Genesis 24:63

to meditate A strange and poetical word to be used in this context. It has given rise to very various renderings: LXX ἀδολεσχῆσαι, Lat. ad meditandum, Aq. ὁμιλῆσαι, Sym. λαλῆσαι, Syr. Pesh. "to walk about" (so Gesenius), with a slight variation of the reading. Rashi says the word means "prayer"; Ibn Ezra, "to walk between the shrubs"; Bötticher, "to fetch brushwood." Many modern scholars, e.g. Knobel, Ewald, Strack, and Gunkel, render "to wail," or "lament," comparing the use of the same word in Psalms 55:2; Psalms 55:17 ("moan"), Psalms 142:2 ("complaint"); and doubtless this rendering has the merit of agreeing with the mention of Isaac's need of being comforted (Genesis 24:67).

As the servant does not bring Rebekah to Abraham, there is good reason for the conjecture that Abraham's death had occurred.