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Genesis 24

DEATH OF JOSEPH AND JACOB
As God promisend Jacob's body was taken back to Hebron for burial. Joseph exacted an oath of his brother that when Isral returned to Canaan they would take his bones home. 400 years later when they left for Canaan his bones went with them (Exodus 13:19)
The Marriage of Isaac
This chapter is rich in typology:
Abraham - Father, a king who would make a marriage for his son, Matt. 22:2.
Servant - Holy Spirit, takes things of bridegroom to win bride, Jn. 16:13,14.
Servant - Spirit gives bride the bridegroom’s gifts, 1 Cor. 12:7-11; Gal. 5:22,23.
Servant - Spirit brings bride to meet the bridegroom, Acts. 13:4; 16:6-7 Rom. 8:11; 1 Thess. 4:14-17.
Rebekah - the Church, called out virgin bride of Christ, Gen. 24:16; 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-32.
Isaac - Christ, unseen, but loved by bride through testimony of Servant, 1 Pet. 1:8.
Isaac - Christ, goes to meet and receive His bride, Gen. 24:63; 1 Thess. 4:14-17.
CHAPTER 24 BETROTHAL OF ISAAC AND REBEKAH: Isaac's second cousin was Rebekah, the purpose of Abraham's sending back to his own people for a wife for Isaac was to keep idolatry from his posterity.

KING JAMES BIBLE

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

3And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

5And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?

6And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.

7The 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 thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

10And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

11And he made 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.

12And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:

14And let it come to pass, that the damsel 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 thatthou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

16And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.

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 waterfor 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 wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

23And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

24And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.

26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

27And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I beingin the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.

28And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.

29And 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, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.

33And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

34And he said, I am Abraham's servant.

35And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

37And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

38But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.

39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.

40And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I 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:

41Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.

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 upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

49And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

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 jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

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 a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall 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, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

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 their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.

61And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

62And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.

63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

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 covered herself.

66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

KING JAMES 1611

And Abraham was olde and well stricken in age: And the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.

2And Abraham said vnto his eldest seruant of his house, that ruled ouer all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand vnder my thigh:

3And I will make thee sweare by the LORD the God of heauen, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife vnto my sonne of the daughters of the Canaanites amongst whom I dwell.

4But thou shalt go vnto my countrey, and to my kinred, and take a wife vnto my sonne Isaac.

5And the seruant said vnto him, Peraduenture the woman will not bee willing to follow mee vnto this land: must I needes bring thy sonne againe, vnto the land from whence thou camest?

6And Abraham said vnto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my sonne thither againe.

7 The LORD God of heauen which tooke mee from my fathers house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake vnto mee, and that sware vnto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I giue this land, he shall send his Angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife vnto my sonne from thence.

8And if the woman wil not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt bee cleare from this my othe: onely bring not my sonne thither againe.

9And the seruant put his hand vnder the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.

10 And the seruant tooke ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, ( for all the goods of his master were in his hand) and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, vnto the citie of Nahor.

11And he made his camels to kneele downe without the citie, by a well of water, at the time of the euening, euen the time that women goe out to draw water.

12And he said, O LORD, God of my master Abraham, I pray thee send me good speed this day, and shew kindnesse vnto my master Abraham.

13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the Citie come out to draw water:

14And let it come to passe, that the damsell to whom I shall say, Let downe thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drinke, and she shall say, Drinke, and I will giue thy camels drinke also; let the same be shee that thou hast appointed for thy seruant Isaac: and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindnesse vnto my master.

15 And it came to passe before hee had done speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was borne to Bethuel, sonne of Milcah, the wife of Nahor Abrahams brother, with her pitcher vpon her shoulder.

16And the damsell was very faire to looke vpon, a virgine, neither had any man knowen her; and shee went downe to the wel, and filled her pitcher, and came vp.

17And the seruant ranne to meete her, and said, Let mee (I pray thee) drinke a little water of thy pitcher.

18And she said, Drinke, my lord: and she hasted, and let downe her pitcher vpon her hand, and gaue him drinke.

