Vayetze: Chapter 42

The images

Synopsis

In this verse, the rabbis comment wryly on the low nature of Laban's idols or "images." Laban communicated with the statues representing his gods, and thus was able to make black magic. Rachel took these images when she and Jacob fled, and hid them under her skirts in order to cure her father of idolatry and also to prevent him from successful pursuit.

Relevance

The negative forces who dwell in our midst have the power to help us achieve many objectives in life, but there is a price to be paid at a later date. The rewards are short-lived and they leave a residue that creates chaos and turmoil somewhere in our lives. Idols do not refer only to statues depicting Gods. Anything that is ego-based - such as money, power, prestige and material possessions - is considered to be an Idol if it holds sway over our thoughts and behavior. Through the spiritual power of Rachel and Jacob, we are able to rise above the temptations and trappings of physical existence in order to discover the true and eternal treasures of life.

Idolatry Images Laban Sheep Women

375. "And Laban went to shear his sheep..." (Beresheet 31:19). Rabbi Yosi asked, What are the images? HE REPLIED, They pertain to idolatry. They were called Terafim in offensive language, after the place of the toref, A WOMAN'S PUDENDA. How do we know they pertained to idolatry? From the verses, "yet why have you stolen my Elohim?" (Ibid. 30), and "Anyone with whom you find your Elohim" (Ibid. 32). Laban was the greatest sorcerer in the world, and by means OF THE IMAGES he knew whatever he needed to know.

375. וְלָבָן הָלַךְ לִגְזֹז אֶת צֹאנוֹ וגו.' אֲמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי מַאן תְּרָפִים, אֶלָּא ע"ז הֲווֹ, וְאַמַּאי אִקְרֵי תְּרָפִים, לִגְנַאי הֲוָה, כְּמָה דְתָנִינָן בְּמָקוֹם הַתּוֹרֶף. וּמְנָלָן דַּע"ז הֲווֹ, דִּכְתִיב לָמָּה גָנַבְתָּ אֶת אֱלֹהָי. וּכְתִיב עִם אֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָא אֶת אֱלֹהֶיךָ וגו.' וְלָבָן חָרָשָׁא דְּכָל חֳרָשִׁין דְּעַלְמָא הֲוָה, וּבְהַאי הֲוָה יָדַע בְּכָל מַאן דְּבָעֵי לְמִנְדַע.

Creation Hands Images Samuel

376. Rabbi Chiya said that the images were created through magic; Rabbi Yosi said that it was by means of divination. Rabbi Yehuda said, They are made only at certain times. They were called Terafim, because one must know when to shape them and when to wait, as it is written, "stay (Heb. heref) now your hand" (II Shmuel 24:16). BECAUSE ONE HAS TO RELAX ONE'S HAND AT CERTAIN HOURS, THEY ARE CALLED TERAFIM.

376. אֲמַר רִבִּי חִיָּיא, בְּקֶסֶם אִתְעֲבֵיד. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר בְּנַחַשׁ. אֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, לָא אִתְעֲבִידוּ, אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעְתֵּי יְדִיעָן. וְאַמַּאי אִקְרֵי תְּרָפִים. בְּגִין דְּבַטְשֵׁי הַאי שַׁעְתָּא, וְהַאי שַׁעְתָּא אַרְפֵּי יְדָא, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר רַב עַתָּה הֶרֶף יָדֶךָ.

Images Soul, The

377. When the craftsman makes it, a man who knows the moments and hours, WHO KNOWS WHEN TO STRIKE AND WHEN TO STAY, stands by him, telling him when to act and when to rest. There is no other action that needs holding off AT A CERTAIN HOUR as that of THE IMAGES. The image constantly speaks and gives advice on how to harm a man's soul.

377. אוּמָנָא כַּד עָבֵיד לֵיהּ, הַהוּא דְיָדַע רִגְעֵי וְשַׁעְתֵּי קָאֵים עֲלֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר, הַשְׁתָּא אַרְפֵּי, וְהַשְׁתָּא עָבֵיד. וְלָא תִשְׁכַּח עֲבִידְתָּא דְּאִצְטְרִיךְ דְּיִרְפּוּן מִינָהּ אֶלָּא הַאי. וְאִיהוּ מַלֵּיל תָּדִיר, וְיָהֵיב עֵיטִין בִּישִׁין לְאַבְאָשָׁא לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּבַר נָשׁ.

