְ נְפַקוּ לְמִגְמַל לֵיהּ חֶסֶד, וְנַחֲתָה שִׁבְשְׁבָה דְנוּר, וְאִתְעֲבִידַת כְּמוֹ שִׁבְשְׁבָה דַּהֲדַס, וְאַפְסִיקַת בֵּין עַרְסָא לְצִבּוּרָא, אֲמַרִין חֲמוֹן דְּהָדֵין סָבָא דְקָאֵי וְלָעֵי דְּקָמָה לֵיהּ שִׁבְשַׁתֵּיהּ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, רֹדֵף צְדָקָה, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, (בראשית יח, יט): וְשָׁמְרוּ דֶּרֶךְ ה', וָחֶסֶד וגו' כְּדִלְעֵיל.

Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak began: “One who pursues righteousness and kindness [will find life, righteousness, and honor]” (Proverbs 21:21). Upon the death of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak, who used to dance [at weddings] with three myrtle branches, winds and storms emerged that uprooted all the good trees in the Land of Israel. Why was that? Because he used to pick branches from them with which to dance before the bride. The Rabbis would say: ‘Why does he act like this? Why does he demean the honor of the Torah?’ Rabbi Ze’eira said: ‘Leave him, as he knows what he is doing.’ When he died, they went out to bestow kindness upon him. A fiery branch descended and assumed the shape of a myrtle branch, and interposed itself between the bier and the congregation. They said: ‘See this elder, who used to rise up and exert himself [in doing mitzvot], so a [fiery] branch rose up for him.’ Alternatively, “one who pursues righteousness” (Proverbs 21:21) – this is Abraham. “[For I love him, so that he will command his children and his household after him,] that they observe the way of the Lord”; “and kindness…” (Genesis 18:19), as cited above.

Section 5ה׳

יָפְיָפִיתָ מִבְּנֵי אָדָם הוּצַק חֵן וגו' (תהלים מה, ג), נִתְיַפִּיתָ בָּעֶלְיוֹנִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה לג, ז): הֵן אֶרְאֶלָּם צָעֲקוּ חֻצָה, נִתְיַפִּיתָ בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים, (בראשית כג, ו): נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ. (תהלים מה, ג): עַל כֵּן בֵּרַכְךָ אֱלֹהִים לְעוֹלָם, (בראשית כד, א): וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל. (תהלים כד, ג): מִי יַעֲלֶה בְּהַר ה', זֶה אַבְרָהָם, (בראשית כב, יב): עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי כִּי יְרֵא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה. (תהלים כד, ג): וּמִי יָקוּם בִּמְקוֹם קָדְשׁוֹ, זֶה אַבְרָהָם, עַל שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יט, כז): וַיַּשְׁכֵּם אַבְרָהָם בַּבֹּקֶר אֶל הַמָּקוֹם. (תהלים כד, ד): נְקִי כַפַּיִם וּבַר לֵבָב, (בראשית יד, כג): אִם מִחוּט וְעַד שְׂרוֹךְ נַעַל. וּבַר לֵבָב, (בראשית יח, כה): חָלִלָה לְךָ מֵעֲשׂת כַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה. (תהלים כד, ד): אֲשֶׁר לֹא נָשָׂא לַשָּׁוְא נַפְשִׁי, זֶה נַפְשׁוֹ שֶׁל נִמְרוֹד. (תהלים כד, ה): וְלֹא נִשְׁבַּע לְמִרְמָה, (בראשית יד, כב): הֲרִמֹתִי יָדִי אֶל ה' אֵל עֶלְיוֹן. (תהלים כד, ה): יִשָּׂא בְרָכָה מֵאֵת ה' וּצְדָקָה, וְאַבְרָהָם זָקֵן וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם. אַבְרָהָם הָיָה מְבָרֵךְ אֶת הַכֹּל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יב, ג): וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ, מִי בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבָרְכוֹ, וַה' בֵּרַךְ אֶת אַבְרָהָם בַּכֹּל. משֶׁה [עשה] נִסָּן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב (דברים לד, יא יב): לְכָל הָאֹתֹת וְהַמּוֹפְתִים אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה משֶׁה, וּמִי הוּא נִסּוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יז, טו): וַיִּבֶן משֶׁה מִזְבֵּחַ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ ה' נִסִּי. דָּוִד רוֹעָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א יא, ב): אַתָּה תִרְעֶה אֶת עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל, מִי הוּא רוֹעֶה שֶׁל דָּוִד, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים כג, א): ה' רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר. יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אוֹרוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה ס, ג): וְהָלְכוּ גוֹיִם לְאוֹרֵךְ, וּמִי הוּא אוֹרָהּ שֶׁל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה ס, יט): וְהָיָה לָךְ ה' לְאוֹר עוֹלָם.

“You are fairer [yafyafita] than sons of man; grace flows…” (Psalms 45:3) – [this refers to Abraham]. You are fair among the heavenly, as it is stated: “The angels cried outside” (Isaiah 33:7). You are fair among the earthly – “you are a prince of God in our midst” (Genesis 23:6). “Therefore, God has blessed you forever” (Psalms 45:3) – “the Lord blessed Abraham with everything.” “Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord?” (Psalms 24:3). This refers to Abraham, [who experienced spiritual elevation atop Mount Moriah, where God told him:] “Now I know that you are God fearing” (Genesis 22:12). “Who will stand [yakum] in His holy place?” (Psalms 24:3) – this refers to Abraham, as it is stated: “Abraham arose [vayakom] early in the morning, to go to the place” (Genesis 19:27). “Clean of hands and pure of heart” (Psalms 24:4) – “[Abram said to the king of Sodom: I have raised my hand to the Lord…] that neither a thread nor a shoelace [nor anything of yours shall I take]” (Genesis 14:22–23); “and pure of heart” – [for he said to God:] “Far be it from You to do something like this, [to put the righteous to death along with the wicked]” (Genesis 18:25). “Who has not taken a soul in vain” (Psalms 24:4) – this refers to Nimrod’s soul; “nor taken an oath deceitfully” (Psalms 24:4) – “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High” (Genesis 14:22). “He will receive the blessing of the Lord, and righteousness [from the God of his salvation]” (Psalms 24:5) – “Abraham was old…and the Lord blessed Abraham with everything.” Abraham was the source of blessing for everyone, as it is stated: “[All the families of the earth] shall be blessed in you” (Genesis 12:3). Who was the source of blessing for Abraham? The Holy One blessed be He was his source of blessing – “the Lord blessed Abraham with everything.” Moses was the source of miracles for Israel, as it is written: “With all the signs and the wonders…that Moses performed” (Deuteronomy 34:11–12). Who was the source of miracles for Moses? It was the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “Moses built an altar and called its name; The Lord Is My Miracle” (Exodus 17:15). David was Israel’s shepherd, as it is stated: “You will shepherd My people Israel” (I Chronicles 11:2). Who was David’s shepherd? It was the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1). Jerusalem is the source of light for the world, as it is stated: “Nations will walk by your light” (Isaiah 60:3). Who is the source of light for Jerusalem? It is the Holy One blessed be He, as it is written: “The Lord will be an eternal light for you” (Isaiah 60:19).

…and 7 more sections in this chapter.

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Bereshit Rabbah — Midrash Rabbah, TE edition, via Sefaria

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