19And when shee had done giuing him drinke, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, vntill they haue done drinking.

20And she hasted and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ranne againe vnto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

21And the man wondering at her, helde his peace, to wit, whether the LORD had made his iourney prosperous, or not.

22And it came to passe as the camels had done drinking, that the man tooke a golden eare-ring, of halfe a shekel weight, & two bracelets for her handes, of ten shekels weight of gold,

23And said, whose daughter art thou? tell mee, I pray thee: is there roome in thy fathers house for vs to lodge in?

24And she said vnto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the sonne of Milcah, which she bare vnto Nahor:

25She said moreouer vnto him, We haue both straw & prouender ynough, and roome to lodge in.

26And the man bowed downe his head, and worshipped the LORD.

27And hee saide, Blessed bee the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy, and his trueth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my masters brethren.

28And the damsell ranne, and told them of her mothers house, these things.

29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ranne out vnto the man, vnto the well.

30And it came to passe when he saw the eare-ring, and bracelets vpon his sisters hands, and when hee heard the wordes of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man vnto me, that he came vnto the man; and behold, hee stood by the camels, at the well.

31And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD, wherefore standest thou without? for I haue prepared the house, and roome for the camels.

32 And the man came into the house: and he vngirded his camels, and gaue straw and prouender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the mens feet that were with him.

33And there was set meat before him to eate: but he said, I will not eate, vntill I haue tolde mine errand. And hee said, Speake on.

34And he said, I am Abrahams seruant.

35And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly, and hee is become great: and hee hath giuen him flocks, and heards, and siluer, and gold, and men seruants, and mayd seruants, and camels, and asses.

36And Sarah my masters wife bare a sonne to my master when shee was old: and vnto him hath hee giuen all that he hath.

37And my master made me sweare, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my sonne, of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

38But thou shalt goe vnto my fathers house, and to my kinred, and take a wife vnto my sonne.

39And I said vnto my master, Peraduenture the woman will not followe me.

40And hee saide vnto me, The LORD, before whom I walke, will send his Angel with thee, and prosper thy way: and thou shalt take a wife for my sonne, of my kinred, and of my fathers house.

41Then shalt thou bee cleare from this my oath, when thou commest to my kinred, and if they giue not thee one, thou shalt be cleare from my oath.

42And I came this day vnto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou doe prosper my way, which I goe:

43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to passe, that when the virgine commeth foorth to draw water, and I say to her, Giue me, I pray thee, a litle water of thy pitcher to drinke;

44And she say to me, Both drinke thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman, whō the LORD hath appointed out for my masters sonne.

45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth, with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went downe vnto the well, and drew water: and I said vnto her, Let me drinke, I pray thee.

46And she made haste, & let downe her pitcher from her shoulder, and saide, Drinke, and I will giue thy camels drinke also: so I dranke, and she made the camels drinke also.

47And I asked her, and said, whose daughter art thou? and she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahors sonne, whom Milcah bare vnto him: and I put the earering vpon her face, and the bracelets vpon her hands.

48And I bowed downe my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led mee in the right way to take my masters brothers daughter vnto his sonne.

49And now if you wil deale kindly and truely with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, that I may turne to the right hand, or to the left.

50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speake vnto thee bad or good.

51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and goe, and let her be thy masters sonnes wife, as the LORD hath spoken.

52And it came to passe, that when Abrahams seruant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himselfe to the earth.

53And the seruant brought foorth iewels of siluer, and iewels of gold, and raiment, and gaue them to Rebekah: He gaue also to her brother, and to her mother precious things.

54And they did eate and drinke, he and the men that were with him, and taried all night, and they rose vp in the morning, and he said, Send me away vnto my master.

55And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsell abide with vs a few dayes, at the least ten; after that, she shall goe.

56And he said vnto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way: send me away, that I may goe to my master.

57And they said, wee will call the Damsell, and enquire at her mouth.

58And they called Rebekah, and said vnto her, Wilt thou go with this man? and she said, I will goe.

59And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abrahams seruant, and his men.

