Gen 24 | TSK | STEP | Abraham swears his servant. The servant's journey. His prayer. His sign. Rebekah meets him; fulfils his sign; receives jewels; shows her kindred; and invites him home. The servant blesses God. Laban entertains him. The servant shows his message. Laban and Bethuel approve it. Rebekah consents to go, and departs. Isaac meets and marries her. was old. well stricken in age. Heb. gone into days. blessed.

11:25-32; 12:1,7; 22:20-23; 28:2There does not appear in all this concern the least taint of worldly policy, or any of those motives which usually govern men in the settlement of their children. No mention is made of riches, or honours, or natural accomplishments, but merely of what related to God.--Fuller.

Peradventure.

58; Ex 20:7; 9:2; Pr 13:16; Jer 4:2

Ga 5:1; Heb 10:39; 11:9,13-16; 2Pe 2:20-22

Lord.

Ezr 1:2; Da 2:44; Jon 1:9; Re 11:13

took.

12:1-7

which spake.

13:15; 15:18; 17:8; 22:16-18; 26:3,4,24; Ex 13:5; 32:13; Nu 14:16,30

Nu 32:11; De 1:8; 34:4; Jos 1:6; Jud 2:1; Ac 7:5; Heb 11:9

angel.

Ex 23:20-23; 33:2; Ps 32:8; 34:7; 73:24; 103:20; Pr 3:5,6; Isa 63:9

Heb 1:14

clear.

Nu 30:5,8; Jos 2:17-20; 9:20; Joh 8:32

only.

4,5,6; Ac 7:2

for. or, and. all the.

2; 39:4-6,8,9,22,23

Mesopotamia.

De 23:4; Jud 3:8-10; 1Ch 19:6; Ac 2:9

city.

11:31; 27:43; 29:1,4,5

kneel.

33:13,14; Pr 12:10

women go out to draw water. Heb. women which draw water goforth.

13-20; Ex 2:16; 1Sa 9:11; Joh 4:7

O Lord.

27; 15:1; 17:7,8; 26:24; 28:13; 31:42; 32:9; Ex 3:6,15; 1Ki 18:36

2Ki 2:14; Mt 22:32

I pray.

27:10; 43:14; Ne 1:11; 2:4; Ps 37:5; 90:16,17; 118:25; 122:6; 127:1

Pr 3:6; Php 4:6; 1Th 3:10,11

I stand.

43; Ps 37:5; Pr 3:6

daughters.

11; 29:9,10; Ex 2:16; Jud 5:11; 1Sa 9:11; Joh 4:7

And let.

Jud 6:17,37; 1Sa 14:9

she that.

44; Pr 19:14

thereby.

15:8; Ex 4:1-9; Jud 6:17,37; 7:13-15; 18:5; 1Sa 6:7-9; 10:2-10

1Sa 14:8,10; 20:7; 2Sa 5:24; 20:9; 2Ki 20:8-11; Isa 7:11; Ro 1:10

before.

45; Jud 6:36-40; Ps 34:15; 65:2; 145:18,19; Isa 58:9; 65:24

Da 9:20-23

Rebekah.

24; 22:20-23

Milcah.

11:27,29; 22:23

pitcher.

21:14; 29:9; Ex 2:16; Ru 2:2,17; Pr 31:27

fair to look upon. Heb. good of countenance.

26:7; 39:6

known.

4:1; Nu 31:17,18; So 5:2

Let.

1Ki 17:10; Joh 4:7,9

water of.

26:1-35; Isa 21:14; 30:25; 35:6,7; 41:17,18; 49:10

Pr 31:26; 1Pe 3:8; 4:8,9

14,45,46; 1Pe 4:9

wondering at.

2Sa 7:18-20; Ps 34:1-6; 107:1,8,15,43; 116:1-7; Lu 2:19,51

to wit. i.e., "to know," or "to learn."

the Lord.

12,56

took.

30; Ex 32:2,3; Es 5:1; Jer 2:32; 1Ti 2:9,10; 1Pe 3:3,8

earring. or, jewel for the forehead.

