Introduction: Eliezer's Question and its Meanings

When Eliezer is instructed in our parsha to find a wife for Yitzchak, he raises the question to his master, Avraham:

אוּלַי לֹא תֹאבֶה הָאִשָּׁה לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרַי

Perhaps the girl will not wish to come back after me.[1]

Rashi, citing the Midrash, famously comments:

The word “perhaps” [אולי] is written without a vav [אלי], which means it can be read as “to me.” This is because Eliezer had a daughter and wanted Yitzchak to marry her. To this, Avraham replied, “My son is blessed, and you are [descended from Canaan who is] cursed, so there can be no match.”[2]

Concept: Drash as Expansion of Pshat

One of the foundational principles of the Ben Melech regarding the two realms of pshat and drash is that while they are obviously different from each other, they are not detached from one another. Rather, the drash which is expounded by Chazal from a certain word is ultimately an expansion or elaboration of the pshat of that word. In light of this, we need to look at the word "אולי" which, on a pshat level simply means "maybe", and wonder how this somehow contains the notion that Eliezer meant "to me."

To answer this question, let us preface with another.

The story of Eliezer's search for a wife for Yitzchak is recounted twice in our parsha, first by the Torah itself as it was happening, and then again by Eliezer when he meets Rivkah's family. Interestingly, Rashi does not comment on Eliezer's question the first time round, but only when Eliezer retells the story! Having noted this, the explanation for his deferral is very simple. Rashi's comment is based on the word "אלי" being spelled without a vav, and this is only the case in Eliezer's recounting. In the first time, it is written in full "אולי" and hence there is no room for comment!

The question now becomes why the Torah itself only alludes to this wish of Eliezer when it presents his retelling, and not in the original account. In what way is it more pertinent at that later stage than it was initially when it actually happened?

A Missing Letter in Pshat

Is there any difference on a pshat level if a word is written with all its vowels or not?

The Ben Melech explains that there is indeed a difference. A word written in an "incomplete" form denotes the minimizing of what the word is saying. In our case, therefore, the word "אולי" written in full with a vav denotes a strong possibility, while "אלי" without a vav indicates a slim or slight possibility. How is this change relevant to Eliezer's telling of the story?

When Eliezer speaks with Rivkah's family, he acts faithfully to his mission to endeavor to have them allow their daughter to go with him. Now, part of this mission is to appraise them of the fact that they are not the only option for Yitzchak. Were they to think that they were the sole candidates, they would be liable to create all manner of problems and make unreasonable demands. Hence, he must mention to them the question he raised to Avraham that "perhaps the girl will not want to come back with me," and that provisions have been made for such a contingency.

At the same time, however, he does not want that the question itself should serve as a basis for them to begin to wonder why she wouldn't want to go, and perhaps consider that there is some reason she actually shouldn’t go! To this end, the word "אלי" is written incomplete, denoting that Eliezer mentioned the notion that she would not want to come back as something marginal and highly unlikely. After all, who would not want to marry into Avraham's family?

This is why the vav is only missing the second time round. When Eliezer initially voiced this concern to Avraham, it was as something that was entirely possible, hence the word "אולי" is written fully. It is only when he meets her family he realizes that in order to bring matters to a good conclusion, he will need to diminish and marginalize the notion that she might not want to go with him, and hence there the word is written incomplete.

Where Pshat and Drash Meet

Having understand the incomplete "אלי" on a pshat level, we now proceed to the drash on this word – for it was for this very same reason Eliezer mentioned to the family his wishes that Yitzchak marry his daughter. The commentators explain that this, too, was in order to extoll the virtues of the groom, by adding, "And you should know, I wanted him for my own daughter and would take him in an instant if I could!"

And thus, we understand how the drash comment of Chazal on the incomplete spelling of the word is an expansion on the pshat meaning of that spelling, both reflecting the same dedication of Eliezer in presenting matters in a way that would lead to a good outcome for his master, Avraham.

[1]Bereishis 24:5.

[2]Ibid. pasuk 39 s.v. ulai.