Genesis 24:11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 24:10-28

Abraham's servant now begins to make a figure in this story; and, though he is not named, yet much is here recorded to his honour, and for an example to all servants, who shall be honoured if, by faithfully serving God and their masters, they adorn the doctrine of Christ (compare Prov. 27:18; Titus 2:10); for there is no respect of persons with God, Col. 3:24, 25. A good servant that makes conscience of the duty of his place, and does it in the fear of God, though he make not a figure in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:11

And he made his camels to kneel down ,.... Which these creatures are used to do when they are loaded and unloaded, and also when they take rest, and it was for the sake of the latter they were now made to kneel. It seems that this is what is not natural to them, but what they are learned to do: it is said F18 Calmet's Dictionary in the word "Camel". ,"as soon as a camel is born they tie his four feet under his belly, put a carpet over his back, and stones upon the borders of it, that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 fetch water. Companies of four, six, ten, or more, may be seen in every town daily going to fetch water, with the pitchers resting upon their sides; and, on their return from bathing, women frequently bring water home -... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 24:1-67

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 24:10-28

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 24:11

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 24:1-67

- 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 24:11

Genesis 24:11. He made his camels to kneel down Probably to unload them; kneeling, however, is the posture in which they take their rest. Dr. Shaw, giving an account of his journeys between Cairo and mount Sinai, says, “Our camels were made to kneel down in a circle round about us; and in this situation, as they are very watchful, and awake with the least noise, they served us instead of a guard.” read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:1-67

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 24:10-14

II. The Servant Devises a Test"And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master's in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor. And he made the camels to kneel down without the city, by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master... read more

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