<div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div>RTK</div><div><br></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; ">>><br>It was already established back from the time of Rivkah ("Nish'alah es<br>
pi hana'arah") that Jews do not marry off a daughter or a sister<br>without her consent.<br></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; ">>></span></div>
<div>RSM<br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial; "><blockquote style="padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left-color: blue; border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; ">
<font face="Arial" color="#000000" size="2" style="background-color: transparent; ">>>It is a common misconception that the cited phrase indicates that<br>Rivkah's consent was necessary for the proposed marriage. As is clear<br>
from the Biblical text, the cited phrase relates to something else:<br>the proposal that Rivkah leave her father's house immediately <<</font></blockquote><div> </div><div><font face="Arial" color="#000000" size="2" style="background-color: transparent; ">>>>>><br>
<br></font></div><div>RTK</div><div>>></div><div><font face="Arial" color="#000000" size="2" style="background-color: transparent; ">Well if it is a common misconception, it is one shared by Rashi, so I'm in good company. Ber. 24:57 on the words, -- Rashi there says, "Mikan she'ein masi'in es ha'isha elah mida'atah."</font></div>
<div>>></div><div><br></div><div>This point is well taken. OTOH, my comment is accurate on the simple pshat level of the Biblical narrative. Chazal in the midrash Rashi quotes (Bereshit Rabbah 60) *extend * Rivka's consent, as recorded in the Torah, to a previous matter. As RJWaxman pointed out, the midrash there specifically relates to Rivka's status as an orphan, based on the midrash that B'tuel died upon Eliezer's arrival. I do not know why Rashi writes "isha" in place of the "y'toma"</div>
<div>in the midrash which is apparently his source.</div><div><br></div><div>In any event, this matter nicely illustrates the point mentioned by RETurkel, that there is a tendency to relate to comments by Rashi as if they were written explicitly in the Torah. </div>
<div><br></div><div>If one believes that the words "Nish'ala es pi hana'arah" in the literal words of the Torah refer to the proposed marriage, he is laboring under a misconception. If he maintains that chazal midrashicly apply them to the proposed marriage, he is completely correct.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Saul Mashbaum.</div></span></div></div>