_Servant. Eliezer, or Damascus, whom he had once intended for his heir, chap. xv. 2. (Haydock) --- Under, &c. either to shew their subjection, (Sa.) or their faith in Christ, who should be born of Abraham, (St. Jerome, ep. 140) or to testify that their oath shall be no less binding than the covenant... [ Continue Reading ]
_Country. Huran, where Abraham had dwelt with Thare, &c. There Nachor's family still resided, and had more respect for the true God than the Chanaanites, (Haydock) though they gave way to some sort of idolatry. (Menochius) --- Hence Abraham was in hopes that a partner worthy of Isaac might be found... [ Continue Reading ]
_If the woman. Thus he shews his religious respect for an oath; and will not depend on his own explanation of the sense of it. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_He will send his angel before thee. This shews that the Hebrews believed that God gave them guardian angels for their protection. (Challoner) --- Angel. A proof of the antiquity of our belief respecting angel guardians. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_By this. He chose a mark which would manifest the kindness and humility of the maid, who would be a fit match for the pious Isaac. This was no vain observation. God heard his fervent prayer. (St. Chrysostom) (Calmet) --- It is sometimes lawful to ask a sign or miracle of God, (Acts i. 24; iv. 30; 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_To know, though he was now almost convinced, that this obliging virgin was the person of whom he was in quest; and hence he proceeds to make her presents of great value. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mercy and truth: or a real kindness, so often mentioned in the Psalms. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Curse, which always attends the person who does not endeavour to comply with a lawful oath. (Haydock) --- The Hebrews commonly added in this sense, May God do these things to me, and still more, if I prove false. (Menochius) --- In this sense, Abraham's steward gives the meaning of his master, as h... [ Continue Reading ]
_Left, in quest of some other lady of my master's kindred; as some of Bathuel's brothers might also have children. He was the youngest. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Laban is placed before his father, having perhaps the administration of affairs in Bathuel's old age; and he had first introduced the stranger. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Present. Thus ratifying what he had already done, (ver. 22,) and obtaining full consent, both of the virgin, and of her father and brother._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Morning. He loses no time to afford comfort to his masters, and to give proof that he was not esteemed by them without reason._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let us call the maid, and ask her will. Not as to her marriage, as she had already consented, but of her quitting her parents and going to her husband. (Challoner)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will go, without delay, being well convinced that the good steward was directed by God. Hence she was guilty of no imprudence or levity, in yielding herself up to the divine will, and consenting so readily to the proposed marriage._... [ Continue Reading ]
_The well of Agar, not far from Bersabee._... [ Continue Reading ]
_To meditate on the obligations of the state on which he was about to enter, and on other pious subjects, free from noise and distraction. (Haydock) --- In profane authors, the word used by the Septuagint means to talk about trifles, &c. (Calmet) --- But the known piety of Isaac, and the authority o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cloak, or summer veil, covering the whole body, and having an opening only for the eyes; such as the Eastern ladies use. St. Jerome in Isai. iii, Rebecca does this out of modesty. (Haydock) --- She prefigures the Gentiles, whom Jesus calls by his servants laden with his gifts, to become his spouse,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Mother's death, which happened about three years before. (Menochius) --- Isaac was now forty years old, and yet he does not pretend to take a wife for himself; leaving the choice to his good father, and to God. (Du Hamel)_... [ Continue Reading ]