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disorganized and heedless words. And that is more prevent me from learning—if You will do that, it will be
acceptable [to Hashem]. fine. But if not, I will die of sadness. Immediately, “God
fulfilled his request.”
Prayer substitutes for the sacrifices. [The prayer] of a
poor person is called a minchah (a “gift offering”). That Rashi explains that Jabez asked for very great things—to be great
[prayer] is considered by Hashem, may He be blessed, in Torah and more. He said to Hashem: “If You give me this,
as a gift and minchah. And the word minchah is also fine. If not, I will die of great sadness.” He did not want to live
related to the word nayacha, “relief,” because this without this. As a result of his request, the Gemara states that
person immediately receives relief. “immediately ‘God fulfilled his request.’” That was immediate:
the request that he made in a strong and stubborn manner was
The Gemara writes the following about the prayer of Othniel son answered immediately!
of Kenaz (Temurah 16a):
From this, Rabbi Tzadok derives a tremendous insight very much
We learned in a baraita: related to the wonderful theme of this chapter (ibid.):
I heard that if every Jew who lacks something requested
Othniel was Jabez. But what was his [real] name? His
[real] name was Judah, [and he was] the brother of it [of Hashem] in an extreme fashion he would certainly
Simon. succeed. But afterwards he is satisfied with anything [he
might get]. And in this area a person needs the
He was called Othniel (“God answered me”) because awareness not to be appeased but to consider that
God answered him. only when he gains complete salvation will he not
lack anything.
He was called Jabez (a combination of the words
ya’atz, “advised,” and ribetz, “increased”), because he That was the advice of Jabez. He said, “If You will
advised and increased Torah in Israel. bless….” And we learn in Temurah (16a) that he said,
“If…, but if not, I will….” That means that he said that he
And how did God answer him? The verse states, “Jabez would not accept any relief at all as long as Hashem, may
called to the God of Israel, saying: If You will bless me He be blessed, did not acquiesce to his every request. If
and increase my border, and Your hand will be with me [Hashem did] not, he would go to Sheol, heaven forbid,
and save me from harm, so as not to sadden me…’—and where he would waste away completely.
God fulfilled his request” (Chronicles I 4:10).
Hashem, may He be blessed, is prepared to help the
“If You will bless me” in Torah, “and increase my brokenhearted. Thus, “immediately ‘God fulfilled
border” in students, “and Your hand will be with me” his request.’” From the Gemara’s use of the word
so that I will not forget my learning, “and save me from “immediately,” we see that [his prayer] had an
harm” so that I will have friends who are my peers, “so immediate effect.
as not to sadden me,” so that the evil inclination will not
We too request, “Compassionate One, You Who
