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Why does the Torah (תורה) omit the word "days" when describing Sarah's life, while using it for Avrohom, Yitzchok, and Yaakov? Sarah didn't live day-by-day but with a comprehensive vision that integrated each day into a unified whole. The Midrash's teaching "Yodea Hashem (ה׳) yemei temimim" refers specifically to Sarah, whose unblemished years reflected a life measured in complete units rather than isolated experiences.
Rabbi Zweig delivers a profound analysis of the opening verse of Parshas Chayei Sarah, examining why the Torah (תורה) uses different language to describe Sarah's lifespan compared to the other Avos. The pasuk states "Vayihyu chayei Sarah" (And the life of Sarah was) followed by her age, but conspicuously omits the word "yamim" (days) that appears in the accounts of Avrohom, Yitzchok, and Yaakov's lifespans. The shiur establishes that this linguistic variation is intentional and significant. By Avrohom, the Torah says "Eleh yemei shnei chayei Avrohom asher chai" (These are the days of the years of the life of Avrohom which he lived). By Yitzchok, it states "Vayihyu yemei Yitzchok" (And the days of Yitzchok were). By Sarah, however, the Torah completely eliminates the reference to days, using only "Vayihyu chayei Sarah, me'ah shana v'esrim shana v'sheva shanim" (And the life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years).
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Bereishis 23:1, 25:7
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