Chayei Sarah 24:2 · unit 3

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:2

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֗ם אֶל־עַבְדּוֹ֙ זְקַ֣ן בֵּית֔וֹ הַמֹּשֵׁ֖ל בְּכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֑וֹ שִֽׂים־נָ֥א יָדְךָ֖ תַּ֥חַת יְרֵכִֽי׃

And Avraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all that he owned, “Put your hand under my thigh

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Shevuos / Nedarim (holding a sacred object when swearing).

TT lemma: שים נא ידך תחת ירכי.

Sefaria — Shevuot 38b (related)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מִכָּאן לַנִּשְׁבָּע שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְאִתְפּוֹשָׂא חֶפְצָא בִּידֵיהּ.

English: From here [we learn] that one who swears must hold a sacred object in his hand.

On the daf / in context: The requirement that a person taking an oath grasp a sacred object (Sefer Torah, tefillin, etc.) is derived from Avraham’s instruction to Eliezer to place his hand under the thigh (the site of the milah, the sacred covenant). Later authorities discuss whether tefillin alone suffice for a scholar.

Type of Learning

Custom (Bavli — holding a sacred object for an oath)

What Is Learned

An oath requires the swearer to grasp a sacred object. Avraham’s demand that Eliezer place his hand under the thigh (the covenant of milah) is the Torah’s paradigm for this practice.