Toldos 28:9 · unit 3

TT #48 · Parashas Toldos · Passuk 28:9

The Complete Passuk

וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ עֵשָׂ֖ו אֶל־יִשְׁמָעֵ֑אל וַיִּקַּ֡ח אֶֽת־מָחֲלַ֣ת בַּת־יִשְׁמָעֵ֨אל בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֲח֧וֹת נְבָי֛וֹת עַל־נָשָׁ֖יו ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

So Esav went to Yishmael and took to wife, in addition to the wives he had, Machalat the daughter of Yishmael son of Avraham, sister of Nevayot.

Torah Temimah points to Megillah 17a. E-Daf · Sefaria — Megillah 17a

…מְלַמֵּד שֶׁקִּדְּשָׁהּ יִשְׁמָעֵאל וּמֵת וְהִשִּׂיאָהּ נְבָיוֹת.

Why say “sister of Nevayot”? This teaches that Yishmael betrothed her and then died, and Nevayot gave her in marriage.

On the daf / in context: The extra phrase indicates that the marriage was completed by the brother after the father’s death.

Custom (halakhic midrash — brother completes the marriage after father’s death)

Yishmael betrothed Machalat and then died; his brother Nevayot completed the marriage.