Yaakov's love for Rochel - Jewish Forum & Discussions

noahidelaws · 11-30-2011, 02:04 AM

Quote:

וַיַּעֲבֹד יַעֲקֹב בְּרָחֵל שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וַיִּהְיוּ בְעֵינָיו כְּיָמִים אֲחָדִים בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ אֹתָהּ:

What does it mean that Yaakov loved Rochel before he had married her, and so much so that his labor for Lovon for seven years was for him like a few days? Doesn't true love come only after marriage? I'm not looking for an answer al derech hasod, but simple pshat.

FlyingAxe · 11-30-2011, 08:25 AM

Nevuah? That's also why he wept when he first met her -- he knew that through her Am Yisroel would come.

Malkizedek · 11-30-2011, 09:48 AM

Maybe I'm missing something, but the pshat is very straightforward. Yaakov "fell in love" (in the modern parlance). This might imply that the well where these two met did not have a proper mechitzah. But it avoids the mental gymnastics some folks feel compelled to go through in order to explain how Yaakov kissed her at first sight.

Torah613 · 11-30-2011, 10:04 AM

"Some folks" - including the Ramban, I guess.

Malkizedek · 11-30-2011, 11:04 AM

Yes. Shivim Ponim. But the majority of meforshim I am aware of are silent on the matter, implying that the pshat needs no explanation.

Shmully · 11-30-2011, 08:26 PM

One comment of Pashtonim: the Torah emphasizes Rochel's relationship to RRivkah.

Shmully · 11-30-2011, 08:28 PM

Sorry. It went out too soon. Yaakov was lonely and homesick. Here in a hostile environment was a close relative, who reminded him of his mother. He was overcome by emotion.

Malkizedek · 11-30-2011, 08:39 PM

I'm on my train home and therefore working off memory, but is that what Midrash Rabah says?

Torah613 · 12-01-2011, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malkizedek

Yes. Shivim Ponim. But the majority of meforshim I am aware of are silent on the matter, implying that the pshat needs no explanation.

I hear. Most meforshim feel that he "fell in love" and therefore kissed her in public, like... the common parlance etc.
Nu nu.
I prefer the mental gymnastics of the Ramban, in whose simplistic and naive worldview of the Avos, they didn't behave like present day ...

Malkizedek · 12-01-2011, 01:18 AM

I can live with that. But then how do you answer noahidelaws?

noahidelaws · 01-15-2012, 07:49 PM

Nu, here's an answer that's beautiful, but licho'oiro not al derech hapeshat.

Paper · 01-24-2012, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malkizedek

I can live with that. But then how do you answer noahidelaws?

What was wrong with FlyingAxe's answer? It comes about from Rashi who stays with the pshat.

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11-30-2011, 08:25 AM	#2
FlyingAxe Silver Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 607	Nevuah? That's also why he wept when he first met her -- he knew that through her Am Yisroel would come.

11-30-2011, 09:48 AM	#3
Malkizedek Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 49	Maybe I'm missing something, but the pshat is very straightforward. Yaakov "fell in love" (in the modern parlance). This might imply that the well where these two met did not have a proper mechitzah. But it avoids the mental gymnastics some folks feel compelled to go through in order to explain how Yaakov kissed her at first sight.

11-30-2011, 10:04 AM	#4
Torah613 ChabadTalk.com Elder! Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 11,716	"Some folks" - including the Ramban, I guess.

11-30-2011, 11:04 AM	#5
Malkizedek Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 49	Yes. Shivim Ponim. But the majority of meforshim I am aware of are silent on the matter, implying that the pshat needs no explanation.

11-30-2011, 08:26 PM	#6
Shmully Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 138	One comment of Pashtonim: the Torah emphasizes Rochel's relationship to RRivkah.

11-30-2011, 08:28 PM	#7
Shmully Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 138	Sorry. It went out too soon. Yaakov was lonely and homesick. Here in a hostile environment was a close relative, who reminded him of his mother. He was overcome by emotion.

11-30-2011, 08:39 PM	#8
Malkizedek Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 49	I'm on my train home and therefore working off memory, but is that what Midrash Rabah says?

12-01-2011, 01:18 AM	#10
Malkizedek Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 49	I can live with that. But then how do you answer noahidelaws?

01-15-2012, 07:49 PM	#11
noahidelaws Executive Platinum Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,479	Nu, here's an answer that's beautiful, but licho'oiro not al derech hapeshat.

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