EXTRA · classical (not a TT unit)

Chayei Sarah 25:18 · EXTRA

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 25:18

The Complete Passuk

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

They dwelt from Chavilah, by Shur, which is close to Egypt, all the way to Ashur; they camped alongside all their kinsmen.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Rashi on Bereishis 25:18 (classical source on this passuk; not listed as a numbered Torah Temimah unit here).

Lemma / focus: נפל.

Sefaria

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
נפל. שָׁכַן, כְּמוֹ וּמִדְיָן וַעֲמָלֵק וּבְנֵי קֶדֶם נֹפְלִים בָּעֵמֶק (שופטים ז'). כָּאן הוּא אוֹמֵר לְשׁוֹן נְפִילָה, וּלְהַלָּן אוֹמֵר עַל פְּנֵי כָל אֶחָיו יִשְׁכֹּן (בראשית ט״ז:י״ב)? עַד שֶׁלֹּא מֵת אַבְרָהָם יִשְׁכֹּן, מִשֶּׁמֵּת אַבְרָהָם נָפַל:

English: “Nafal” means he dwelt, as in “Midyan and Amalek and the children of the East were dwelling (noflim) in the valley.” Here it uses the language of falling; elsewhere it says “he shall dwell alongside all his brothers” — while Yitzchak lives he dwells; when he dies, he falls.

On the daf / in context: The verb is fixed as “dwelt,” and the midrash contrasts the lifetime of peaceful dwelling with the later “falling” after Yitzchak’s death.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Rashi / midrash) — not a formal named middah of the 13: the rare verb is explained by parallel usage and linked to the earlier oracle about Yishmael.

What Is Learned

“Nafal” here means he dwelt alongside all his brothers; while Yitzchak lived, Yishmael’s line dwelt in place; the language of falling is reserved for later.