Fear Female Idolatry Images Jacob Laban Male Prayer Rachel

378. Rachel feared lest the images would give counsel on how to harm Jacob. She placed them under her to show disrespect to the idolatry, so that they would not be able to speak. For when one prepares them to talk he sweeps and cleans before them, to show them respect. But now it is written, "and she sat upon them" (Beresheet 31:34), BECAUSE SHE SHAMED THEM INTO NOT TALKING. THE IMAGES were male and female, and much prayer was needed to encourage them to speak. Because THE IMAGES WERE NOT IN HIS POSSESSION, Laban was held for three days, as he did not know Jacob had fled. As it is written, "And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled."

378. וְרָחֵל דְּחֵילַת, בְּגִין דִּיהַב עֵיטָא לְאַבְאָשָׁא לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב, וּבְגִין בִּזְיוֹנָא דַּע"ז, שַׁוֵּי לוֹן תְּחוֹתָהּ, עַד דְּלָא יָכֵיל לְמַלָּלָא. דְהָא כַּד אִיהוּ מִתְתַּקַּן לְמַלָּלָא, מְכַבְּדִין וּמַרְבִּיצִין קַמֵּיהּ, וְהַשְׁתָּא מַה כְּתִיב, וַתֵּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם. דְּכַר וְנוּקְבָא הֲווֹ, וּפוּלְחָנִין סַגִּיאִין קָא עָבְדִין, עַד לָא מְמַלְּלָן. וּבְגִינֵי כָּךְ, אִתְעַכַּב לָבָן תְּלַת יוֹמִין, דְּלָא יָדַע דְּעָרַק יַעֲקֹב, דִּכְתִיב וַיֻּגַּד לְלָבָן בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי כִּי בָרַח יַעֲקֹב.

Hands Jacob

379. Rabbi Yehuda said that he prepared himself in two ways, by gathering together all the magic he had and all the weapons he had in order to destroy JACOB, as it is written, "An Arammian was going to destroy my father" (Devarim 26:5). When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw that he wanted to destroy Jacob, it is written, "Take heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad." This is because, "It is in the power of my hand to hurt you" (Beresheet 31:29). HE ASKS, What made him so sure of himself? HE ANSWERS, He trusted the magic means he had.

379. וַאֲמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, זַמִּין גַּרְמֵיהּ בִּתְרֵין מִלִּין, אִזְדָּרַז בְּכָל חֳרָשִׁין דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ, וְאִזְדָּרַז בְּזַיְינִין, בְּגִין לְאוֹבָדָא לֵיהּ מִן עָלְמָא, דִּכְתִיב אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי. כֵּיוָן דְּחָמָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דְּבָעָא לְאוֹבָדָא לְיַעֲקֹב, מַה כְּתִיב הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ פֶּן תְּדַבֵּר עִם יַעֲקֹב מִטּוֹב עַד רָע. וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב יֵשׁ לְאֵל יָדִי לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּכֶם רָע. בַּמֶּה אִתְרְחִיץ, בָּחֳרָשִׁין דַּהֲווֹ בִּידֵיהּ.

Benjamin Idolatry Jacob Laban Punishment Rachel Seven

380. Come and behold, Laban covered in one day the same distance that Jacob needed seven days to walk. He did this to destroy JACOB, first because Jacob fled, and second, because of the images, WHICH WERE STOLEN FROM HIM. And although Rachel did this to wean her father from idolatry, she was punished in spite of her good intentions by not bringing up Benjamin or spending even a single hour in this world with him, due to her father's sorrow.

380. תָּא חֲזֵי, לָבָן אֲזַל בְּיוֹמָא חַד, אֹרַח שִׁבְעָה יָמִים דַּאֲזַל יַעֲקֹב, בְּגִין לְאַעֲקָרָא לֵיהּ מִן עָלְמָא. חַד, עַל דַּאֲזַל. וְחַד, עַל אִינוּן תְּרָפִים. וְאַף עַל גָּב דְּרָחֵל אִיהִי עָבְדַת, לְאַעֲקָרָא לֵיהּ לַאֲבוּהָ מִבָּתַר ע"ז, אִתְעֲנָשַׁת, דְּלָא רְבִיאַת לֵיהּ לְבִנְיָמִן, וְלָא קָיְימָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ שַׁעְתָּא חָדָא, בְּגִין צַעֲרָא דַּאֲבוּהָ, אַף עַל גַּב דְּאִתְכַּוְּונַת לְטַב.

