And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. By what means he found out the person designed for his wife, and got knowledge of her father's house, to which he was introduced, and where he was made welcome; and what agreement he had made with the parents and relations of Rebekah to be his wife, whom he had brought with him. read more
The unfolding of the Divine purpose. I. THE EXPANDED BLESSING . The first line of the web of sacred history stretches itself out to Mesopotamia. The aged patriarch, blessed of Jehovah in all things, is fading from our sight. We must look on a new generation and see the blessing expanded. II. THE DIVINE GUIDANCE . The angel shall be sent before Isaac, and he will overrule the events and wills which seem to stand in the way. The marriage of Isaac was a matter of most solemn... read more
A bride for the heir.-4. Rebekah and Isaac, or the wedding of the bride. I. THE PENSIVE BRIDEGROOM . 1. Mourning for his mother . Isaac's meditation clearly includes this. Good mothers, when they die, should be deeply and affectionately sorrowed for by grateful and loving sons. A son who loves his mother living forgets not to lament her dead. The best testimonial of filial piety is to know that a son tenderly regards his mother while she lives, and cherishes her memory when... read more
- The Marriage of Isaac26. 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 24:1-9Abraham 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... read more
A wife for Isaac (24:1-67)Since Isaac would succeed Abraham as heir to the land of Canaan and ancestor of the promised nation, Abraham required two things concerning him. First, he was not to leave Canaan; second, he was not to marry one of the Canaanites, as they were under God’s judgment. Abraham therefore sent his chief servant (possibly Eliezer; see 15:2) on a long journey to Paddan-aram in north-western Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac among Abraham’s relatives there (24:1-9).The... read more
VII. The Servant Brings the Bride to the Bridegroom"And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahairoi, for he dwelt in the land of the South. And Isaac went to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel. And she... read more
Beer-lahai-roi, where Isaac lived and meditated (Genesis 24:62), was a place where God had previously answered prayer (cf. Genesis 16:14). This suggests that Isaac may have been praying for God’s will to be done in the choice of his wife. Rebekah dismounted out of respect for her intended husband (cf. Joshua 15:18; 1 Samuel 25:23). Her self-veiling hinted at her becoming his bride since it was customary to veil the bride in a marriage ceremony. Normally Israelite women did not wear veils (cf.... read more
The Marriage of Isaac and RebekahA charming picture of patriarchal marriage customs. It is very characteristic of the Primitive source.2. Put.. thy hand under my thigh] a form of taking an oath, only mentioned again in Genesis 47:29. ’It is from the thighs that one’s descendants come, so that to take an oath with one hand under the thigh would be equivalent to calling upon these descendants to maintain an oath which has been fulfilled, and to avenge one which has been broken’ (D.). Modern... read more
Rebekah the Farseeing Genesis 24:0 I. In the case of Sarah the real drama opens with married life. In the case of Rebekah it opens with the proposal of marriage. The offer comes from Isaac. When she sees the servant approaching she has no idea of his errand. But Rebekah has a wonderful talisman against such surprise an astonishing power of putting herself instantaneously in the place of those to whom she is speaking. II. There is a peculiarity about Rebekah's sympathetic insight. It is not... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 24:62-67
Isaac and Rebekah are, at length, happily brought together. Observe, I. Isaac was well employed when he met Rebekah: He went out to meditate, or pray, in the field, at the even-tide, Gen. 24:62, 63. Some think he expected the return of his servants about this time, and went out on purpose to meet them. But, it should seem, he went out on another errand, to take the advantage of a silent evening and a solitary field for meditation and prayer, those divine exercises by which we converse with God... read more