Four Who Asked Improperly and How They Were Answered

Said Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: four asked improperly; to three of them it was answered properly, and to one it was answered improperly. Eliezer the servant of Abraham, as it is written, "and it shall be that the maiden to whom I say" and so forth (Genesis 24:14) — one might think even a lame woman, even a blind woman. Rebekah was set before him. Caleb: "And Caleb said: whoever strikes Kiriath-Sefer" (Judges 1:12) — behold, had a slave captured it, he would have given him his daughter. But it was answered for him properly, and Othniel ben Kenaz captured it. Saul son of Kish, as it is written, "and it shall be that the man who strikes him, the king will enrich him with great wealth and will give him his daughter" (1 Samuel 17:25) — one might think even a slave, even a mamzer. David was set before him. Jephthah the Gileadite, as it is written, "and it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house... I will offer it up as a burnt offering" (Judges 11:31) — one might think even an unclean animal. His daughter was set before him. And this is what the prophet said to Israel: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?" (Jeremiah 8:22).