Chayei Sarah: The Prayer in the Field

"Isaac went out to the field towards evening to converse in the field; Looking up, he saw camels approaching. Looking up, Rebekah saw Isaac. ... “Who is that man walking in the field toward us?” And the servant said, “That is my master.” So she took her veil and covered herself… Isaac then brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rebekah as his wife. Isaac loved her, and thus found comfort after his mother’s death." (Genesis/Bereshit 24:63-67)

This is a touching scene. Yitzchak is in the field. He looks up and sees a caravan in the distance. At the same moment, Rivka, riding on the camel, looks up and sees a distinguished looking man in the field. It is Yitzchak, the man she is to marry. The Torah then speaks of Yitzchak’s love for Rivka, and the emotional support that she gave to Yitzchak.

But what was Yitzchak doing in the field? The Torah says that he was “conversing”. What could this mean?

The Talmud suggests say that Yitzchak was praying. He was “conversing” with God: