14 And let it come to pass, that the damsel H5291 to whom I shall say, H559 Let down H5186 thy pitcher, H3537 I pray thee, that I may drink; H8354 and she shall say, H559 Drink, H8354 and I will give H8248 thy camels H1581 drink H8248 also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed H3198 for thy servant H5650 Isaac; H3327 and thereby shall I know H3045 that thou hast shewed H6213 kindness H2617 unto my master. H113
Behold, I will put H3322 a fleece H1492 of wool H6785 in the floor; H1637 and if the dew H2919 be on the fleece H1492 only, and it be dry H2721 upon all the earth H776 beside, then shall I know H3045 that thou wilt save H3467 Israel H3478 by mine hand, H3027 as thou hast said. H1696
And let it be, when thou hearest H8085 the sound H6963 of a going H6807 in the tops H7218 of the mulberry trees, H1057 that then thou shalt bestir H2782 thyself: for then shall the LORD H3068 go out H3318 before H6440 thee, to smite H5221 the host H4264 of the Philistines. H6430
House H1004 and riches H1952 are the inheritance H5159 of fathers: H1 and a prudent H7919 wife H802 is from the LORD. H3068
And Hezekiah H2396 said H559 unto Isaiah, H3470 What shall be the sign H226 that the LORD H3068 will heal H7495 me, and that I shall go up H5927 into the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 the third H7992 day? H3117 And Isaiah H3470 said, H559 This sign H226 shalt thou have of the LORD, H3068 that the LORD H3068 will do H6213 the thing H1697 that he hath spoken: H1696 shall the shadow H6738 go forward H1980 ten H6235 degrees, H4609 or go back H7725 ten H6235 degrees? H4609 And Hezekiah H3169 answered, H559 It is a light thing H7043 for the shadow H6738 to go down H5186 ten H6235 degrees: H4609 nay, but let the shadow H6738 return H7725 backward H322 ten H6235 degrees. H4609 And Isaiah H3470 the prophet H5030 cried H7121 unto the LORD: H3068 and he brought H7725 the shadow H6738 ten H6235 degrees H4609 backward, H322 by H4609 which it had gone down H3381 in the dial H4609 of Ahaz. H271
And she say H559 to me, Both drink H8354 thou, and I will also draw H7579 for thy camels: H1581 let the same be the woman H802 whom the LORD H3068 hath appointed out H3198 for my master's H113 son. H1121
If he say H559 thus, It is well; H2896 thy servant H5650 shall have peace: H7965 but if he be very H2734 wroth, H2734 then be sure H3045 that evil H7451 is determined H3615 by him.
Then said H559 Jonathan, H3083 Behold, we will pass over H5674 unto these men, H582 and we will discover H1540 ourselves unto them. If they say H559 thus unto us, Tarry H1826 until we come H5060 to you; then we will stand still H5975 in our place, and will not go up H5927 unto them. But if they say H559 thus, Come up H5927 unto us; then we will go up: H5927 for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 them into our hand: H3027 and this shall be a sign H226 unto us.
When thou art departed H3212 from me H5978 to day, H3117 then thou shalt find H4672 two H8147 men H582 by Rachel's H7354 sepulchre H6900 in the border H1366 of Benjamin H1144 at Zelzah; H6766 and they will say H559 unto thee, The asses H860 which thou wentest H1980 to seek H1245 are found: H4672 and, lo, thy father H1 hath left H5203 the care H1697 of the asses, H860 and sorroweth H1672 for you, saying, H559 What shall I do H6213 for my son? H1121 Then shalt thou go on H2498 forward H1973 from thence, and thou shalt come H935 to the plain H436 of Tabor, H8396 and there shall meet H4672 thee three H7969 men H582 going up H5927 to God H430 to Bethel, H1008 one H259 carrying H5375 three H7969 kids, H1423 and another H259 carrying H5375 three H7969 loaves H3603 of bread, H3899 and another H259 carrying H5375 a bottle H5035 of wine: H3196 And they will H7592 salute H7965 thee, and give H5414 thee two H8147 loaves of bread; H3899 which thou shalt receive H3947 of their hands. H3027 After H310 that thou shalt come H935 to the hill H1389 of God, H430 where is the garrison H5333 of the Philistines: H6430 and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither H935 to the city, H5892 that thou shalt meet H6293 a company H2256 of prophets H5030 coming down H3381 from the high place H1116 with a psaltery, H5035 and a tabret, H8596 and a pipe, H2485 and a harp, H3658 before H6440 them; and they shall prophesy: H5012 And the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 will come H6743 upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy H5012 with them, and shalt be turned H2015 into another H312 man. H376 And let it be, when these signs H226 are come H935 unto thee, that thou do H6213 as occasion H4672 serve H3027 thee; for God H430 is with thee. And thou shalt go down H3381 before H6440 me to Gilgal; H1537 and, behold, I will come down H3381 unto thee, to offer H5927 burnt offerings, H5930 and to sacrifice H2076 sacrifices H2077 of peace offerings: H8002 seven H7651 days H3117 shalt thou tarry, H3176 till I come H935 to thee, and shew H3045 thee what thou shalt do. H6213 And it was so, that when he had turned H6437 his back H7926 to go H3212 from Samuel, H8050 God H430 gave H2015 him another H312 heart: H3820 and all those signs H226 came H935 to pass that day. H3117 And when they came H935 thither to the hill, H1389 behold, a company H2256 of prophets H5030 met H7125 him; and the Spirit H7307 of God H430 came H6743 upon him, and he prophesied H5012 among H8432 them.