60And they blessed Rebekah, and said vnto her, Thou art our sister, bee thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possesse the gate of those which hate them.

61 And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, & they rode vpon the camels, and followed the man: and the seruant tooke Rebekah, and went his way.

62And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi, for he dwelt in the South countrey.

63And Isaac went out, to meditate in the field, at the euentide: and hee lift vp his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were comming.

64And Rebekah lift vp her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.

65For she had said vnto the seruant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet vs? and the seruant had said, It is my master: therefore shee tooke a vaile and couered her selfe.

66And the seruant tolde Isaac all things that he had done.

67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarahs tent, and tooke Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loued her: and Isaac was comforted after his mothers death.

Compare Verses to Verses

I == Gen 13:2 ; 18:11 ; 21:5 ; 24:35 ; Ps 112:3 ; Prov 10:22

II == Gen 15:2 ; 24:10 ; 39:4-6 ; 47:29 ; 1st Chr 29:24 ; Lam 5:6

III == Gen 14:22 ; 26:35 ; 27:46 ; 28:2 ; Ex 34:16 ; Deut 6:13 ; 7:3 ; Josh 2:12

 

IV == Gen 12:1 ; 28:2

 

 

 

 

 

VII == Gen 12:1 , 7 ; 13:15 ; 15:18 ;17:8 ; Ex 23:20 , 23 ; 32:13 ; 33:2 ; Deut 1:8 ; 34:4 ; Acts 7:5 ; Heb 1:14

 

VIII == Josh 2:17 , 20

 

X == Gen 24:2 ; 27:43

 

XI == Ex 2:16 ; 1st Sam 9:11

 

 

XII == Gen 24:27 ; 26:24 ; 28:13 ; 32:9 ; Neh 1:11 ; Ps 37:5

 

XIII == Gen 24:43 ; 29:9 ; Ex 2:16

XIV == Judg 6:17 , 37 ; 1st Sam 6:7 ; 14:10 ; 20:7

 

XV == Gen 11:29 ; 22:23

 

 

XVI == Gen 26:7

XVIII 1st Pet 3:8 ; 4:9

 

 

 

 

 

XXI == Gen 24:12 , 56

 

XXII == Ex 32:2-3 ; Isa 3:19-21 ; Ezek 16:11-12 ; 1st Peter 3:3

 

 

XXIV == Gen 22:23

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Gen 24:52 ; Ex 4:31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXIX == Gen 29:5

 

 

 

 

XXXI == Gen 26:29 ; Judg 17:2 ; Ruth 3:10 ; Ps 115:15

 

XXXII == Gen 43:24 ; Judg 19:21

 

 

XXXIII == Job 23:12 ; John 4:34 ; Eph 6:5-7

 

XXXIV == Gen 13:2 ; 24:1

 

 

 

 

XXXVI == Gen 21:2 , 10 ; 25:5

 

 

XXXVII == Gen 24:3

 

XXXVIII == Gen 24:4

 

XXXIX == Gen 24:5

XL == Gen 17:1 ; 24:7

 

 

XLI == Gen 24:8

 

 

XLII == Gen 24:12

 

 

XLIII == Gen 24:13

 

 

XLV == Gen 24:15-28; 1st Sam 1:13

 

 

 

 

XLVII == Ezek 16:11-12

 

 

XLVIII == Gen 22:23 ; 24:26

 

XLIX == Gen 47:29 ; Josh 2:14

 

L == Gen 31:24 ; Ps 118:23 ; Matt 21:42 ; Mark 12:11

 

LI == Gen 20:15

 

LII == Gen 24:26

 

LIII == Ex 3:22 ; 11:2 ; 12:35 ; 2nd Chr 21:3 ; Ezra 1:6

 

 

LIV == Gen 24:56 , 59

 

LV == Judg 14:8

 

 

 

LIX == Gen 35:8

 

 

LX == Gen 17:16 ; 22:17

 

LXII == Gen 16:14 ; 25:11

 

XLIII == Josh 1:8 ; Ps 1:2 ; 77:12 ; 119:15 ; 143:5

LXIV == Josh 15:18

 

LXVII == Gen 38:12

THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE

1 Abraham had now reached a ripe old age, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

2 Abraham said to the senior servant of his household, who had charge of all his possessions: "Put your hand under my thigh,

3 and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not procure a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live,

4 but that you will go to my own land and to my kindred to get a wife for my son Isaac."

