1Abraham sweareth his servant to seek a wife for Isaac. 10The servant's journey; 12his prayer and sign. 15Rebekah meeteth him and fulfilleth his sign. 22She receiveth jewels, sheweth her kindred, and inviteth him home; he blesseth God. 29Laban entertaineth him. 34The servant telleth his errand, and asketh for Rebekah. 50Laban and Bethuel approve of his proposal, and on his desiring to be gone, Rebekah consenteth to go with him. 62Isaac meeteth her on her way, and bringing her home, marrieth her.
1AND Abraham was 1old, and 2well stricken in age: and the LORD had 3blessed Abraham in all things.
1 See Gen. 18:11. Abraham was by this time about 140 years old, for, he was an hundred when Isaac was born, Gen. 21:5, and Isaac was forty when he married Rebecca, Gen. 25:20.
2 Hebr. going in days. See of this phrase Gen. 18:11.
3 See Gen. 12:2.
2And Abraham said unto 4his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, 5Put,a I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
4 Hebr. the old one. Understand the steward and head servant of his family, by name Eliezer of Damascus, see Gen. 15:2.
5 A manner of practice used in making an oath which the master of the house demanded from members of the household unto a sign of subjection and fidelity. See likewise Gen. 47:29. Otherwise it was also the custom in swearing to lift up the hands. See Gen. 14:22; Rev. 10:5.
a Gen. 47:29.
3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, thatb thou shalt not take a wife unto my son 6of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
b Gen. 28:1.
6 Hebr. of the Canaanite. Of whom see Gen. 10:15, 16, etc. Abraham would have none of those to be married with his son, because they were totally given up to idolatry and all manner of wickedness, and outside the covenant of God. Compare Gen. 28:1, 2; Exod. 34:16; Deut. 7:3; Joshua 23:12; Ezra 9:1, 2, 3; Neh. 13:23, 25, etc.; 2 Cor. 6:14, 15. Of this right of the parents in general in marrying their children: see Gen. 6 on verse 2 and Gen. 21:21.
4But thou shalt go unto 7my country, and to 8my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
7 Abraham’s native country was Ur of the Chaldees, being a part of the entire land located between the river Euphrates and Tigris, wherein Mesopotamia, in which Nahor lived, was comprehended.
8 Of whom he had lately received news, Gen. 22:20. These were indeed likewise somewhat tainted with the idolatry of the people among whom they lived, as appears Gen. 31:19, 30, 32, 35, and Joshua 24:2, but yet not so abominably and grossly given up to the same and other gross sins, as were the reprobate Canaanites. See Deut. 12:30, 31.
59And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the 10woman will not be willing 11to follow me unto this land: must I needs 12bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
9 By this and in the sequel the singular prudence and piety of this servant appears, who, before he takes the oath, will first be fully satisfied of his master’s intent and purpose.
10 Understand a young maid who would be Isaac’s wife.
11 Hebr. go after me. Also verse 8.
12 Hebr. shall I bringing back bring back. This is said not in regard of Isaac, who never was there, but of Abraham, in whose loins Isaac had been shut up.
6And Abraham said unto him, 13Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
13 Partly , because God had called him and his seed to come out of Chaldea into Canaan with the promise that they would inherit the same; and partly to avoid the danger of idolatry, into which Isaac might be deceived. Hebr. be guarded, or kept, or, beware thee, look to thee.
7¶Thec LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thyd seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
c Gen. 12:1.
d Gen. 12:7; 13:15; 15:18; 26:4; Exod. 32:13; Deut. 34:4; Acts 7:5.
8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be 14clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
14 That is, discharged, free and clear of the engagement which I am putting upon you by this oath.
9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10¶And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for 15all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to 16Mesopotamia, unto the 17city of Nahor.
15 That is, he took along with them, with his master’s approval, all manner of necessary and precious goods and commodities, as well for his journey as for bestowing gifts and presents where it would be expedient in this affair. See verse 53.
16 Hebr. Syria of the two rivers, called thus by reason of its position between two rivers, Tigris on the east, and Euphrates on the west. See of this name likewise, Deut. 23:4; Judges 3:8.
17 That is, where Nahor dwelt, see Gen. 23 on verse 10. Understand the city of Haran, as is to be gathered from Gen. 28:10; 29:4.