Now therefore make H6213 a H259 new H2319 cart, H5699 and take H3947 two H8147 milch H5763 kine, H6510 on which there hath come H5927 no yoke, H5923 and tie H631 the kine H6510 to the cart, H5699 and bring H7725 their calves H1121 home H1004 from them: H310 And take H3947 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and lay H5414 it upon the cart; H5699 and put H7760 the jewels H3627 of gold, H2091 which ye return H7725 him for a trespass offering, H817 in a coffer H712 by the side H6654 thereof; and send it away, H7971 that it may go. H1980 And see, H7200 if it goeth up H5927 by the way H1870 of his own coast H1366 to Bethshemesh, H1053 then he hath done H6213 us this great H1419 evil: H7451 but if not, then we shall know H3045 that it is not his hand H3027 that smote H5060 us: it was a chance H4745 that happened to us. H1961
And when Gideon H1439 was come, H935 behold, there was a man H376 that told H5608 a dream H2472 unto his fellow, H7453 and said, H559 Behold, I dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and, lo, a cake H6742 H6742 of barley H8184 bread H3899 tumbled H2015 into the host H4264 of Midian, H4080 and came H935 unto a tent, H168 and smote H5221 it that it fell, H5307 and overturned H2015 H4605 it, that the tent H168 lay along. H5307 And his fellow H7453 answered H6030 and said, H559 This is nothing else save the sword H2719 of Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 a man H376 of Israel: H3478 for into his hand H3027 hath God H430 delivered H5414 Midian, H4080 and all the host. H4264 And it was so, when Gideon H1439 heard H8085 the telling H4557 of the dream, H2472 and the interpretation H7667 thereof, that he worshipped, H7812 and returned H7725 into the host H4264 of Israel, H3478 and said, H559 Arise; H6965 for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 into your hand H3027 the host H4264 of Midian. H4080
And Moses H4872 answered H6030 and said, H559 But, behold, they will not believe H539 me, nor hearken H8085 unto my voice: H6963 for they will say, H559 The LORD H3068 hath not appeared H7200 unto thee. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, What is that in thine hand? H3027 And he said, H559 A rod. H4294 And he said, H559 Cast H7993 it on the ground. H776 And he cast H7993 it on the ground, H776 and it became a serpent; H5175 and Moses H4872 fled H5127 from before H6440 it. And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Put forth H7971 thine hand, H3027 and take H270 it by the tail. H2180 And he put forth H7971 his hand, H3027 and caught H2388 it, and it became a rod H4294 in his hand: H3709 That they may believe H539 that the LORD H3068 God H430 of their fathers, H1 the God H430 of Abraham, H85 the God H430 of Isaac, H3327 and the God H430 of Jacob, H3290 hath appeared H7200 unto thee. And the LORD H3068 said H559 furthermore H5750 unto him, Put H935 now thine hand H3027 into thy bosom. H2436 And he put H935 his hand H3027 into his bosom: H2436 and when he took H3318 it out, behold, his hand H3027 was leprous H6879 as snow. H7950 And he said, H559 Put H7725 thine hand H3027 into thy bosom H2436 again. H7725 And he put H7725 his hand H3027 into his bosom H2436 again; H7725 and plucked H3318 it out of his bosom, H2436 and, behold, it was turned again H7725 as his other flesh. H1320 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe H539 thee, neither hearken H8085 to the voice H6963 of the first H7223 sign, H226 that they will believe H539 the voice H6963 of the latter H314 sign. H226 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe H539 also these two H8147 signs, H226 neither hearken H8085 unto thy voice, H6963 that thou shalt take H3947 of the water H4325 of the river, H2975 and pour H8210 it upon the dry H3004 land: and the water H4325 which thou takest H3947 out of the river H2975 shall become blood H1818 upon the dry H3006 land.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 24
Commentary on Genesis 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Ge 24:1-9. A Marriage Commission.
