?
(60:7) “And the maiden ran and told her mother’s house”
(Bereishis
24:28) - Said R. Yochanan: A woman is accustomed only to her mother’s
house. They challenged him: But is it not written “And she told her
father” (29:12)? He replied that her mother had died, and so
to whom should she tell - surely to her father!
“And to Rivkah was a
brother, and his name was Lavan” (24:29). R. Yitzchok said
(that the Torah is describing him) positively - he was a judge (he
whitened, that is, he clarified disputes). R. Berechyah said
(that the Torah is describing him)
negatively - he was whitened (choicest) in his wickedness.
“And Lavan
ran to the man, outside to the well.” (24:29) - he examined
him
(Ya’akov). “Standing by the camels by the well” (24:30) - he examined
his property.
“And he said: Come, the blessed one of Hashem!” (24:31) -
because he thought that it was Avrohom, because his (Eliezer’s)
countenance was very similar to his (Avrohom’s).
R. Yossi ben R. Dosa said: Canaan (who was cursed by Noach) is Eliezer,
and because he served that Tzaddik (Avrohom) faithfully he left the
category of the accursed and entered the category of the blessed.
“And
he said: Come, the blessed one of Hashem” - R. Ya’akov said
that R. Yochanan of Beis Guverin (used to say to his hosts) when taking
leave of them: If Eliezer by serving the Tzaddik faithfully went
out from the category of the accursed and entered the category of the
blessed, Yisrael who do acts of kindness with the great and small with
their hands and feet, all the more so!
“Why are
you standing outside?” (24:31) - it does not befit your honor that you
remain outside, “and I have emptied the house” - from the filth
of idol worship.