Chayei Sarah 25:18 · unit 1

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 25:18

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּשְׁכְּנ֨וּ מֵֽחֲוִילָ֜ה עַד־שׁ֗וּר אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י מִצְרַ֔יִם בֹּאֲכָ֖ה אַשּׁ֑וּרָה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו נָפָֽל׃

They dwelt from Chavilah to Shur, which is before Egypt, as you go toward Ashshur; over against all his brothers he fell.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Rashi on Genesis 25:18.

Sefaria — Rashi on Genesis 25:18

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
נָפָל. שָׁכַן, כְּמוֹ וּמִדְיָן וַעֲמָלֵק וּבְנֵי קֶדֶם נֹפְלִים בָּעֵמֶק. כָּאן הוּא אוֹמֵר לְשׁוֹן נְפִילָה, וּלְהַלָּן אוֹמֵר עַל פְּנֵי כָל אֶחָיו יִשְׁכֹּן – בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיו יִשְׁכֹּן, וּלְאַחַר מִיתַת אָבִיו נָפָל.

English: “He fell” — he dwelt, as in “Midian and Amalek and the children of the east were falling in the valley.” Here it uses the language of falling; elsewhere it says “he shall dwell over against all his brothers” — in his father’s lifetime he dwells; after his father’s death he falls.

On the daf / in context: Rashi contrasts the dwelling promised while Avraham lived with the “falling” reported after Avraham’s death, marking a change in Yishmael’s standing among his kin.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Rashi) — not a formal named middah of the 13. Parallel wording (“dwell” vs. “fall”) is read as chronological contrast.

What Is Learned

Yishmael’s secure dwelling among his brothers held during Avraham’s life; after the Patriarch’s death the text shifts to “falling,” signaling a diminished position.