Following this sublime path, we will now proceed to explain the fascinating connection between what Yitzchak Avinu did when he exited Gan Eden— "ויצא יצחק לשוח בשדה לפנות ערב"—and HKB”H’s immediate response to his tefilah: “He looked up and beheld camels approaching.” As explained, Yitzchak went to the site of the future Mikdash, which he called a field; there, he instituted tefilas Minchah, while praying for a proper match. We will now introduce an interpretation of these pesukim from the esteemed Rav of Apta, zy”a, in Ohev Yisrael. He asserts that Yitzchak saw via “ruach hakodesh” that the Beis HaMikdash was destined to be destroyed, and that the people of Yisrael were destined to suffer greatly and endure difficult ordeals in galus. This is attested to by the passuk (Yirmiyah26, 18): "כה אמר ה' צבאות ציון שדה תחרש"—thus said Hashem, Master of Legions, “Tziyon will be plowed over like a field.”
This is why Yitzchak went to pray in a “field”; he went to pray about the dire situation of Yisrael at the time of the churban, when Tziyon would resemble “a plowed field”—"ציון שדה תחרש". He interprets the words "לפנות ערב" as clearing (“lifanot”) and removing the darkness associated with the forces of “din” associated with galus (which is likened to the darkness of evening—“erev”). Notwithstanding: "וישא עיניו"—Yitzchak looks up spiritually and beholds the geulah— "וירא והנה גמלים באים".
Here are his sacred words:
"ראה הגמול הטוב שיצמח מזה לזרע ישראל לעתיד לבוא, עבור גודל ורבות הצרות והיסורין שקיבלו על עצמם וסבלו בעת הגלות, ואף על פי כן היו עובדים את השי"ת ושומרים התורה והמצוות, וכשראה זה הגמול הטוב אז נח דעתיה בזה והסכים על הדבר".
He foresaw the wonderful reward (“gemul”—a play on the word “gamal,” meaning camel) that will be bestowed upon the children of Yisrael le’asid la’vo as compensation for the immeasurable, excruciating indignities and suffering they endured during the times of galus. Nevertheless, they continued to serve the Almighty and observe the Torah and the mitzvos. Upon seeing this wonderful reward, he was appeased and agreed to the matter. Let us add a lovely “remez”: The term באי"ם in the passuk just cited is an abbreviation for the four primary exiles— ב'בל א'דום י'ון מ'די. Thus, the passuk states that Yitzchak foresaw all the “gemul”—reward—that HKB”H would bestow upon Yisrael for the suffering that they endured in these four galuyos.
The Ohev Yisrael teaches us that when the Torah says: “Yitzchak went out to converse in the field”—it means that Yitzchak went to pray about the period of the churban Beis HaMikdash—of which it says: “Tziyon will be plowed over like a field.”
The Ba’al HaTurim and the Kli Yakar taught us that Yitzchak prayed for a suitable wife. We can suggest that the two explanations coincide with one another. After all, Rivkah was already on her way to meet him with the “gemalim.” Hence, he understood via “ruach hakodesh” that she would give birth to two sons with him—Eisav HaRasha, whose descendants were destined to destroy the Beis HaMikdash, and Yaakov HaTzaddik, whose descendants would merit building the third Beis HaMikdash.
Therefore, he went to the site of the Mikdash as evening approached with great purpose—to pray about the churban. For this reason, he instituted and prayed tefilas Minchah. For, as we learn from the Zohar hakadosh (Chayei Sarah 132b), the customary time for tefilas Minchah is when the sun starts to set in the west; that is the time when the forces of “din” start to prevail in the world. It is precisely for this reason that the burning of the Beis HaMikdash occurred primarily towards evening. Therefore, it was Yitzchak Avinu specifically whose midah is “din” who instituted tefilas Minchah; it was his responsibility to mitigate and modify the force of “din.” Thus, he prayed at that time to mitigate the forces of “din” associated with the churban Beis HaMikdash, which was burned late in the afternoon.
In conclusion, we see that Yitzchak Avinu’s tefilas Minchah was answered immediately. Immediately, upon finishing his tefilah, Rivkah, his bride-to-be, arrived. Their union produced Yaakov Avinu in whose merit the third Beis HaMikdash will be built. May we merit seeing the “plowed field” become the third Beis HaMikdash swiftly, in our times! Amen.
