Genesis 24:65

_FOR SHE HAD SAID UNTO THE SERVANT, WHAT MAN IS THIS THAT WALKETH IN THE FIELD TO MEET US? AND THE SERVANT HAD SAID, IT IS MY MASTER: THEREFORE SHE TOOK A VAIL, AND COVERED HERSELF._ She took a veil, and covered herself. The veil is an essential part of a female dress. In country places it is often thrown aside; but on the appearance of a stranger it is drawn over the face, so as to conceal all but the eyes. But the text has х_ HATSAA`IYP_ (H6809)] the bridal veil-in Syria and Persia of red silk-which envelopes the entire person, and arrayed in which a bride is commonly led into the presence of her husband. It was in this attire, becoming her bridal character, that Rebekah was adorned when about to be introduced for the first time to Isaac. In a bride it was a token of her reverence and subjection to her husband....

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 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_, and _subjection_....

- 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 24:61 AND REBEKAH AROSE, AND HER DAMSELS,—probably a company, at least two, though Laban afterwards only gave each of his daughters one (Genesis 29:24, Genesis 29:29)—AND THEY RODE UPON CAMELS (most likely those which Abraham's servant had brought), AND FOLLOWED THE MAN (not in fear, but in hope): AND THE SERVANT TOOK (in the sense of undertook the charge of) REBEKAH (who, in his eyes, would now he invested with additional charms, as his young master's intended bride), AND WENT HIS WAY—returning by the road he came....

FOR SHE [HAD] SAID UNTO THE SERVANT,.... As soon as she saw a man walking towards them, who she thought with herself might be Isaac: WHAT MAN IS THIS THAT WALKETH IN THE FIELD TO MEET US? for by the course he steered, she perceived that he was coming towards them, and so concluded it must be one of the family, and probably the person she was to be married to; for otherwise, had he not by his look and motion discovered that he knew the servant, and was coming towards them, she would have took no notice of him AND THE SERVANT [HAD] SAID, IT IS MY MASTER: meaning not Abraham, but his son, who also was his master: THEREFORE SHE TOOK A VEIL, AND COVERED HERSELF; both out of modesty, and as a token of subjection to him: for the veil was put on when the bride was introduced to the bridegroom, as among the Romans x in later times. The Arab women always have veils when they appear in public, s...

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....

THEREFORE SHE TOOK A VAIL, &C.— This was done either in conformity to the general custom in ancient times, or it may refer to the particular custom of the nuptial veil, worn by the bride when she was first introduced to her husband. This was also a fashion among the Heathens; and Tertullian very reasonably infers, from this passage, that it was of great antiquity. It is remarkable, that of the ancients the Spartans alone suffered their virgins to appear without veils in public; but when _married,_ they were never suffered to appear without them....