Genesis 24:59

_AND THEY SENT AWAY REBEKAH THEIR SISTER, AND HER NURSE, AND ABRAHAM'S SERVANT, AND HIS MEN._ Her nurse. A lady of rank is, on her marriage, always accompanied by a nurse, who, as a confidential servant, is held in great regard (Genesis 29:24; Genesis 29:29: cf. Genesis 35:8)....

59._And they sent away Rebekah_. Moses first relates, that Rebekah was honorably dismissed; because her nurse was given unto her. Moreover, I doubt not that they had domestic nurses, who were their handmaidens; not that mothers entirely neglected that duty, but that they committed the care of education to one particular maid. They therefore who assisted mothers with subsidiary service were called nurses. Moses afterwards adds, that Rebekah’s relatives “blessed her,” (Genesis 24:60,) by which expression he means, that they prayed that her condition might be a happy one. We know that it was a solemn custom, in all ages, and among all people, to accompany marriages with all good wishes. And although posterity has greatly degenerated from the pure and genuine method of celebrating marriages used by the fathers; yet it is God’s will that some public testimony should stand forth, by which

54-67 Abraham's servant, as one that chose his work before his pleasure, was for hastening home. Lingering and loitering no way become a wise and good man who is faithful to his duty. As children ought not to marry without their parents' consent, so parents ought not to marry them without their own. Rebekah consented, not only to go, but to go at once. The goodness of Rebekah's character shows there was nothing wrong in her answer, though it be not agreeable to modern customs among us. We may hope that she had such an idea of the religion and godliness in the family she was to go to, as made her willing to forget her own people and her father's house. Her friends dismiss her with suitable attendants, and with hearty good wishes. They blessed Rebekah. When our relations are entering into a new condition, we ought by prayer to commend them to the blessing and grace of God. Isaac was well...

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....

- The Marriage of Isaac 26. קרד _qādad_, “bow the head.” השׁתחוה _shâchâh_, “bow the body.” 29. לבן _lābān_, “Laban, white.” In this circumstantial account of the marriage of Isaac, we have a beautiful picture of ancient manners in the East, the living original of which the present customs of that cradle of mankind are a striking copy. Genesis 24:1 Abraham binds the chief servant of his house to seek a wife for his son Isaac among his kindred. The first movement in this matrimonial arrangement is on the part of the father, who does not consult his son, but the chief manager of his household affairs. Abraham is now a hundred and forty years of age, and Sarah has been three

EXPOSITION GENESIS 24:29 AND REBEKAH HAD A BROTHER, AND HIS NAME WAS LABAN. "White," whose character has been considerably traduced, the Biblical narrative not representing him as "a monster of moral depravity," but rather as actuated by generous imputes and hospitable dispositions (Kalisch). AND LABAN RAN OUT UNTO THE MAN, UNTO THE WELL. That Laban, and not Bethuel, should have the prominence in all the subsequent transactions concerning Rebekah has been explained by the supposition that Bethuel was now dead (Josephus), but _vide _Genesis 24:50; that he was altogether an insignificant character (Lange, Wordsworth); that firstborn sons enjoyed during their father's lifetime a portion of his authority, and even on important occ

AND THEY SENT AWAY REBEKAH THEIR SISTER,.... Not in a pet or angry humour, but with good will; they agreed she should go, and took their leave in a very honourable and affectionate manner. This is to be understood of her brother Laban, and of other brethren and sisters she might have; though by the connection of the words with the preceding, they seem to design her brother and mother, who spoke last; and probably all her relations are meant, who call her their sister, because so nearly related to them: AND HER NURSE: who had been her nurse in former times, as Aben Ezra observes, in her infancy, for whom she had a particular affection, as is often the case; her name was Deborah, as appears from Genesis 35:8: AND ABRAHAM'S SERVANT, AND HIS MEN; who were dismissed in an handsome manner by the family....

CHAPTER 24 THE BRIDE SOUGHT FOR ISAAC _ 1. The commission to the servant (Genesis 24:1)_ 2. The obedience and prayer of the servant (Genesis 24:10) 3. The prayer answered (Genesis 24:15) 4. The gifts of the servant (Genesis 24:22) 5. The servant received (Genesis 24:27) 6. The servant's message (Genesis 24:34) 7. The commission and answered prayer stated ...

GENESIS 24. AT HIS MASTER'S COMMAND, ABRAHAM'S SLAVE BRINGS REBEKAH TO CANAAN AS A WIFE FOR ISAAC. The chapter has generally been assigned to J, but it is probably composite, and has been put together from J and E rather than from two J sources. Close scrutiny discloses features which negative its unity, but the combination has been skilfully effected and the story reads admirably. It is told with great literary skill. Feeling the approach of death, Abraham summons his senior slave and extracts from him a solemn oath, in contact with the organs which are the sacred seat of life, that he would not take a Canaanite woman as wife for Isaac, but would bring one from Abraham's own country. If the woman would not come, he was by no means to defeat God's purpose by taking Isaac to her. God would prosper His mission, but if the woman would not come, the oath would bind him no longer. After takin...

Abraham's Servant brings Rebekah to Isaac 55. _her brother and her mother_ LXX and Lat. read "her brothers and her mother." a few _days, at the least ten_ Heb. "days or ten," or, as we should say, "a week or ten days"; the word "or" meaning "or rather." LXX ἡμέρας ὡσεὶ δέκα, Lat. _saltem decem dies_. The Syriac Peshitto, "a month in days." A possible conjecture based on these variations is that of Olshausen, "a month of days, or ten....