35 And the LORD H3068 hath blessed H1288 my master H113 greatly; H3966 and he is become great: H1431 and he hath given H5414 him flocks, H6629 and herds, H1241 and silver, H3701 and gold, H2091 and menservants, H5650 and maidservants, H8198 and camels, H1581 and asses. H2543
36 And Sarah H8283 my master's H113 wife H802 bare H3205 a son H1121 to my master H113 when H310 she was old: H2209 and unto him hath he given H5414 all that he hath.
37 And my master H113 made me swear, H7650 saying, H559 Thou shalt not take H3947 a wife H802 to my son H1121 of the daughters H1323 of the Canaanites, H3669 in whose land H776 I dwell: H3427
38 But H518 thou shalt go H3212 unto my father's H1 house, H1004 and to my kindred, H4940 and take H3947 a wife H802 unto my son. H1121
39 And I said H559 unto my master, H113 Peradventure the woman H802 will not follow H3212 H310 me.
40 And he said H559 unto me, The LORD, H3068 before H6440 whom I walk, H1980 will send H7971 his angel H4397 with thee, and prosper H6743 thy way; H1870 and thou shalt take H3947 a wife H802 for my son H1121 of my kindred, H4940 and of my father's H1 house: H1004
41 Then shalt thou be clear H5352 from this my oath, H423 when thou comest H935 to my kindred; H4940 and if they give H5414 not thee one, thou shalt be clear H5355 from my oath. H423
42 And I came H935 this day H3117 unto the well, H5869 and said, H559 O LORD H3068 God H430 of my master H113 Abraham, H85 if now thou do H3426 prosper H6743 my way H1870 which I go: H1980
43 Behold, I stand H5324 by the well H5869 of water; H4325 and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin H5959 cometh forth H3318 to draw H7579 water, and I say H559 to her, Give me, H8248 I pray thee, a little H4592 water H4325 of thy pitcher H3537 to drink; H8248
44 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
45 And before I had done H3615 speaking H1696 in mine heart, H3820 behold, Rebekah H7259 came forth H3318 with her pitcher H3537 on her shoulder; H7926 and she went down H3381 unto the well, H5869 and drew H7579 water: and I said H559 unto her, Let me drink, H8248 I pray thee.
46 And she made haste, H4116 and let down H3381 her pitcher H3537 from her shoulder, and said, H559 Drink, H8354 and I will give H8248 thy camels H1581 drink H8248 also: so I drank, H8354 and she made H8248 the camels H1581 drink H8248 also.
47 And I asked H7592 her, and said, H559 Whose daughter H1323 art thou? And she said, H559 The daughter H1323 of Bethuel, H1328 Nahor's H5152 son, H1121 whom Milcah H4435 bare H3205 unto him: and I put H7760 the earring H5141 upon her face, H639 and the bracelets H6781 upon her hands. H3027
48 And I bowed down my head, H6915 and worshipped H7812 the LORD, H3068 and blessed H1288 the LORD H3068 God H430 of my master H113 Abraham, H85 which had led me H5148 in the right H571 way H1870 to take H3947 my master's H113 brother's H251 daughter H1323 unto his son. H1121
49 And now if ye will H3426 deal H6213 kindly H2617 and truly H571 with my master, H113 tell H5046 me: and if not, tell H5046 me; that I may turn H6437 to the right hand, H3225 or H176 to the left. H8040
50 Then Laban H3837 and Bethuel H1328 answered H6030 and said, H559 The thing H1697 proceedeth H3318 from the LORD: H3068 we cannot H3201 speak H1696 unto thee bad H7451 or H176 good. H2896
51 Behold, Rebekah H7259 is before thee, H6440 take H3947 her, and go, H3212 and let her be thy master's H113 son's H1121 wife, H802 as the LORD H3068 hath spoken. H1696
52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's H85 servant H5650 heard H8085 their words, H1697 he worshipped H7812 the LORD, H3068 bowing himself to the earth. H776
53 And the servant H5650 brought forth H3318 jewels H3627 of silver, H3701 and jewels H3627 of gold, H2091 and raiment, H899 and gave H5414 them to Rebekah: H7259 he gave H5414 also to her brother H251 and to her mother H517 precious things. H4030
54 And they did eat H398 and drink, H8354 he and the men H582 that were with him, and tarried all night; H3885 and they rose up H6965 in the morning, H1242 and he said, H559 Send me away H7971 unto my master. H113
55 And her brother H251 and her mother H517 said, H559 Let the damsel H5291 abide H3427 with us a few days, H3117 at the least H176 ten; H6218 after H310 that she shall go. H3212
56 And he said H559 unto them, Hinder me H309 not, seeing the LORD H3068 hath prospered H6743 my way; H1870 send me away H7971 that I may go H3212 to my master. H113
57 And they said, H559 We will call H7121 the damsel, H5291 and enquire H7592 at her mouth. H6310
58 And they called H7121 Rebekah, H7259 and said H559 unto her, Wilt thou go H3212 with this man? H376 And she said, H559 I will go. H3212
59 And they sent away H7971 Rebekah H7259 their sister, H269 and her nurse, H3243 and Abraham's H85 servant, H5650 and his men. H582
60 And they blessed H1288 Rebekah, H7259 and said H559 unto her, Thou H859 art our sister, H269 be thou H1961 the mother of thousands H505 of millions, H7233 and let thy seed H2233 possess H3423 the gate H8179 of those which hate H8130 them.
61 And Rebekah H7259 arose, H6965 and her damsels, H5291 and they rode H7392 upon the camels, H1581 and followed H3212 H310 the man: H376 and the servant H5650 took H3947 Rebekah, H7259 and went his way. H3212
62 And Isaac H3327 came H935 from the way H935 of the well Lahairoi; H883 for he dwelt H3427 in the south H5045 country. H776
63 And Isaac H3327 went out H3318 to meditate H7742 in the field H7704 at H6437 the eventide: H6153 and he lifted up H5375 his eyes, H5869 and saw, H7200 and, behold, the camels H1581 were coming. H935
64 And Rebekah H7259 lifted up H5375 her eyes, H5869 and when she saw H7200 Isaac, H3327 she lighted H5307 off H5921 the camel. H1581
65 For she had said H559 unto the servant, H5650 What H4310 man H376 is this H1976 that walketh H1980 in the field H7704 to meet us? H7125 And the servant H5650 had said, H559 It is my master: H113 therefore she took H3947 a vail, H6809 and covered herself. H3680
66 And the servant H5650 told H5608 Isaac H3327 all things H1697 that he had done. H6213
67 And Isaac H3327 brought her H935 into his mother H517 Sarah's H8283 tent, H168 and took H3947 Rebekah, H7259 and she became his wife; H802 and he loved H157 her: and Isaac H3327 was comforted H5162 after H310 his mother's H517 death.
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."