11And he 18made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
18 For to rest themselves, or to feed them according to the nature and condition of those beasts when they are weary.
12And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, 19send 20me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
19 Namely, the young woman, or daughter, or also: my desire.
20 Hebr. before my face.
13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
1421And let it come to pass, that the damsele to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast 22appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
21 This sign he does not desire out of any diffidence or presumption, but out of a singular confidence which God wrought in him, Who by His providence had disposed all things accordingly, which the event verified, as appears in the sequel. See similar examples, Judges 6:17; 1 Sam. 14:9, 10.
e young woman, girl, servant*
22 Other, ordained, or prepared.
15¶And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, whof was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
f Gen. 22:23.
16And the damsel was very 23fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had 24any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
23 Hebr. good. See Gen. 6 on verse 2.
24 See this manner of speaking, Gen. 19:8.
17And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
21And the man 25wondering at her 26held his peace, to witg whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
25 Pondering within himself how wonderful God’s gracious providence did here show forth itself, and resolving to observe whether the sequel and success would correspond in all things to this beginning.
26 Namely, seeing in much gladness and astonishment that the sign which he had sought from the Lord, came so quickly before his eyes.
g to know*
22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden 27earring of 28half a 29shekel weight, and two 30bracelets for 31her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;
27 The Hebrew word here signifies an ornament of the forehead, as appears verse 47; Isa. 3:21; Ezek. 16:12. Sometimes indeed it signifies an earring, or ornament for the ear, Gen. 35:4; Exod. 32:2, 3.
28 The Hebrew word used is rendered by, half a shekel, Exod. 38:26.
29 About the silver shekel, see Gen. 20 on verse 16. The golden and the silver shekel were both of one weight, the common containing 160 barley grains, or a quarter of an ounce, the holy one, as much again, namely, 320 grains, that is, a total ounce. An ounce of gold was valued at ten times the quantity silver, one ounce of silver was as much as a rix-dollar, and consequently one ounce of gold was worth five rix-dollars, or twelve and a half guilders.
30 Which are now commonly called bracelets.
31 Understand, he bestowed them, or put them on her hands, like as the word to take, used in this verse, does oftentimes imply another signification, besides its own. See Gen. 12 on verse 15.
2332And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
32 Compare verse 47.
24And she said unto him, Iham the daughter of Bethuel 33the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.
h Gen. 22:23.
33 This is added here, that Abraham’s servant would know and understand that she was the true and lawful begotten daughter of Bethuel, born likewise of the true and lawful principal wife of Nahor, and not of the concubine Reumah. See Gen. 22:23, 24.
25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provenderi enough, and room to lodge in.
i food, fodder*
26And the man 34bowed down his head, and 35worshipped the LORD.
34 The Hebrew word signifies properly to bow the head downwards.
35 The Hebrew word signifies the bending and bowing down of the whole body; which implies here a very religious and devout reverend posture of the body unto God, accompanied with adoration.. See likewise Gen. 22:5; likewise Psalm 66:4; Neh. 9:3, etc.
27And he said, 36Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute 37my master of his mercy and his 38truth: 39I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s 40brethren.
36 See Gen. 14:20.
37 Hebr. from with, or, from by my master, understand, to show or to perform the same.
38 The faithfulness in keeping of His promises. So Gen. 32:10; Psalm 143:1; Isa. 38:18, 19.
39 Hebr. I. That is, as for me, or concerning myself. Thus it is taken likewise Gen. 9:9; 17:4; 1 Chron. 28:2; Psalm 35:13; 41:13 and elsewhere.
40 That is, kindred, blood relation. See Gen. 13:8 and below in verse 48; Mark 3:31, 32.
28And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.
29¶And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.
30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
31And he said, Come in, 41thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have 42prepared the house, and room for the camels.
41 This is a very honorable title which the Israelites used to attribute to God’s special friends, implying, that God had done singularly well by them, and was still with His grace and favors about them. See Gen. 26:29; Ruth 3:10; Psalm 115:15.
42 Or, purified, cleansed, removed or rid away all impediments. Thus the Hebrew word is taken, Lev. 14:36.
32¶And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water 43to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
43 See Gen. 18:4 and the annotation.
33And there 44was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And 45he said, Speak on.
44 Hebr. and before his face was set to eat.
45 Namely, Laban.
34And he said, I am Abraham’s 46servant.
46 See verse 2.
35And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become 47great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
47 That is, very rich and wealthy. Also Gen. 26:13; 2 Kings 4:8.
36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master 48when she was old: and unto him hath 49he given all that he hath.
