Closed Parsha
בראשית כח,י: וַיֵּצֵּא יַעֲקֹּב מִּבְאֵּר שָּבַע וַיֵּלֶךְ חָּרָּנָּה
The Baal HaTurim writes that there are those that say that this Parshiya is “closed” because Yaacov left in secret and fled under the cloak of disguise.
The commonly used system of chapter numbers is not a masoric origin or from any Jewish source. Rather the chapter numbers were invented by gentile Bible scholars.
There are two types of "parshiya" divisions according to the masorah:
- פתוחות = open (indicated in the printed Chumash by a large פ) [A gap of blank spaces until the end of a line; the next 'parshiya' begins at the start of the next line.]
- סתומות = closed (indicated in the printed Chumash by a large ס) [A gap of at least nine spaces; the next parshia can begin on that very same line.]
As a rule of thumb, a "parshiya pesucha" usually indicates a major change of topic, while a "parshiya stumah" indicates a more subtle one.
As you see from the above example, the first verse ends with a large פ. Then, after two more pesukim, that section ends with a large ס.
The Four Kingdoms
בראשית כח, יג: וַיַחֲלֹם וְהִּנֵּה סֻלָּם מֻצָּב אַרְצָּה וְרֹּאשׁוֹ מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמָּיְמָּה וְהִּנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹקִּים עֹּלִּים וְיֹּרְדִּים בּוֹ
The Baal haTurim points out that the Gematria of עֹלִּים וְיֹּרְדִּים (428) equals the phrase בבל ומדי ויון ורומי.
Throughout Talmud and Medrash Israel’s exiles and persecutions are discussed as four main periods of subjugation to foreign oppressors, known collectively as ארבע מלכיות Four Kingdoms. Each of the Four Kingdoms are called by the name of the empire dominant in the world at that particular time.
HaShem showed Yaacov that each of the oppressors would ascend and then fall from dominance.
Bilhah
בראשית ל, ג: וַתֹּאמֶר הִּנֵּה אֲמָּתִּי בִּלְהָּה
The Baal haTurim points out that Rachel did not refer to Bilhah as her slave (שפחה) as Sarah did when she offered Hagar to Avraham. This is because Bilhah was in fact, a daughter of Lavan (her father) from a concubine.
Lavan says “the daughters are my daughters” indicating all of Yaacov’s wives were daughters of Lavan.