1)

Why did Yaakov immediately inform Rachel that he was her father's brother?

1.

Rashi: He was hinting to Rachel that, if her father (who bore the title 'Lavan the trickster') 1 tries tricking him, Yaakov is his brother (colleague) in trickery. 2

2.

Targum Yonasan: Refer to 29:12:1:1*.

3.

Seforno: To clarify that he had not acted incorrectly by kissing her.

4.

Refer to 29:12:2:7.

5.

Ha'amek Davar: Before, she merely understood that he is a relative. He now explained his exact relation.


1

According to Targum Yonasan, Yaakov was responding to Rachel, who told him that he would not be able to stand up to Lavan, who was a swindler. He also added that Lavan would not be able to do him any harm, since the Word of Hashem was with him.

2

R. C. Fogel, citing R. Yechezkel Levenstein: Even though a verse (Shmuel II 22:27) permits this, every Heter has its price. For Yaakov, it was deceit to secretly give Simanim to Rachel, and appear to trust Lavan to give Rachel. Yaakov's "deceit" did not help him at all!

2)

Why did Yaakov add that he was Rivkah's son?

1.

Rashi: He was hinting that if Lavan will behave towards him righteously, then he will act like the son of Rivkah, a Tzadik.

2.

Seforno and Ramban: In order that she should go and tell her father 1 (Lavan) that his sister's son had arrived. 2

3.

Targum Yonasan: He actually instructed her to inform her father that he had come to marry one of his daughters.

4.

Ohr ha'Chayim #1: He told her that he has two connections to her. He is a blood relative (her father's brother), and the son of Rivkah, who was known for her virtue. Tzadikim rejoice (upon meeting similar Tzadikim).

5.

Ohr ha'Chayim #2: Lest Rivkah say that it is lowly for Yaakov to be a swindler like her father, he explained that he is Ben Rivkah - he will be crafty to protect himself from Lavan's guile and defeat him, in an honest way.

6.

Malbim #1: He is her primary son who inherited all her Berachos.

7.

Malbim #2: He told her how he tricked Esav (to get the Berachos), like her father, but his intent was for Avodas Hashem, for he was Ben Rivkah.


1

Refer to 29:12:3:2.

2

Like Rivkah did when Eliezer arrived in Charan (See 24:28).

3)

Why did Rachel report to her father and not to her mother (like Rivkah did, see Bereishis 24:28)?

1.

Rashi (from Bereishis Rabah 70:13): Because her mother was no longer alive. 1

2.

Ramban: So that her father should come out to greet Yaakov and pay him respect, whereas there was no point in telling her mother. 2

3.

Moshav Zekenim: Lavan was Yaakov's uncle. Yaakov was not related to Rachel's mother, so she would not do anything for him.


1

Gur Aryeh: In normal circumstances, a girl tells news only to her mother first (Rashi to 24:28).

2

Rivkah went to her mother to show her mother the ornaments that Eliezer had given her, as girls tend to do. She did not know that Eliezer came from her father's family.

4)

What is the significance of the fact that Rachel ran to tell her father?

1.

This was the hallmark of Avraham's illustrious family - Whenever they performed a Mitzvah or a good deed, they ran (See 18:2-8). When Eliezer arrived, Rivkah ran to tell her mother. By following in her mother-in-law's footsteps, Rachel proved that she was worthy of marrying her son. (EC)

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

5)

Rashi writes: "If he is coming to deceive me, I am his match (lit. his brother) in deceit...." Why would Yaakov want to tell this to Rachel?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Yaakov said this to convince Rachel to agree to marry him; that she need not fear that Lavan would [be able to] deceive him.

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