48 Hebr. after her old age, that is, by a supernatural operation of the Lord, from whence there is to be expected an extraordinary blessing, according to His promise.
49 That is, he has made him the sole and full heir of all.
37And my master made me swear, saying, 50Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
50 See verse 3.
3851But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.
51 Other, shalt thou not go? or, if thou goest not, etc., understand hereupon, woe be to thee, or, when God do thus and thus by thee. See Gen. 14:22, 23; 21:23.
39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
40And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom 52I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:
52 See Gen. 17 on verse 1.
41Then shalt thou be 53clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
53 Other, curse, or, oath of the curse, that is, the punishment, which everyone shall bring on oneself, who falsely swears.
42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.
45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.
47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring 54upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
54 Or, upon her nose, so that it was hanging from her forehead downward on the nose.
48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me 55in the right way to take my master’s 56brother’s daughter unto his son.
55 Hebr. the way of truth, that is, the true or the right way.
56 That is, near kinsman, nephew here, for Bethuel was the son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. See verse 27.
49And now if ye will 57deal kindly and 58truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; 59that I may 60turn to the right hand, or to the left.
57 Hebr. if you be doing.
58 Hebr. truth.
59 That is, that I may be able to resolve one way or another, to execute my master’s charge.
60 Or, look about to the right hand, or to the left.
50Then 61Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth 62from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee 63bad or good.
61 The son is put here before the father, in regard that he, as is thought, was ordered by his father to be the spokesman, as he did most of the household, the father being not only advanced in years, but perchance sickly too.
62 Hence it appears that there was yet some knowledge and fear of the true God among them. See here and verse 51.
63 That is, we have nothing at all to gain-say in this matter. Compare Gen. 31:24, 29; 2 Sam. 13:22.
51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, 64take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
64 See on verse 3.
52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
53And the servant brought forth 65jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment,j and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother 66precious things.
65 Hebr. vessels of silver and vessels of gold. That is, all kind of gold and silver plate manufacture.
j clothing, attire*
66 The Hebrew word signifies what so ever is choice and precious, but especially choice and rare fruits of the land. See Deut. 33:13, 14, 15; 2 Chron. 21:3; 32:23; Ezra 1:6.
54And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.
55And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us 67a few days, at the least ten; after that she 68shall go.
67 See Gen. 4 on verse 3. Some do understand by a few days a full year (which is called a year of days) or ten months. The words at the least is sometimes also taken for or.
68 Other, she shalt go.
56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.
57And they said, 69We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
69 That is, let us hear what she will say to this hasty departure; for, the marriage she had already yielded unto, upon her parents and kindred’s will, and in token thereof, accepted the presents.
58And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.
59And they sent away Rebekah 70their sister, and 71her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.
70 Understand, all the kindred, for not only Laban, her brother, but all the kindred took their leave from her, and so in the next verse.
71 Deborah by name, Gen. 35:8.
60And 72they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, 73be thou the mother of thousands of 74millions, and let 75thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.
72 See Gen. 14:19.
73 They wish that she may become the mother of an innumerable posterity. Compare Dan. 7:10.
74 That is, ten thousands.
75 See Gen. 22 on verse 17.
61¶And Rebekah arose, and 76her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and 77the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
76 Whom the friends sent along with her for company and service.
77 Namely, Abraham’s servant.
62And Isaac came from the way of 78the wellk Lahai-roi; for he dwelt 79in the south country.
78 Of this well see Gen. 16:14; 25:11.
k Gen. 16:14; 25:11.
79 In the south part of Canaan, about Beer-sheba and Gerar.
63And Isaac went out 80to meditate in the field 81at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
80 Or, to meditate, to contemplate, that is, he went forth there to exercise his mind with pious meditations and prayers before the Lord.
81 Hebr. against or towards or with the aspect of the evening. So likewise Exod. 14:27, towards, or, with the aspect of the morning, that is, against the eventide.
64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, 82she lighted off the camel.
82 That is, she let herself down suddenly, being surprised in her thoughts, whether this might be Isaac or not, and therewithal asking the servant about it. Others perceive, she lighted not before she had understood by the servant that it was Isaac, and in that sense the following verse is read by some, For she had said unto the servant, etc.
65For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and 83covered herself.
83 As a sign of shamefulness and subjection.
66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s 84tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted 85after his mother's death.
84 See Gen. 18:10; 23:2.
85 This happened three years before. This long grief for the loss of his mother was a sign of the great love and respect he bore to her.