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I'm confused about the legal status of Abraham sending his slave to get Rivka from Bethuel.

IIRC, Isaac was completely unaware of the mission, he didn't send Eliezer, Abraham was one to send Eliezer and all presents were Abraham's.

What legal status did this mission have - Erusin, Kiddushin, simply bring Rivka to Isaac?

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    torahbase.org/…
    – interested
    Nov 14, 2020 at 18:24
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    הרי לן ד' שיטות בדבר, דבמסכת כלה מבואר דהיה שליח קידושין, בפרקי דר"א מבואר דהיה שליח נישואין, לדעת החזקוני היה שליח לקידושין ונישואין, ולבעלי התוס' במושב זקנים ואף לדעת התוס' בכתובות ז' ע"ב היה שליח למצוא את רבקה ולהביאה בלבד.
    – interested
    Nov 14, 2020 at 18:26
  • I think respectfully answers your question that you were right in everything you said it could have been any of them or all.
    – interested
    Nov 14, 2020 at 18:28
  • @interested It is very informative. Please put it into an answer with the source.
    – Al Berko
    Nov 14, 2020 at 18:32
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    Erusin and kiddushin is the same thing... unless you have proof otherwise?
    – Shlomy
    Nov 15, 2020 at 0:01

2 Answers 2

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The Midrash Lekach Tov 24:53 writes:

...ויוצא העבד כלי כסף וכלי זהב. אלו נתן להם לשם קדושין. כי הראשונים לשם מתנה היו

The servant brought out objects of silver and gold - These were given for the sake of Kiddushin (betrothal). The first (gifts) were for the sake of being (only) gifts...

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  • You always stop half-way. Please continue: " and therefore the status..."
    – Al Berko
    Nov 14, 2020 at 18:30
  • And therefore these gift were meant as Kiddushin. What else do you need me to say?! You asked what part of the process of marriage was intended and I brought a case that shows at least kiddushin was performed..
    – Dov
    Nov 14, 2020 at 18:58
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Its a machlokes in the reishonim. Tosafos kesubos 7a says Eliezer was a shliach kiddushin. Moshav Zikeinim (brought in Rinas Yitschak kamma) says Eliezer brought Rivka back to Yitschak and he married her.

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  • Can you please add @interested's first comment so I can mark it as "accepted"?
    – Al Berko
    Nov 16, 2020 at 17:31

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