The Veil and the Cloud Returned to Sarah's Tent

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 109:12

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

(Genesis 24:64) "And Rebecca lifted up her eyes and saw Isaac" - she saw that his hand was spread out in prayer. She said, surely this is a great man, and so she asked about him. "And she fell off the camel" - she sank down, as you say, "Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down" (Psalms 37:24). (Genesis 24:65) "And she said, Who is that man?" She saw him glorious. The Rabbis say, he and that oak of his. "And she took the veil and covered herself" - there are two who covered themselves in a veil and bore twins: Rebecca, "and she took the veil and covered herself"; Tamar, "she covered herself with a veil" (Genesis 38:14). (Genesis 24:66) "And the servant told Isaac." Rabbi Elazar said, the general rules of the Torah are more abundant than its details, for had it come to write them out it would have written two or three columns. And the Rabbis say, he told him words of praise - how the earth had leaped before him on the way. (Genesis 24:67) "And Isaac brought her into the tent, Sarah his mother." All the days that Sarah was alive a cloud was tied over the tent, and when she died that cloud ceased; and when Rebecca came, the cloud returned. All the time Sarah was alive a blessing was sent into the dough, and when Sarah died that blessing ceased, and when Rebecca came the blessing returned. All the time Sarah was alive her doors were open wide, and when Sarah died that openness ceased, and when Rebecca came it returned. All the time Sarah was alive a lamp burned from one Sabbath eve to the next, and when Sarah died it ceased, and when Rebecca came that lamp returned. And when Isaac saw that she did as his mother had done - she made her dough in purity, and separated her dough-offering in purity - immediately "Isaac brought her into the tent, Sarah his mother."

Themes

WomenMarriageBlessing

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