By Rabbi Aharon Seleh: In this week’s Parsha, the Or Hachaim asks the following: when Lavan is mentioned for the first time, the Torah says,”his name is Lavan.” Usually when mentioning the righteous, the Torah says, “Their name is…”, for example,”his name is Boaz.” But when mentioning the wicked the Torah first mentions the name. For example, “Naval was his name.” Lavan was wicked by all standards. Why did the Torah introduce him in the manner of the righteous?
The Or Hachaim answers that Lavan spotted his sister from a distance, walking with Eliezer. He was shaken. It was completely inappropriate for his sister to be walking and talking with a foreign man. He ran to find out what they were talking about. At that moment, his actions were the actions of the righteous. Hashem didn’t let it pass without publicizing it in the Torah. One must realize, although formal, concise talk is permitted between genders, chatting simply for enjoyment is forbidden.
The Alshich asks the following: Eliezer informed Yitzhak that Hashem had performed a miracle and shortened the way for them on the way back from Lavan’s house. Hashem doesn’t perform a miracle unless there is a crucial reason. Why did Hashem do this? He answers that the desert is usually empty of passerbys; Hashem didn’t want Eliezer to be in seclusion for even a moment with Rivka!