Chayei Sarah 24:55 · unit 1

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:55

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אָחִ֙יהָ֙ וְאִמָּ֔הּ תֵּשֵׁ֨ב הַנַּעֲרָ֥ אִתָּ֛נוּ יָמִ֖ים א֣וֹ עָשׂ֑וֹר אַחַ֖ר תֵּלֵֽךְ׃

But her brother and her mother said, “Let the maiden remain with us some ten days; then you may go.”

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Kesubos 57b.

TT lemma: ימים או עשור.

Sefaria — Kesubos 57b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
מַאי יָמִים? אִילֵימָא תְּרֵי יוֹמֵי, וְכִי מִשְׁתָּעֵי אִינָשׁ הָכִי… אֶלָּא מַאי יָמִים? שָׁנָה, כִּדְכְּתִיב יָמִים תִּהְיֶה גְּאֻלָּתוֹ; מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין לַבְּתוּלָה י״ב חֹדֶשׁ מִשֶּׁתָּבַע הַבַּעַל לְפַרְנֵס עַצְמָהּ.

English: What is “days”? If you say two days, does a person speak that way? … Rather, “days” means a year, as it is written “days shall be its redemption.” This teaches that a virgin is given twelve months from the time the husband claims her, to prepare herself.

On the daf / in context: The phrase “days or a decade” is interpreted as a full year of preparation granted to a betrothed virgin before the wedding.

Type of Learning

Custom (Bavli — twelve-month preparation for a virgin)

What Is Learned

A betrothed virgin is allotted twelve months to prepare herself (clothing, ornaments) before entering the chuppah; the language “days or a decade” supplies the source.