Chayei Sarah 24:8 · unit 1

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:8

The Complete Passuk

וְאִם־לֹא תֹאבֶה הָאִשָּׁה לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֶיךָ וְנִקִּיתָ מִשְּׁבֻעָתִי זֹאת רַק אֶת־בְּנִי לֹא תָשֵׁב שָׁמָּה׃

And if the woman will not agree to follow you, you will be free of this oath of mine; only, you must not take my son back there.

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Kiddushin 61b. E-Daf · Sefaria — Kiddushin 61b

רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: כָּל תְּנַאי שֶׁאֵינוֹ כְּתְנַאי בְּנֵי גָד וּבְנֵי רְאוּבֵן אֵינוֹ תְּנַאי.

Rabbi Meir says that a condition that does not follow the model of the condition made with the tribes of Gad and Reuven is not a valid condition.

On the daf / in context: Kiddushin 61b requires that a conditional obligation state both the positive and the negative clauses. Avraham’s wording to Eliezer supplies an early model of a properly doubled condition.

Type of Learning

Custom (Bavli — form of a valid condition, R’ Meir)

What Is Learned

A binding condition must state both the affirmative and the negative outcomes, following the pattern of the tribes of Gad and Reuven and of Avraham’s release of Eliezer if the woman refuses.