CHAPTER XXIV _Abraham, being solicitous to get his son Isaac property married_, _calls his confidential servant, probably Eliezer, and makes him_ _swear that he will not take a wife for Isaac from among the_ _Canaanites_, 1-3, _but from among his own kindred_, 4. _The servant proposes certain... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:2. _ELDEST SERVANT_] As this eldest servant is stated to have been the _ruler over all that he had_, it is very likely that Eliezer is meant. See Genesis 15:2; Genesis 15:3. _PUT, I PRAY THEE, THY HAND_] Genesis 24:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:3. _I WILL MAKE THEE SWEAR_] Genesis 24:9, Genesis 24:9. _OF THE CANAANITES_] Because these had already been devoted to _slavery_, c., and it would have been utterly inconsistent as well with prudence as with the design of God to have united the child and _heir_ of the _promise_ wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:4. _MY COUNTRY_] Mesopotamia, called here Abraham's country, because it was the place where the family of Haran, his brother, had settled; and where himself had remained a considerable time with his father Terah. In this family, as well as in that of Nahor, the true religion had bee... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:5. _PERADVENTURE THE WOMAN WILL NOT BE WILLING_] We may see, says Calmet, by this and other passages of Scripture, Joshua 9:18, what the sentiments of the ancients were relative to an _oath_. They believed they were bound precisely by _what was_ _spoken_, and had no liberty to inter... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:7. _THE LORD GOD, C._] He expresses the strongest confidence in God, that the great designs for which he had brought him from his own kindred to propagate the true religion in the earth would be accomplished and that therefore, when earthly instruments failed, heavenly ones should b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:9. _PUT HIS HAND UNDER THE THIGH OF ABRAHAM_] This _form_ of swearing has greatly puzzled the commentators; but it is useless to detail opinions which I neither believe myself, nor would wish my readers to credit. I believe the true sense is given in the _Targum_ of _Jonathan ben U... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:10. _TOOK TEN CAMELS_] It appears that Abraham had left the whole management of this business to the discretion of his servant, to take with him what _retinue_ and what _dowry_ he pleased; for it is added, _All the goods of his master were in his hand_; and in those times it was cus... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:11. _HE MADE HIS CAMELS TO KNEEL DOWN_] To rest themselves, or lie down, as the Septuagint has very properly expressed it, και εκοιμισε τας καμηλουσ. _THE TIME THAT WOMEN GO OUT TO DRAW WATER._] In Bengal it is the universal practice for the women to go to _pools_ and _rivers_ to f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:12. _AND HE SAID, O LORD GOD, C._] "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular and at the same time,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:15. _BEHOLD, REBEKAH CAME OUT_] How admirably had the providence of God adapted every circumstance to the necessity of the case, and so as in the most punctual manner to answer the prayer which his servant had offered up!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:19. _I WILL DRAW WATER FOR THY CAMELS ALSO_] Had Rebekah done _no more_ than Eliezer had prayed for, we might have supposed that she acted not as a free agent, but was _impelled_ to it by the absolutely controlling power of God; but as she exceeds all that was requested, we see that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:21. _THE MAN, WONDERING AT HER_] And he was so lost in wonder and astonishment at her simplicity, innocence, and benevolence, that he permitted this delicate female to draw water for _ten camels_, without ever attempting to afford her any kind of assistance! I know not which to admi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:22. _THE MAN TOOK A GOLDEN EAR-RING_] נזם זהב _nezem zahab_. That this could not be an _ear-ring_ is very probable from its being in the _singular_ number. The margin calls it a _jewel for the_ _forehead_; but it most likely means a _jewel for the nose_, or _nose-ring_, which is in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:26. _BOWED DOWN HIS HEAD, AND WORSHIPPED_] Two acts of adoration are mentioned here; 1. Bowing the head, יקד _yikkod_; and 2. Prostration upon the earth, וישתחו _vaiyishtaehu_. The bowing of the head was to Rebekah, to return her thanks for her kind invitation. The prostration wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:27. _THE LORD LED ME_] By desire of his master he went out on this journey; and as he acknowledged God in all his ways, the Lord directed all his steps.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:28. _HER MOTHER'S HOUSE_] Some have conjectured from this that her father _Bethuel_ was dead; and the person called _Bethuel_, Genesis 24:50, was a younger brother. This is possible, but the mother's house might be mentioned were even the father alive; for in Asiatic countries the w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:31. _THOU BLESSED OF THE LORD_] Probably a usual mode of wishing prosperity, as he that is blessed of the Lord is worthy of all respect; for, enjoying the Divine favour, he is in possession of the sum of happiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:32. _PROVENDER FOR THE CAMELS_] These were the first objects of his care; for a good man is merciful to his beast. _WATER TO WASH HIS FEET_] Thus it thus appears that he had servants with him; and as the fatigues of the journey must have fallen as heavily upon them as upon himself,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:33. _I WILL NOT EAT UNTIL I HAVE TOLD_] In Hindoostan it is not unusual for a Brahmin to enter a house and sit down, and when meat is offered, refuse to eat till he has obtained the object of his errand. Here is a servant who had his master's interest more at heart than his own. He... