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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 24:1-9

Three things we may observe here concerning Abraham:? I. The care he took of a good son, to get him married, well married. It was high time to think of it now, for Isaac was about forty years old, and it had been customary with his ancestors to marry at thirty, or sooner, Gen. 11:14, 18, 22, 24. Abraham believed the promise of the building up of his family, and therefore did not make haste; not more haste than good speed. Two considerations moved him to think of it now (Gen. 24:1):?1. That he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:2

And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house ,.... To Eliezer his servant, according to the Targum of Jonathan, and as is generally thought; and who may well be called an old servant, and his oldest servant, since he must have lived with him fifty years and upwards; one may trace him near sixty years in Abraham's family, and it is highly probable he lived much longer; he was his servant when he had the vision between the pieces, Genesis 15:2 ; and then he was the steward of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of earth ,.... The Maker and possessor of heaven and earth, by whom Abraham used to swear whenever he did, and by whom only men should swear, see Genesis 14:22 . The Targum of Jonathan is,"I will make thee swear by the name of the Word of the Lord God,'which strengthens the sense given of the rite before observed: that thou wilt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 24:2

Eldest servant - As this eldest servant is stated to have been the ruler over all that he had, it is very likely that Eliezer is meant. See Genesis 15:2 , Genesis 15:3 . Put, I pray thee, thy hand - See note on Genesis 24:9 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 24:3

I will make thee swear - See note on Genesis 24:9 . Of the Canaanites - Because these had already been devoted to slavery, etc., and it would have been utterly inconsistent as well with prudence as with the design of God to have united the child and heir of the promise with one who was under a curse, though that curse might be considered to be only of a political nature. See the curse of Canaan, Genesis 9:25 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 24:2

Verse 2 2.And Abraham said unto his eldest servant. Abraham here fulfils the common duty of parents, in laboring for and being solicitous about the choice of a wife for his son: but he looks somewhat further; for since God had separated him from the Canaanites by a sacred covenant, he justly fears lest Isaac, by joining himself in affinity with them, should shake off the yoke of God. Some suppose that the depraved morals of those nations were so displeasing to him, that he conceived the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 24:3

Verse 3 3.That thou shalt not take a wife. The kind of discipline which prevailed in Abraham’s house is here apparent. Although this man was but a servant, yet, because he was put in authority by the master of the family, his servile condition did not prevent him from being next in authority to his lord; so that Isaac himself, the heir and successor of Abraham, submitted to his direction. To such an extent did the authority of Abraham and reverence for him prevail, that when he substituted a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 24:1-9

A bride for the heir.-1. Abraham and Eliezer, or the mission for the bride. I. THE TRUSTY MESSENGER . 1. His designation . 2. His qualification . II. THE IMPORTANT COMMISSION . 1. The purport of it. "To take a wife for Isaac." A step of greatest moment for the happiness of Isaac, the fulfillment of the promise, and the onward development of the Church. 2. The reason of it. III. THE SOLEMN ADJURATION . 1. The motto of the oath. "Put, I ... 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 24:2-4

And Abraham said auto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, —literally, to his servant, the old man, ancient or elder, of his house, the ruler over all which (sc. belonged) to him . The term זָקֵן (an old man) is in most languages employed as a title of honor,—cf. sheikh, senatus, γέρων , presbyter, signor, seigneur, senor, sir,—and is probably to be so understood here. Eliezer of Damascus, upwards of half a century previous regarded as heir... read more

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