Ex 32:2,3; Isa 3:19-23; Eze 16:11,12From the word being in the singular number, it is not likely to have been an ear-ring, or a "jewel for the forehead," but "a jewel for the nose, a nose-ring," which is in use throughout Arabia and Persia, particularly among young women. It is very properly translated [epirrinon,] "an ornament for the nose," by Symmachus; and Sir John Chardin informs us, that "it is a custom in almost all the East, for the women to wear rings in their noses, in the left nostril, which is bored low down in the middle. These rings are of gold, and have commonly two pearls and one ruby between, placed in the ring. I never saw a girl or young woman in Arabia or in all Persia, who did not wear a ring after this manner in her nostril."

of half.

23:15,16

bracelets.The word rendered "bracelet," from a root which signifies "to join or couple together," may imply whatever may clasp round the arms and legs; for rings and ornaments are worn round both by females in India and Persia. The small part of the leg, and the whole arm, from the shoulder to the wrist, are generally decorated in this way. As these were given to Rebekah for "her hands," it sufficiently distinguishes them from similar ornaments for the ankles.

15; 11:29; 22:20,23

18:4-8; Jud 19:19-21; Isa 32:8; 1Pe 4:9

48,52; 22:5; Ex 4:31; 12:27; 34:8; 1Ch 29:20; 2Ch 20:18; 29:30; Ne 8:6

Ps 22:29; 66:4; 72:9; 95:6; Mic 6:6; Php 2:10

Blessed.

12; 9:26; 14:20; Ex 18:10; Ru 4:14; 1Sa 25:32,39; 2Sa 18:28

1Ch 29:10-13; Ps 68:19; 72:18,19; Lu 1:68; Eph 1:3; 1Ti 1:17

of his.

32:10; Ps 98:3; 100:5; Mic 7:20; Joh 1:17

the Lord.

48; Pr 3:6; 4:11-13; 8:20

of my.

4; 13:8; Ex 2:11,13

of.

48,55,67; 31:33

her mother's.Some have conjectured from this, that her father Bethuel was dead; and the person called Bethuel, (ver. 50,) was a younger brother. This is possible; but as Dr. A. Clarke remarks, the mother's house might be mentioned were even the father alive; for in Asiatic countries, the women have apartments entirely separate from those of the men, in which their little children and grown-up daughters reside with them. This was probably the case here; though, from the whole narrative, it is very probable that Bethuel was dead, as the whole business appears to be conducted by Rebekah's brothers.

55,60; 29:5

thou.

26:29; Jud 17:2; Ru 3:10; Ps 115:15; Pr 17:8; 18:16

for I.

he ungirded. i.e., Laban ungirded. straw.Straw, by the eastern mode of threshing, was cut or shattered, and reduced to a kind of chaff. With this, sometimes mixed with a little barley, the eastern people still feed their labouring beasts, as they anciently did.

wash.

18:4; 19:2; 43:24; Jud 19:21; 1Sa 25:41; Lu 7:44; Joh 13:4-14

1Ti 5:10

Job 23:12; Ps 132:3-5; Pr 22:29; Ec 9:10; Joh 4:14,31-34; Eph 6:5-8

1Ti 6:2

the Lord.

1; 12:2; 13:2; 25:11; 26:12; 49:25; Ps 18:35; 112:3; Pr 10:22; 22:4

1Ti 4:8

flocks.

12:16; 13:2; 26:13,14; Job 1:3; 42:10-12; Ps 107:38; Mt 6:33

Sarah.

11:29,30; 17:15-19; 18:10-14; 21:1-7; Ro 4:19

unto.

21:10; 25:5

And my.

2-9; 6:2; 27:46; Ezr 9:1-3

Canaanites.The Canaanites were infected with gross idolatry; and consequently, not proper persons with whom to form so intimate a connection; especially as Jehovah had shown Abraham that they were filling up the measure of their iniquity, and were doomed to destruction.

But.

4; 12:1

my father's.i.e., Where the family of Haran his brother had settled; and where he himself had remained some time with his father Terah. Nahor did not dwell at Ur of the Chaldees, but at Haran in Mesopotamia. The true worship of God seems to have been in some measure preserved in this family, though afterwards corrupted.

31:19

Peradventure.We may see, says Calmet, by this and other passages of Scripture, (Jos 9:18,) what the sentiments of the ancients were relative to an oath. They believed that they were bound precisely by what was spoken, and had no liberty to interpret the intentions of those by whom the oath was made.

And he.

before.

5:22,24; 6:9; 17:1; 48:15; 1Ki 2:3; 8:23; 2Ki 20:3; Ps 16:8

will.

