And the servant (understanding the nature of his mission, and feeling satisfied on the points that impinged upon his conscience) put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter —to be true to his master and his mission, and to the hope and promise of the covenant. HOMILETICS read more
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master,— to bear the presents for the bride, to enhance the dignity of his mission, and to serve as a means of transport for the bride and her companions on the return journey. On the word Gamal vide Genesis 12:16 — and departed . Either from Hebron ( Genesis 23:19 ), or from the south country, near Beer-lahai-roi ( Genesis 24:62 ). For all the goods of his master were in his hand. Literally, and every good thing of his... read more
A bride for the heir.-2. Eliezer and Rebekah, or the finding of the bride. I. THE MATRIMONIAL EMBASSY . 1. The departure from Hebron . With promptitude and alacrity, as became a servant executing the instructions of a master—attended by a cavalcade of ten camels and their drivers, as ambassadors of princes are wont to signalize their dignity by ample retinues; and laden with the choicest of his master's goods as presents for the bride, since they who go to woo must not... read more
And he made his camels to kneel down —"a mode of expression taken from actual life. The action is literally kneeling; not stooping, sitting, or lying down on the side like a horse, but kneeling on his knees; and this the camel is taught to do from his youth"— without the city by a well of water . "In the East, where wells are scarce and water indispensable, the existence of a well or fountain determines the site of the village. The people build near it, but prefer to have it outside the... read more
And he said ,—commencing his search for the maiden by prayer, as he closes it with thanksgiving ( Genesis 24:26 )—a beautiful example of piety and of the fruits of Abraham's care for the souls of his household, Genesis 18:19 (Wordsworth)— O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day. Literally, cause to meet (or come before) me , i . e . what I wish, the maiden of whom I am in quest; hence εὐόδεσον ἐναντίον ἐμοῦ, make the way prosperous... read more
And it came to pass (not certainly by accident, but by Divine arrangement), before he had done speaking, that ,—his prayer was answered (cf. Isaiah 65:24 ; Daniel 9:20 , Daniel 9:21 ). From Genesis 24:45 it appears that the servant's prayer was not articulately spoken, but offered "in his heart;" whence the LXX . add ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ αὐτοῦ — behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother ( vide Genesis 22:23 ), ... read more
And the damsel was very fair to look upon . Literally, good of countenance , like Sarah ( Genesis 12:11 ) and Rachel ( Genesis 29:17 ; cf. Genesis 26:7 of Rebekah). A virgin . Bethulah , i . e . one separated and secluded from intercourse with men; from batik , to seclude (cf. Deuteronomy 22:23 , Deuteronomy 22:28 ; 2 Samuel 13:2 , 2 Samuel 13:18 ). Neither had any man known her. A repetition for the sake of emphasis, rather than because bethulah sometimes... read more
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher (a request which was at once complied with). And she said, Drink (and with the utmost politeness), my lord (and with cheerful animation): and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink . "Rebekah's address to the servant will be given you in the exact idiom by the first gentle Rebekah you ask water from; but I have never found any young lady so generous as... read more
And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough (or gutter made of stone, with which wells were usually provided, and which were filled with water when animals required to drink), and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. "At one point we came upon a large village of nomad Bedouins dwelling in their black tents. For the first time we encountered a shepherd playing on his reeden pipe, and followed by his flock. He was leading them to a fountain, from... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 24:6-8
And Abraham said, Beware thou —literally, beware for thyself, the pleonastic pronoun being added by way of emphasis (cf. Genesis 12:1 ; Genesis 21:16 ; Genesis 22:5 )— that thou bring not my son thither again. Literally, lest thou cause my son to, return thither ; Abraham speaking of Isaac's going to Mesopotamia as a return, either because he regarded Isaac, though then unborn, as having come out with him from Mesopotamia, cf. Hebrews 7:10 (Wordsworth), or because he viewed... read more