Torah Trivia for Parshah Chayay Sarah
1.) How old is Sarah when she passes, and where does this happen?
Answer: She is 127 years old, and the location is Kiryath Arba (Hebron) in Canaan; Bereshit 23:1
2.) What does Avraham provide to Ephron, son of Zohar of Heth, in exchange for the burial place, the Cave at Machpelah: a.) respect, b.) 200 cattle, c.) 400 silver coins, d.) the threat of war, e.) a written contract, f.) a handshake, g.) a bow, h.) a hug, i.) a pound?
Answer: Avraham provides Ephron with c.) 400 silver coins (Bereshit 23:16), and Avraham bows to the Hittites and before directly addressing Ehpron (Bereshit 23:7,12); and it may also be considered that, within his approach and the aggregate negotiation and exchange, Avraham is very a.) respectful towards Ephron and the Hittites (Bereshit 23:3 – 16); aside from this, there is an absence of a specific description of any formal gestures that coincide with the exchange of the silver coins and the transfer of land (such as a contract, handshake, hug, or pound), however, there may be some possibility of one or all of these also occurring; and, whilst the urban American lingo may recognise a “pound” as a rendering of a handshake, a cynical American financier may consider, amidst the rise of inflation and the devaluation of the US dollar against the British Sterling, that a “pound” is actually worth 400 silver coins (according to the Finacncial Times, the actual exchange rate of British sterling to silver is approximately: 1 pound for 2.5 ounces [~60 grams] of silver; so perhaps the answer may also be: i.5) an 1/8th of a “pound” [lbs], with each coin/shekel weighing ~ 1/20th of an ounce or ~ 1/5th of a gram).
3.) In what direction does the Cave of Machpelah face, and what is included with the transfer of burial location?
Answer: The Cave of Machpelah faces Mamre, and the transfer of stewardship includes the cave, the nearby field and all the trees within the nearby field; Bereshit 23:17.
4.) To whom does Avraham solicit his servant to make a promise to find a wife for Yitzak from Avraham’s relatives, and to abstain from bringing Yitzak back to Avraham’s native land?
Answer: Avraham solicits his servant to make a promise to Avraham and to Adonai; Bereshit 24:3 - 9.
5.) What does Avraham’s servant take with him on the journey to Avraham’s relatives in Aram Naharaim?
Answer: His servant brings 10 camels with “precious things” (Bereshit 24:10), later revealed as specifically including: a gold ring and 2 gold bracelets (Bereshit 24:22, 47), additional gold and silver jewelry, clothing, and additional gifts for Rivkah’s family (Bereshit 24:53).
6.) How does Rivkah carry the jar of water: a.) on her head, b.) tied to a rod across her shoulder, c.) on her shoulder, d.) on her side hip, e.) freely, with one of her hands to the side of her, f.) with both hands in front of her, or g.) in a backpack?
Answer: Rivkah carries the jar of water c.) on her shoulder; Bereshit 24:15, 45.
7.) What are Rivkah’s specific actions, for which Avraham’s servant previously prays, that provide a sign to Avraham’s servant to pursue the marriage arrangement with Yitzak?
Answer: When Avraham’s servant asks Rivkah for some water from her jar, she provides the water, and then she offers to draw water for his camels; Bereshit 24:13 – 14, 17 – 21, 42 – 46.
8.) What type of ring does Avraham’s servant first give to Rivkah: a.) an earring, b.) a finger ring, c.) a pinky ring, d.) a thumb ring, or e.) a nose ring?
Answer: Avraham’s servant provides Rivkah with e.) a nose ring; Bereshit 24:22, 30, 47.
9.) Within this Parshah, how many times is the meeting between Avraham’s servant and Rivkah described?
Answer: The meeting is described 4 times: when Avraham’s servant prays to Adonai (Bereshit 24:12 – 14), when the event actually happens, (Bereshit 24:15 – 21), when Avraham’s servant shares the story with Rivkah’s family (Bereshit 24:32 – 48), and intrinsically when Avraham’s servant shares the story with Yitzak (Bereshit 24:66).
10.) Out of the proceeding individuals, who suggests that Rivkah should wait to go with Avraham’s servant to marry Yitzak, and who agrees to leave that very day: a.) Avraham’s servant, b.) Rivkah, c.) Laban, d.) Rivkah’s mother, e.) Rivkah’s father?
Answer: c.) Laban, and d.) Rivkah’s mother suggest that Rivkah wait, whilst a.) Avraham servant solicits to leave that very day and b.) Rivkah agrees; Bereshit 24:54 – 58.
11.) Where does Yitzak dwell when Rivkah meets him?
Answer: This may be somewhat of a misleading question; technically, Yitzak lives near Beer LaChai Ro’i, in the Negev, when Rivkah first meets him (Bereshit 24:62), and that is where the 2 settle (Bereshit 25:11); however, it is previously described that Avraham is living further North, in the area of Kiryah Arba/Hebron (Bereshit 23:1), and it may be that Avraham’s servant is actually, initially bringing Rivkah to Avraham’s dwelling, as it is also described that Yitzak is “returning from Beer LaChai Ro’i,” when he actually first meets Rivkah (Bereshit 24:62).
12.) How many brothers does Yitzak have, and who is specifically described as burying Avraham?
Answer: There is a specific naming of 7 of Yitzak’s brothers: Ishmael, from Hagar (Bereshit 25:12), and Zimran, Yakshan, Medan, Midian, Yishbak, and Shuach (all presumably male) who are borne from Avraham’s 3rd wife, Keturah (Bereshit 25:1 – 2); although there is also a reference to “sons” of “concubines” (in the plural) which may exclude Hagar, and connote additional children (Bereshit 25:6); there is the description of Yitzak and Ishmael together burying Avraham in the Cave of Machpelah, with Sarah; Bereshit 25:9.
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Discussion Questions:
What relevance does the story of Avraham’s negotiation with Ephron and the Hittites have towards the contemporary issue of the recognition of property rights, and even the circumstances involving Eretz Israel? Upon what principles, other than utilisation and/or threat of force, do we now affirm the ownership/stewardship of land, property, and resources? Bereshit 23:3 – 16.
When Avraham vehemently protests Yitzak returning to Avraham’s homeland, is there any deeper, esoteric significance within this protestation? Amidst the apparent, intrinsic and intuitive attachment that people experience to a homeland, what is the temporal and transcendental nature of Avraham’s apparent anti-nativity; does this have any subsequent implications regarding a higher-reaching Theological mandate for all humanity (are we each supposed to “leave our father’s house” and/or the comforts of convention/tradition and/or our own transgressive/selfish behaviour)? Bereshit 24:1 – 9.
Why does Avraham’s servant pray for apparently the first random young woman approaching the well to be the right wife for Yitzak, rather than first carefully investigating through the town and specifically identifying Avraham’s relatives? Bereshit 24:13 – 14.
Why is Laban the prominently described relative of Rikvah (being her brother), when her father, Bethuel, is also present? Bereshit 24:50.
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