Abraham Evil Idolatry Jacob Laban Repentance Witnesses

381. Rabbi Yitzchak said, All the reproof Jacob administered to Laban caused him to repent and acknowledge the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written, "See, Elohim is witness between me and you" (Beresheet 31:50), THUS MENTIONING THE NAME OF ELOHIM. Yet come and behold. It is written, "The Elohim of Abraham, and the Elohim of Nahor judge between us," because he returned to his evil ways, saying "the Elohim of Abraham," WHO IS HOLY, and then mentioning "the Elohim of Nahor," WHO IS IDOLATROUS.

381. רִבִּי יִצְחָק אֲמַר, כָּל הַהִיא תּוֹכַחְתָּא דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְיַעֲקֹב בְּלָבָן, אַהֲדַר לֵיהּ לְלָבָן, לְאוֹדָאָה לֵיהּ לְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, דִּכְתִיב רְאֵה אֱלֹהִים עֵד בֵּינִי וּבֵינֶיךָ. תָּא חֲזֵי, כְּתִיב אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם וֵאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר יִשְׁפְּטוּ בֵּינֵינוּ, אַהֲדַר הַהוּא רָשָׁע לְתַקְלֵיהּ, כֵּיוָן דַּאֲמַר אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם, אַהֲדַר וַאֲמַר וֵאלֹהֵי נָחוֹר.

Abraham Fear Isaac Jacob Laban

382. "And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Jacob." HE ASKS, Why did Isaac swear by the Fear of Isaac and not by the Elohim of Abraham?" HE ANSWERS, Because he did not want to lean heavily on the right, ABRAHAM, and draw it to Laban. HE THEREFORE DID NOT SWEAR BY THE ELOHIM OF ABRAHAM, THE SECRET OF THE RIGHT. Moreover, a man should not swear by a lofty place at all times meaning?, even though he is telling the truth.

382. וַיִּשָּׁבַע יַעֲקֹב בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק, מַאי טַעְמָא בְּפַחַד יִצְחָק, וְלָא בֵּאלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם. אֶלָּא, דְּלָא בָעָא לְאַטְרָחָא לִימִינָא, בְּגִינֵיהּ דְּלָבָן. וְלָא עוֹד, אֶלָא דְּלָא לִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְאִינִישׁ, אַף עַל גָּב דְּאוֹמֵי בְּקוּשְׁטָא, לְאוֹמָאָה בַּאֲתַר עִלָּאָה דְּכֹלָּא.

Abraham Fear Isaac Jacob Judgment Laban Oath

383. Rabbi Yosi said, Assuredly, Jacob swore to further emphasize his oath, NAMELY, HE MEANT TO STRENGTHEN HIS OATH BY MENTIONING THE FEAR OF HIS FATHER ISAAC. This ought to be so. Jacob also studied it carefully, and said, Laban already mentioned the Elohim of Abraham, but not my father ISAAC. I shall complete it. Immediately, "Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac." Another explanation is that he meant to be included within Judgment, to be firm against Laban.

383. אָמַר רָבִּי יוֹסֵי, וַדַּאי לְקִיּוּמָא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת, אוֹמֵי יַעֲקֹב כָּךְ, וְהָכֵי אִתְחֲזֵי, וְיַעֲקֹב אַשְׁגַּח בְּמִלָּה, אֲמַר, הָא אִיהוּ אֲמַר אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם, וְשָׁבַק לְאַבָּא, אֲנָא אַשְׁלֵים כֹּלָּא, מִיָּד וַיִּשָּׁבַע יַעֲקֹב בְּפַחַד אָבִיו יִצְחָק. דָּבָר אֲחֵר, לְאִתְכְּלָלָא בְּדִינָא, לְמֵיקַם עֲלֵיהּ דְּלָבָן.

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