EXTRA · classical (not a TT unit)

Chayei Sarah 24:52 · EXTRA

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:52

The Complete Passuk

וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֛ע עֶ֥בֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־דִּבְרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ אַ֖רְצָה לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

When Avraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed low to the ground before Hashem.

Rashi on Bereishis 24:52 / Bereishis Rabbah (classical source on this passuk; not listed as a numbered Torah Temimah unit here).

Lemma / focus: וישתחו ארצה.

וישתחו ארצה. מִכָּאן שֶׁמּוֹדִים עַל בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה:

English: From here [we learn] that one gives thanks for good news.

On the daf / in context: Eliezer’s prostration on hearing the family’s consent is taken as the model for thanking Heaven when good news arrives.

Derash on the verse (Rashi / midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13: the bowing is read as thanksgiving for favorable news.

When the servant heard their consent he bowed to the ground before Hashem; from here we learn that one gives thanks for good news.