Chayei Sarah 24:61 · unit 2

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:61

The Complete Passuk

וַתָּ֨קׇם רִבְקָ֜ה וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ וַתִּרְכַּ֙בְנָה֙ עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּקַּ֥ח הָעֶ֛בֶד אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃

Then Rivkah and her maids arose, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went his way.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Berachos / Niddah (walking behind a woman).

TT lemma: אחרי האיש.

Sefaria — Berachos 61a (related)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אַחֲרֵי הָאִישׁ וְלֹא לִפְנֵי הָאִישׁ; מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא יְהַלֵּךְ אָדָם אֲחוֹרֵי אִשָּׁה.

English: “After the man” and not before the man — this teaches that a person should not walk behind a woman.

On the daf / in context: The phrase is read as instructing proper order of walking so as to avoid improper thoughts; the rule applies regardless of marital status.

Type of Learning

Custom (Bavli — not walking behind a woman)

What Is Learned

A man should not walk behind a woman; the verse’s “after the man” models the proper order of travel.