And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban ,.... Perhaps he was her only brother, or however the elder brother, the principal in the family, her father Bethuel being old: and Laban ran out : out of his house, and out of the city of Haran: unto the man unto the well ; this was after Rebekah had got home, and had related to the family whom she had met with at the well, and what had passed between them, as follows: read more
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring, and bracelets upon his sister's hands ,.... From whence he concluded that he was a rich and generous man she had met with, and might hope to receive a gift also upon giving him an invitation to his house; or however might judge he should be no loser by receiving him kindly and entertaining him generously; therefore it was that he made haste, and ran to him to bring him in; for that Laban was of a covetous disposition, appears from the whole story... read more
And he said, come in, thou blessed of the Lord ,.... Both with temporal and spiritual blessings; he concluded he was blessed with the former by the presents he had made to his sister, and by the men that attended him, and the number of camels that were with him; and with the latter by his devotion, his worshipping of God, and thankfulness to him, which Rebekah had observed and related: some Jewish writers say F8 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 60. fol. 52. 4. Targ. Jon. in loc. , he thought he... read more
And the man came into the house ,.... Upon the pressing instance made unto him; for so it may be rendered, "wherefore the man came", &c.; F11 ויבא "intravit itaque", Tigurine version, Piscator; "quare", Schmidt. . and he ungirded his camels ; took off their bridles, which hindered them from eating, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi; or loosed their girts and took off their burdens, that they might have rest: this may be interpreted either of the servant and of his men by... read more
And there was set meat before them to eat ,.... By the order of Bethuel or Laban, or both; or, "afterwards was set" F12 ויישם "post appositum", Drusius, Schmidt. ; that is after care had been taken the camels, then food being provided was set before the men to refresh them: but he said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand ; or, "spoke my words" F13 דברתי דברי "donec loquar sermones meos", V. L. "vel mea verba", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator. ; delivered the... read more
And he said, I am Abraham's servant. Not Abraham himself, this undeceived Laban, if he so thought, but a servant of his; which was enough to introduce his discourse, his master being a near relation of theirs, and well known to them by name, if not in person. read more
And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly ,.... With temporal blessings, after enumerated, which are of God, and are here ascribed to him, the Father, fountain, author, and giver of all such mercies: and he is become great ; in the world, and highly honoured and esteemed among men: and he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and menservants and maidservants, and camels and asses ; though many of them were obtained in the diligent use of means, yet with the blessing... read more
And Sarah, my master's wife ,.... Who must be well known to this family, by name at least, being, as is generally supposed, the sister of Milcah, Nahor's wife, and Bethuel's mother; the same bare a son to my master when she was old ; even when ninety years of age, Genesis 17:17 ; this is mentioned because it was an extraordinary thing, and an instance of divine power and of the favour of God; and this son of their old age must be very dear unto Abraham, as it follows: and unto him... read more
And my master made me swear ,.... See Gill on Genesis 24:3 . In Genesis 24:37 , the servant relates the oath his master made him take, and the charge he gave him, much in the same language as in Genesis 24:3 . read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 24:29-53
We have here the making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah. It is related very largely and particularly, even to the minute circumstances, which, we should think, might have been spared, while other things of great moment and mystery (as the story of Melchizedek) are related in few words. Thus God conceals that which is curious from the wise and prudent, reveals to babes that which is common and level to their capacity (Matt. 11:25), and rules and saves the world by the foolishness... read more