Chayei Sarah 24:31 · unit 1

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:31

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר בּ֖וֹא בְּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֑ה לָ֤מָּה תַעֲמֹד֙ בַּח֔וּץ וְאָנֹכִי֙ פִּנִּ֣יתִי הַבַּ֔יִת וּמָק֖וֹם לַגְּמַלִּֽים׃

“Come in, O blessed of Hashem,” he said, “why do you remain outside, when I have made ready the house and a place for the camels?”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Avos deRabbi Noson.

TT lemma: ומקום לגמלים.

Sefaria — Avos deRabbi Noson

מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא נִכְנְסוּ הַגְּמַלִּים עַד שֶׁפִּנּוּ כָּל הָעֲבוֹדוֹת כּוֹכָבִים מִפְּנֵיהֶם.

This teaches that the camels did not enter until they had cleared away all the idols from before them.

On the daf / in context: The language “I have cleared the house and a place for the camels” is read as removing idolatrous objects so that the household of Avraham’s servant would not be contaminated.

Type of Learning

Custom (aggadah — clearing idols for the camels of Avraham)

What Is Learned

Even the animals associated with Avraham’s household were kept free of idolatry; Lavan’s house was cleared of idols before the camels entered.