וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים׃
라반이 가로되 여호와께 복을 받은 자여 들어오소서 어찌 밖에 섰나이까 내가 방과 약대의 처소를 예비하였나이다
Midrash Tanchuma
And Abraham was old, well stricken in age (Gen. 24:1). R. Joshua the son of Nahmani said: Men become old prematurely because of four things: fear, grief caused by children, a wicked wife, and wars. We learn about fear from David, as it is written: But David would not go before it to inquire of God; for he was terrified because of the sword of the angel of the Lord (I Chron. 21:30), and that is followed by the verse: And David was old (ibid., v. 31). The consequences of grief brought on by children we learn from Eli. It is written: Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel (I Sam. 2:21). The effect of wars is recorded in what happened to Joshua after he fought with the thirty-one kings: And Joshua was old, well stricken with years (Josh. 23:1). We read about what transpires because of a wicked wife, in the verse: It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods (I Kings 11:4). However, Abraham’s wife honored him and called him my lord, as is said: And my lord is old (Gen. 18:12). Concerning her Scripture states: A Virtuous woman is a crown to her husband (Prov. 12:4). Hence, it is written of him: And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things (Gen. 24:1).
Vayikra Rabbah
Another matter, “when you will come to the land of Canaan.” They are seven nations, and you say “the land of Canaan”? The Rabbis say: It alluded to the fact that just as Ḥam castrated him and Canaan was punished; here, too, Israel sins and the land is cursed.20The Sages understood Ḥam to have castrated his father Noah (see Sanhedrin 70a, based on Genesis 9:22–24). In response, Noah cursed Ḥam’s son, Canaan (Genesis 9:25). Similarly, the verse refers here to the Land of Canaan to indicate that when the land is struck, it is due to sin, in this case the sins of Israel.
Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov and the Rabbis, Rabbi Eliezer says: It is because Canaan was the progenitor of them all.21The other six nations that inhabited the land were descendants of Canaan, and therefore the land is called the Land of Canaan. That is what is written: “Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Ḥet” (Genesis 10:15).22The subsequent verses (Genesis 10:16–18) list various other sons of Canaan, some of whom were the progenitors of the nations that inhabited the Land of Canaan. The Rabbis say: It is because they were all merchants, just as it says: “Whose merchants are princes; whose peddlers23The term for “its peddlers [kinaneha]” is grammatically related to the name Canaan. are the eminent of the land” (Isaiah 23:8).
Rabbi Yosei ben Dosa said: Eliezer is Canaan.24Eliezer, the servant of Abraham (see Genesis 15:2), was a Canaanite. But because he served that righteous one, he emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed. That is what is written: “He said: Cursed is Canaan” (Genesis 9:25), and it is written: “Come, blessed of the Lord” (Genesis 24:31).25This was stated by Lavan to the servant of Abraham, identified by the Sages as Eliezer. Rabbi Yaakov in the name of Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Natan of Beit Guvrin employed this in requesting to take his leave.26When taking leave of his host or an important individual, he would mention this comment. If Eliezer emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed because he served that righteous one; our brethren, Israel, who honor their prominent leaders, all the more so. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”
Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov and the Rabbis, Rabbi Eliezer says: It is because Canaan was the progenitor of them all.21The other six nations that inhabited the land were descendants of Canaan, and therefore the land is called the Land of Canaan. That is what is written: “Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Ḥet” (Genesis 10:15).22The subsequent verses (Genesis 10:16–18) list various other sons of Canaan, some of whom were the progenitors of the nations that inhabited the Land of Canaan. The Rabbis say: It is because they were all merchants, just as it says: “Whose merchants are princes; whose peddlers23The term for “its peddlers [kinaneha]” is grammatically related to the name Canaan. are the eminent of the land” (Isaiah 23:8).
Rabbi Yosei ben Dosa said: Eliezer is Canaan.24Eliezer, the servant of Abraham (see Genesis 15:2), was a Canaanite. But because he served that righteous one, he emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed. That is what is written: “He said: Cursed is Canaan” (Genesis 9:25), and it is written: “Come, blessed of the Lord” (Genesis 24:31).25This was stated by Lavan to the servant of Abraham, identified by the Sages as Eliezer. Rabbi Yaakov in the name of Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Rabbi Natan of Beit Guvrin employed this in requesting to take his leave.26When taking leave of his host or an important individual, he would mention this comment. If Eliezer emerged from the category of cursed and came into the category of blessed because he served that righteous one; our brethren, Israel, who honor their prominent leaders, all the more so. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel: “When you will come to the land of Canaan.”
