What are the implications of ?At Hayi le?Alfei Revavah ?"?
Rashi and Rashbam: With reference to Hashem's B?rachah to Avraham following the Akeidah ? they were expressing their hope that that B?rachah should be fulfilled on her children and not on the children of any other woman. 1
Seforno: It implies that Rivkah should be pleasing to her husband, in her good ways, so [that he will not want another wife, and] that she alone will be the mother of these multitudes.
Why did they insert the word "Achoseinu"?
Targum Yonasan: 'Until now', they said to her, 'you were our sister. Now you are about to marry a Tzadik....'
What resulted from Rivkah's Berachah from Lavan and her mother?
Hadar Zekenim (citing a Midrash 1 ): It caused her to be barren until Yitzchak prayed for her, lest they say that their Berachah helped.
Perhaps he refers to Yalkut Shimoni, 109 (PF).
What is "v'Yirash Zar'ech Es Sha'ar Sone'av"?
Ha'amek Davar: This is a Berachah of quality; your seed should be Chachamim who sit in the gate, even in the gate of those who hate them, because they need their wisdom and counsel. 1
We find that Achashverosh hated the Jews (Megilah 14a), yet Mordechai sat in the king's gate, and the king first asked Chachmei Yisrael what to do to Vashti (Megilah 12b)! King Ferdinand forced every Jew to give up his faith or leave Spain, but he wanted the Abarvenel to be his finance minister! (PF)
Avraham was blessed "v'Yirash Zar'acha Es Sha'ar Oyevav" (22:17). Why did they say "Sha'ar Sone'av"?
Ha'amek Davar: Sone'av implies that they do evil acts; they are known. Oyevav is even those who hate in the heart, and do not act upon it. People are unaware of this wonder, that even the Jews' enemies will need their Chochmah; they see only that Son'ei Yisrael need Chochmas Yisrael.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "May you be (At Hayi) thousands of myriads - ... May that offspring be from you, and not from a different wife." How does the Pasuk indicate this?
Gur Aryeh: The word "Hayi" would have been sufficient; the extra word "At" emphasizes that they meant her alone, to the exclusion of others.