1. And Abraham was old … take a wife—His anxiety to see his son married was natural to his position as a pastoral chief interested in preserving the honor of his tribe, and still more as a patriarch who had regard to the divine promise of a numerous posterity.
2. said unto his eldest servant—Abraham being too old, and as the heir of the promise not being at liberty to make even a temporary visit to his native land, was obliged to intrust this delicate mission to Eliezer, whom, although putting entire confidence in him, he on this occasion bound by a solemn oath. A pastoral chief in the present day would follow the same course if he could not go himself.
3. thou shalt not take a wife, &c.—Among pastoral tribes the matrimonial arrangements are made by the parents, and a youth must marry, not among strangers, but in his own tribe—custom giving him a claim, which is seldom or never resisted, to the hand of his first cousin. But Abraham had a far higher motive—a fear lest, if his son married into a Canaanitish family, he might be gradually led away from the true God.
Ge 24:10-67. The Journey.
10. the servant took ten camels, &c.—So great an equipage was to give the embassy an appearance worthy of the rank and wealth of Abraham; to carry provisions; to bear the marriage presents, which as usual would be distributed over several beasts; besides one or two spare camels in case of emergency.
went to Mesopotamia, &c.—A stranger in those regions, who wishes to obtain information, stations himself at one of the wells in the neighborhood of a town, and he is sure to learn all the news of the place from the women who frequent them every morning and evening. Eliezer followed this course, and letting his camels rest, he waited till the evening time of water drawing.
12. And he said, O Lord God of my master—The servant appears worthy of the master he served. He resolves to follow the leading of Providence; and while he shows good sense in the tokens he fixes upon of ascertaining the temper and character of the future bride, he never doubts but that in such a case God will direct him.
15-21. before he had done speaking … behold, Rebekah came out—As he anticipated, a young woman unveiled, as in pastoral regions, appeared with her pitcher on her shoulder. Her comely appearance, her affable manners, her obliging courtesy in going down the steps to fetch water not only to him but to pour it into the trough for his camels, afforded him the most agreeable surprise. She was the very person his imagination had pictured, and he proceeded to reward her civility.
22. the man took a golden earring, &c.—The ring was not for the ear, but the nose; the armlets, such as young women in Syria and Arabia still appear daily at wells decked in. They are worn from the elbow to the wrist, commonly made of silver, copper, brass, or horn.
23-27. And said, Whose daughter art thou?—After telling her name and family, the kind-hearted damsel hastened home to give notice of a stranger's arrival.
28. and told them of her mother's house these things—the female apartments. This family was in an advanced stage of pastoral life, dwelling in a settled place and a fixed habitation.
29-31. Rebekah had a brother … Laban ran out—From what we know of his character, there is reason to believe that the sight of the dazzling presents increased both his haste and his invitation.
32-49. the man came into the house, &c.—What a beautiful picture of piety, fidelity, and disinterestedness in a servant! He declined all attention to his own comforts till he had told his name and his errand.
50. Then Laban and Bethuel answered—The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations, their father being probably dead, and without consulting their sister. Their language seems to indicate they were worshippers of the true God.
53. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and … gold—These are the usual articles, with money, that form a woman's dowry among the pastoral tribes. Rebekah was betrothed and accompanied the servant to Canaan.
64. she lighted off the camel—If Isaac were walking, it would have been most unmannerly for her to have continued seated; an inferior, if riding, always alights in presence of a person of rank, no exception being made for women.
65. she took a veil, and covered herself—The veil is an essential part of female dress. In country places it is often thrown aside, but on the appearance of a stranger, it is drawn over the face, as to conceal all but the eyes. In a bride it was a token of her reverence and subjection to her husband.
67. And Isaac brought her into his mother's … tent—thus establishing her at once in the rights and honors of a wife before he had seen her features. Disappointments often take place, but when Isaac saw his wife, "he loved her."