Chayei Sarah 24:1 · unit 2

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:1

The Complete Passuk

וְאַבְרָהָ֣ם זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִ֑ים וַֽיהֹוָ֛ה בֵּרַ֥ךְ אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֖ם בַּכֹּֽל׃

Avraham was now old, advanced in years, and Hashem had blessed Avraham in all things.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sanhedrin 38a / Bava Metzia 87a (appearance of age).

TT lemma: ואברהם זקן.

Sefaria — Bava Metzia 87a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְהִיא נִתְעַבְּרָה מְעוּמָּד. דָּבָר אַחֵר: שַׁלְתִּיאֵל – שֶׁנִּשְׁאַל עַל אָלָתוֹ אֵל. זְרוּבָּבֶל – שֶׁנִּזְרַע בְּבָבֶל. וּמָה שְׁמוֹ? נְחֶמְיָה בֶּן חֲכַלְיָה שְׁמוֹ. יְהוּדָה וְחִזְקִיָּה בְּנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּיא הֲווֹ יָתְבִי בִּסְעוּדְתָּא קַמֵּי רַבִּי, וְלָא הֲווֹ קָא אָמְרִי וְלָא מִידֵּי. אֲמַר לְהוּ: אַגְבַּרוּ חַמְרָא אַדַּרְדְּקֵי כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלֵימְרוּ מִילְּתָא. כֵּיוָן דְּאִיבַּסּוּם, פָּתְחוּ וַאֲמַרוּ: אֵין בֶּן דָּוִד בָּא עַד שֶׁיִּכְלוּ שְׁנֵי בָּתֵּי אָבוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: רֹאשׁ גּוֹלָה שֶׁבְּבָבֶל וְנָשִׂיא שֶׁבְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה לְמִקְדָּשׁ וּלְאֶבֶן נֶגֶף וּלְצוּר מִכְשׁוֹל לִשְׁנֵי בָתֵּי יִשְׂרָאֵל״. אָמַר לָהֶם: בָּנַיי, קוֹצִי

English: Until Avraham there was no [visible] old age. Whoever wished to speak with Avraham would [mistakenly] speak with Yitzchak; whoever wished to speak with Yitzchak would speak with Avraham. Avraham came and requested old age, as it is said “And Avraham was old, advanced in days.”

On the daf / in context: The sugya explains that before Avraham people looked alike across generations; Avraham asked for the distinguishing mark of old age so that father and son could be told apart. The same motif appears with regard to Yitzchak’s resemblance to Avraham.

Type of Learning

Custom (Bavli — introduction of visible old age)

What Is Learned

Visible signs of age began with Avraham’s request, so that the generations could be distinguished and proper honor given according to seniority.