The Portion of Chayei Sarah
Genesis 23:1-25:18
This week’s portion focuses on the death of Sarah and Abraham’s quest to find a wife for their son, Isaac. Although Abraham disapproves of the local women, he does not want Isaac to leave the Land of Israel to find his wife. Abraham thus sends a servant in his place to find the right woman to marry his son. The portion ends with an account of Abraham’s final days and a genealogy of Ishmael.
Here's a thought that no one here will buy. There is a God ordained blindness over the traditional Jew until the Meshiach returns for His bride at which point all of Judaism will recognize Him.
Perhaps this a fore runner of the Marriage to come!
I think that veiling of Rebecca has do with the culture and customs of the day
The groom is not accepted as the chooser of the bride but in this way she showed her agreing with the setup of the coming wedding. After the wedding Jitschaq was allowed to see his bride. Rivka got the tents of Sarah until she was married.
I believe that answer to this question is given in this verse right here:
67 And Yitzchak brought her into his mother Sara’s tent, and took Rivka, and she became his wife; and he loved her. And Yitzchak was comforted for his mother. סז וַיְבִאֶהָ יִצְחָק הָאֹהֱלָה שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת רִבְקָה וַתְּהִי לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ וַיִּנָּחֵם יִצְחָק אַחֲרֵי אִמּוֹ.
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In the culture and custom of their day, there was no fancy wedding or long drawn-out engagement. What you see is a "bride" walking towards her "husband". The marriage was consumated and thus you have the whole story.
Baruch Hashem.
I totally agree with you and with all the others. In addition, Rebecca had to distinguish herself from her maids as chapter 24 reveals that she left her family with a nurse and maids.
Because she was to be the bride of the man coming toward her. It was the cultural custom.
The veiling took place so that the groom should not see his bride before the wedding. She should be seen in the right place and in the right environment. It was an arranged marriage. So the final acceptance should be in the presence of the “arranger”. (Abraham) We still know this (kind of) custom. The groom is not allowed to see his bride in her bridesclothes before the wedding.otherwise she would attract ill luck.
The reason Rebecca veiled herself when Isaac appeared was perhaps to identify herself as his bride. She was in the company of a man on her journey and was not veiled.
Yes, that is what makes the veiling all the more interesting.