FROM THE RABBI’S DESK · TORAH THOUGHT

Chayei Sarah: A Question Before the Journey

A close reading of Genesis 24:2 to 9

Published November 1, 2026

A Question Before the Journey

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי׃ (Genesis 24:2)

And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: ‘Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh. (Genesis 24:2; JPS 1917)

In Chayei Sarah, Abraham asks the senior servant of his household to travel to his birthplace and family to find a wife for Isaac. The servant has responsibility for Abraham’s possessions, the Torah tells us, and Abraham asks him to make an oath about the journey (Genesis 24:2 to 4).

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אוּלַי֙ לֹא־תֹאבֶ֣ה הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה לָלֶ֥כֶת אַחֲרַ֖י אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּ֑את הֶֽהָשֵׁ֤ב אָשִׁיב֙ אֶת־בִּנְךָ֔ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָצָ֥אתָ מִשָּֽׁם׃ (Genesis 24:5)

And the servant said unto him: ‘Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land; must I needs bring thy son back unto the land from whence thou camest?’ (Genesis 24:5; JPS 1917)

Before the servant departs, he raises a practical question. What if the woman is unwilling to come? Should he then take Isaac back to the land Abraham left? (Genesis 24:5)

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו אַבְרָהָ֑ם הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֔ פֶּן־תָּשִׁ֥יב אֶת־בְּנִ֖י שָֽׁמָּה׃ (Genesis 24:6)

And Abraham said unto him: ‘Beware thou that thou bring not my son back thither. (Genesis 24:6; JPS 1917)

Abraham answers in two parts. First, he tells the servant not to take Isaac back there. He recalls God’s promise and expresses confidence that God will send an angel before the servant (Genesis 24:6 to 7).

וְאִם־לֹ֨א תֹאבֶ֤ה הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ וְנִקִּ֕יתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִ֖י זֹ֑את רַ֣ק אֶת־בְּנִ֔י לֹ֥א תָשֵׁ֖ב שָֽׁמָּה׃ (Genesis 24:8)

And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath; only thou shalt not bring my son back thither.’ (Genesis 24:8; JPS 1917)

Study translation: If the woman is unwilling to go with you, you are released from this oath of mine; only do not take my son back there. (Genesis 24:8)

וַיָּ֤שֶׂם הָעֶ֙בֶד֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ תַּ֛חַת יֶ֥רֶךְ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֑יו וַיִּשָּׁ֣בַֽע ל֔וֹ עַל־הַדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ (Genesis 24:9)

And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. (Genesis 24:9; JPS 1917)

Abraham addresses the uncertainty: if the woman is unwilling to go, the servant is released from this oath. The instruction not to take Isaac back remains. The servant makes the oath after hearing these terms (Genesis 24:9).

A question worth noticing

The servant asks about a possible difficulty before beginning. Abraham’s answer identifies both a boundary and a circumstance in which the servant will be released from the oath. The passage does not tell us every thought or feeling behind their exchange.

As a reflection, a clear question before beginning a responsibility can help people understand what they are being asked to do and what should happen if circumstances change. This is an invitation to think with the text, not a ruling about every promise or situation.

Keep learning

What question could help clarify a responsibility you have been given? What boundaries or conditions would be useful to discuss before you begin?

Explore free Torah study guides at https://torahuniversity.info/study-guides.

Source: Genesis 24:2 to 9. Read the Hebrew and translation at https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.24.2-9.

Sources and further reading

1. Genesis 24:2 to 9
2. Genesis 24:5
3. Genesis 24:6
4. Genesis 24:7
5. Genesis 24:8
6. Genesis 24:9
7. Genesis 24:2