7; Ex 23:20; 33:2; Ps 1:3; 91:11; Da 3:28; Heb 1:14; Re 22:8,16

8; De 29:12

O Lord.

12-14; Ac 10:7,8,22

prosper.

12,31; 39:3; Ezr 8:21; Ne 1:11; Ps 37:5; 90:17; Ro 1:10

13,14

Both.

Isa 32:8; 1Ti 2:10; Heb 13:2; 1Pe 3:8

the woman.

14; 2:22; Pr 16:33; 18:22; 19:14

appointed.Those events, which appear to us the effect of choice, contrivance, or chance, are matters of appointment with God; and the persuasion of this does not prevent, but rather encourage, the use of all proper means; at the same time that it confines us to proper means, and delivers the mind from useless anxiety about consequences.

before.

15-20; Isa 58:9; 65:24; Da 9:19,23; Ac 4:24-33; 10:30; 12:12-17

Mt 7:7

speaking.

1Sa 1:13-15; 2Sa 7:27; Ne 2:4; Ro 8:26

I put.

22,53; Ps 45:9,13,14; Isa 62:3-5; Eze 16:10-13; Eph 5:26,27

bowed.

26,27,52

led me.

27; 22:23; Ex 18:20; Ezr 8:21; Ps 32:8; 48:14; 107:7; Pr 3:5,6; 4:11

Isa 48:17

now if.

47:29; Jos 2:14

deal kindly and truly. Heb. do mercy and truth.

32:10; Pr 3:3

that I.

Nu 20:17; De 2:27

Laban.These seem both to be brothers, of whom Laban was the eldest and chief: the opinion of Josephus appears to be very correct, that Bethuel, the father, had been dead some time.

15,28,53,55,60

The thing.

Ps 118:23; Mt 21:42; Mr 12:11

we.

31:24,29; 2Sa 13:22; Ac 11:17

Rebekah.

20:15

hath.

15; 2Sa 16:10

worshipped.

26,48; 1Ch 29:20; 2Ch 20:18; Ps 34:1,2; 95:6; 107:21,22; 116:1,2

Mt 2:11; Ac 10:25,26

jewels. Heb. vessels.The original word denotes vessels, utensils, instruments, furniture, or dress; and these presented by Abraham's servant might have been of various kinds.

Ex 3:22; 11:2; 12:35

brother.No mention is made of her father.

precious.This term, rendered "precious things," as may be seen in the parallel texts, is used to express exquisite fruits or delicacies, and precious plants or flowers: but here it may mean gifts in general, though rather of an inferior kind to those mentioned above.

De 33:13-16; 2Ch 21:3; Ezr 1:6; So 4:13; Isa 39:2

Send me.

56,59; 28:5,6; 45:24; 2Sa 18:19,27,28; Pr 22:29; Ec 7:10; Lu 8:38,39

a few days. or, a full year, or ten months.

4:3; Le 25:29; Jud 14:8

Hinder.

prospered.

their.

nurse.

35:8; Nu 11:12; 1Th 2:5

they.

1:28; 9:1; 14:19; 17:16; 28:3; 48:15,16,20; Ru 4:11,12

be thou the mother.Or, "be thou for thousands of myriads;" a large family being always considered, in ancient times, as a proof of the peculiar blessing and favour of God.

thousands.

Da 7:10

thy seed.

22:17; Le 25:46; De 21:19

they rode.

Ge 31:34; 1Sa 30:17; Es 8:10,14

followed.

2:24; Ps 45:10

Lahai-roi.

Ge 16:14; 25:11

south.

12:9

to meditate. or, to pray.They who acknowledge God in all their ways, will find him present to direct their paths, and make their way prosperous; and when the prayer of faith meets with an immediate answer, the glory ought as speedily to be rendered to God in solemn praise and thanksgiving.

Jos 1:8; Ps 1:2; 77:11,12; 104:34; 119:15; 139:17,18; 143:5,6

lighted.

Jos 15:18; Jud 1:14

a vail.

20:16; 1Co 11:5,6,10; 1Ti 2:9

Mr 6:30

his mother.

18:6,9,10; So 8:2; Isa 54:1-5

Sarah's tent.Sarah, being dead, her tent, which, according to the custom of the east, was distinct from that of Abraham, became now appropriated to the use of Rebekah.

and took.

2:22-24; 2Co 11:1,2; Eph 5:22-33

comforted.

37:35; 38:12; 1Th 4:13,15