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The Portion of Chaye Sarah Speaking in Codes
The portion of Chaye Sarah is characterized by the stories contained therein- one revealed and one hidden.
Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, is sent on a mission to find a wife for Yitzchak, his master’s son.. He arrives at Aram Naharayim and positions himself at the well. Shortly thereafter, Rebecca appears and Eliezer, based on her deportment and behavior, is convinced that she is the one destined to become Yitzchak’s wife.
Eliezer is invited to Rebecca’s home where he speaks to her father Betuel and her brother Lavan. After relating to them the background of his mission, their response is “let us ask the young lady”. We will call her and we will decide. They openly hint to her that she should decline the offer but she independently decides to go with them. The whole story of saying one thing but meaning another is alluded to by the crooked letter “nun” in the word “nikra” (we will call) whose base turns over in a number of places in this portion.
In the continuation of the portion we are told that Abraham marries Keturah and that he gave gifts to the children of his concubines. The backwards letter “nun” in the word “natan” (gave) alludes to the fact that Abraham gave them unholy names rather than holy names.
All of the above is meant to tell us while on the surface the revealed story is quite easy to comprehend, the real story, and the real message, lies just beneath the surface.
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