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:36. _UNTO HIM HATH HE GIVEN ALL THAT HE HATH._] He has made Isaac his sole heir. These things appear to be spoken to show the relatives of Rebekah that his master's son was a proper match for her; for even in those primitive times there was regard had to the suitableness of station... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:42. _O LORD GOD OF MY MASTER_] As Abraham was the friend of God, Eliezer makes use of this to give weight and consequence to his petitions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:43. _WHEN THE VIRGIN_] העלמה _haalmah_, from עלם _alam,_ to hide, cover, or conceal; a pure virgin, a woman not _uncovered_, and in this respect still concealed from man. The same as בתולה _bethulah_, Genesis 24:16, which, from the explanation there given, incontestably means a _vir... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:45. _BEFORE I HAD DONE SPEAKING IN MINE HEART_] So we find that the whole of this prayer, so circumstantially related Genesis 24:12-1, and again Genesis 24:42-1, was mental, and heard only by that God to whom it was directed. It would have been improper to have used _public_ prayer... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:49. _THAT I MAY TURN TO THE RIGHT HAND OR TO THE LEFT_] That is, That I may go elsewhere and seek a proper match for the son of my master. Some have imagined that Eliezer intimated by these expressions that if he did not succeed in obtaining Rebekah, he would go and seek for a wife... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:50. _LABAN AND BETHUEL_] These seem both to be _brothers_, of whom Laban was the eldest and chief; for the opinion of Josephus appears to be very correct, _viz_., that Bethuel, the father, had been some time dead. Genesis 24:28, Genesis 24:28. _BAD OR GOOD_] We can neither speak _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 53. _JEWELS OF SILVER, AND JEWELS OF GOLD_] The word כלי _keley_, which we here translate _jewels_ signifies properly _vessels_ or _instruments_; and those presented by Eliezer might have been of various kinds. What he had given before, Genesis 24:22, was in token of _respect_, what he gave no... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 54. _AND THEY DID EAT AND DRINK_] When Eliezer had got a favourable answer, then he and his servants sat down to meat; this he had refused to do till he had told his message, Genesis 24:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 55. _LET THE DAMSEL ABIDE WITH US A FEW DAYS, AT THE LEAST_ _TEN_] The original is very abrupt and obscure, because we are not acquainted with the precise meaning of the _form of speech_ which is here used; ימים או עשור _yamim o asor_ DAYS or TEN, probably meaning a _year_ or _ten months_, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 58. _WILT THOU GO WITH THIS MAN?_] So it appears it was left _ultimately_ to the choice of Rebekah whether she would accept the proposals now made to her, unless we suppose that the question meant, _Wilt thou go immediately_, or _stay with us a month longer_? _SHE SAID, I WILL GO._] It fully... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 59. _AND HER NURSE_] Whose name, we learn from Genesis 35:8, was _Deborah_, and who, as a second mother, was deemed proper to accompany Rebekah. This was a measure dictated by good sense and prudence. Rebekah had other female attendants. See Genesis 24:61.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:60. _BE THOU THE MOTHER OF THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS_] לאלפי רבבה _lealphey rebabah_, for thousands ten thousand, or _for myriads_ _of thousands_, a large family being ever considered, in ancient times, as a proof of the peculiar blessing and favour of God. Similar addresses to a daught... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:62. _AND ISAAC CAME_] Concerning this _well_ see Genesis 16:13-1, c. As it appears from Genesis 25:11, that Isaac dwelt at the well _Lahai-roi_, it has been conjectured that he had now come on a visit to his aged father at Beersheba, where he waited in expectation of his bride. _FO... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:63. _ISAAC WENT OUT TO MEDITATE_] לשוח _lasuach_, to bend down the body, or the mind, or both. He was probably in deep thought, with his eyes fixed upon the ground. What the subject of his meditation was it is useless to inquire; he was a pious man, and could not be _triflingly_ emp... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:65. _SHE TOOK A VEIL_] הצעיף _hatstsaaif_. This is the first time this word occurs, and it is of doubtful signification; but most agree to render it a _veil_ or a _cloak_. The former is the most likely, as it was generally used by women in the east as a sign of _chastity, modesty_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Genesis 24:67. _SARAH'S TENT_] Sarah being dead, her tent became now appropriated to the use of Rebekah. _AND TOOK REBEKAH, C._] After what _form_ this was done we are not told or whether there was any form used on the occasion, more than solemnly receiving her as the person whom God had chos... [ Continue Reading ]