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Matthew Henry

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:12

And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham ,.... He does not call the Lord his God, though no doubt he was, since he appears throughout the whole to be a good man; but the God of Abraham, because God had often manifested and renewed his covenant with Abraham in an eminent manner, and had bestowed many favours upon him, and admitted him to much nearness and communion with him; and it was not on his own account, but on his master's business he now was: I pray thee, send me good speed this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:13

Behold, I stand here by the well of water ,.... Wishing, hoping, and expecting that something would turn out that would direct and instruct what further to do, and that would lead on to the business he came about: and the daughters of the men of the city came out to draw water ; which was the usual custom in those parts about that time. So Homer speaks F23 Odyss. 10. ver. 109. of meeting a girl before the city υδρευουση , drawing or fetching water. And this was a principal... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:14

And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say , let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink ,.... The pitcher of water she should have upon her shoulder, after she had drawn it out of the well: and she shall say, drink, and I will give thy camels drink also ; not only very readily and courteously invite him to drink himself but also propose to draw water for his camels too: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac ; to be his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:15

And it came to pass, before he had done speaking ,.... In his heart, Genesis 24:45 ; for his prayer was mental; while the last words were dropping from him, that very moment, as the Targum of Jonathan; so soon were his prayers heard and answered, Isaiah 65:24 , that behold Rebekah came out ; out of Haran, the city of Nahor: who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother ; a daughter of Bethuel, which Bethuel was the eighth and last son of Milcah, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:16

And the damsel was very fair to look upon ,.... Of a good countenance and beautiful aspect: a virgin: neither had any man known her ; not only was reckoned a virgin, but was really one, pure and incorrupt: and she went down to the well and filled her pitcher, and came up ; by which it appears the well lay low, there was a descent unto it, and an ascent from it. Rebekah was very diligent and speedy in doing her work, she did not stay to look at strangers, or hold an idle... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 24:17

And the servant ran to meet her ,.... He did not stop her as she went to the well, but stayed till she had been there and filled her pitcher, and then he made all the haste he could to meet her, in order to have the sign and token answered he had requested, which could not be done until she returned: and said, let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher ; or taste a little of it, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; or suffer me to swallow a little of it; for it was not... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 24:12

And he said, O Lord God, etc. - "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular; and at the same time, by asking a natural sign, such as betokened humanity, condescension, and other qualities which promised a discreet and virtuous wife, he puts his prayer upon such a discreet, rational footing, as to be a proper... read more

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