Bereshit Rabbah
“The girl ran and told her mother’s household all about these matters” (Genesis 24:28).
“The girl ran and told her mother’s household” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: A woman frequents only her mother’s household. They raised an objection to him: “She [Rachel] told her father” (Genesis 29:12). He said to them: That was because her mother had died. To whom could she have told? Is it not to her father?
“Rebecca had a brother and his name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man, to the spring” (Genesis 24:29).
“When he saw the nose ring and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying: So spoke the man to me, he came to the man and, behold, he was standing beside the camels at the spring” (Genesis 24:30).
“Rebecca had a brother and his name was Laban” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said a favorable interpretation – he was very fair in complexion.25Lavan (Laban) means white. Rabbi Berekkya said an unfavorable interpretation – he was white, [i.e. pure], in wickedness.
“Laban ran out to the man, to the spring [haayin]” – he was assessing [me’ayen] him.26He was looking over Eliezer, to see if he might get some money from him.
“He was standing beside the camels at the spring [haayin]” – he [Laban] was assessing [me’ayen] himself.27Whether or not he would be able to deceive Eliezer to benefit himself.
“He said: Come, blessed of the Lord; why are you standing outside, and I have cleared the house and place for the camels?” (Genesis 24:31).
“He said: Come, blessed of the Lord” – he thought that he was Abraham, as the contours of his face resembled him.
Rabbi Yosei ben Dosa said: Canaan28Canaan was cursed by Noah (Genesis 9:25). and Eliezer were one and the same, and because he faithfully served that righteous man [Abraham], he emerged from the ranks of the cursed and entered the ranks of the blessed.
“He said: Come, blessed of the Lord” – Rabbi Yaakov said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan of Beit Guvrin, who would use this as a parting statement:29When taking leave of his host. If Eliezer, by means of faithfully serving that righteous man, emerged from the ranks of the cursed and entered the ranks of the blessed, then the people of Israel, who perform acts of kindness for their greater and lesser members with their hands and their feet, all the more so.
“Why are you standing outside” – it is not in keeping with your esteem to remain outside.
“And I have cleared the house” – from the filth of idol worship.
“The girl ran and told her mother’s household” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: A woman frequents only her mother’s household. They raised an objection to him: “She [Rachel] told her father” (Genesis 29:12). He said to them: That was because her mother had died. To whom could she have told? Is it not to her father?
“Rebecca had a brother and his name was Laban, and Laban ran out to the man, to the spring” (Genesis 24:29).
“When he saw the nose ring and the bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister, saying: So spoke the man to me, he came to the man and, behold, he was standing beside the camels at the spring” (Genesis 24:30).
“Rebecca had a brother and his name was Laban” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said a favorable interpretation – he was very fair in complexion.25Lavan (Laban) means white. Rabbi Berekkya said an unfavorable interpretation – he was white, [i.e. pure], in wickedness.
“Laban ran out to the man, to the spring [haayin]” – he was assessing [me’ayen] him.26He was looking over Eliezer, to see if he might get some money from him.
“He was standing beside the camels at the spring [haayin]” – he [Laban] was assessing [me’ayen] himself.27Whether or not he would be able to deceive Eliezer to benefit himself.
“He said: Come, blessed of the Lord; why are you standing outside, and I have cleared the house and place for the camels?” (Genesis 24:31).
“He said: Come, blessed of the Lord” – he thought that he was Abraham, as the contours of his face resembled him.
Rabbi Yosei ben Dosa said: Canaan28Canaan was cursed by Noah (Genesis 9:25). and Eliezer were one and the same, and because he faithfully served that righteous man [Abraham], he emerged from the ranks of the cursed and entered the ranks of the blessed.
“He said: Come, blessed of the Lord” – Rabbi Yaakov said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan of Beit Guvrin, who would use this as a parting statement:29When taking leave of his host. If Eliezer, by means of faithfully serving that righteous man, emerged from the ranks of the cursed and entered the ranks of the blessed, then the people of Israel, who perform acts of kindness for their greater and lesser members with their hands and their feet, all the more so.
“Why are you standing outside” – it is not in keeping with your esteem to remain outside.
“And I have cleared the house” – from the filth of idol worship.