BEREISHIS RABBAH
Chapter 60
Bereishis Rabbah Chapter 60
   

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(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.

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