5 The servant asked him: "What if the woman is unwilling to follow me to this land? Should I then take your son back to the land from which you migrated?"

6 "Never take my son back there for any reason," Abraham told him.

7 "The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my kin, and who confirmed by oath the promise he then made to me, 'I will give this land to your descendants' - he will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there.

8 If the woman is unwilling to follow you, you will be released from this oath. But never take my son back there!"

9 So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore to him in this undertaking.

10 The servant then took ten of his master's camels, and bearing all kinds of gifts from his master, he made his way to the city of Nahor in Aram Naharaim.

11 Near evening, at the time when women go out to draw water, he made the camels kneel by the well outside the city.

12 Then he prayed: "LORD, God of my master Abraham, let it turn out favorably for me today and thus deal graciously with my master Abraham.

13 While I stand here at the spring and the daughters of the townsmen are coming out to draw water,

14 if I say to a girl, 'Please lower your jug, that I may drink,' and she answers, 'Take a drink, and let me give water to your camels, too,' let her be the one whom you have decided upon for your servant Isaac. In this way I shall know that you have dealt graciously with my master."

15 He had scarcely finished these words when Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor) came out with a jug on her shoulder.

16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin, untouched by man. She went down to the spring and filled her jug. As she came up,

17 the servant ran toward her and said, "Please give me a sip of water from your jug."

18 "Take a drink, sir," she replied, and quickly lowering the jug onto her hand, she gave him a drink.

19 When she had let him drink his fill, she said, "I will draw water for your camels, too, until they have drunk their fill."

20 With that, she quickly emptied her jug into the drinking trough and ran back to the well to draw more water, until she had drawn enough for all the camels.

21 The man watched her the whole time, silently waiting to learn whether or not the LORD had made his errand successful.

22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold ring weighing half a shekel, which he fastened on her nose, and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels, which he put on her wrists.

23 Then he asked her: "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please. And is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

24 She answered: "I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.

25 There is plenty of straw and fodder at our place," she added, "and room to spend the night."

26 The man then bowed down in worship to the LORD,

27 saying: "Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not let his constant kindness toward my master fail. As for myself also, the LORD has led me straight to the house of my master's brother."

28 Then the girl ran off and told her mother's household about it.

29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.

30 As soon as he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister Rebekah and heard her words about what the man had said to her, Laban rushed outside to the man at the spring. When he reached him, he was still standing by the camels at the spring.

31 So he said to him: "Come, blessed of the LORD! Why are you staying outside when I have made the house ready for you, as well as a place for the camels?"

32 The man then went inside; and while the camels were being unloaded and provided with straw and fodder, water was brought to bathe his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33 But when the table was set for him, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my tale." "Do so," they replied.

34 "I am Abraham's servant," he began.

35 "The LORD has blessed my master so abundantly that he has become a wealthy man; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, and camels and asses.

36 My master's wife Sarah bore a son to my master in her old age, and he has given him everything he owns.

37 My master put me under oath, saying: 'You shall not procure a wife for my son among the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I live;

38 instead, you shall go to my father's house, to my own relatives, to get a wife for my son.'

39 When I asked my master, 'What if the woman will not follow me?,'

40 he replied: 'The LORD, in whose presence I have always walked, will send his messenger with you and make your errand successful, and so you will get a wife for my son from my own kindred of my father's house.

41 Then you shall be released from my ban. If you visit my kindred and they refuse you, then, too, you shall be released from my ban.'

42 "When I came to the spring today, I prayed: 'LORD, God of my master Abraham, may it be your will to make successful the errand I am engaged on!

43 While I stand here at the spring, if I say to a young woman who comes out to draw water, Please give me a little water from your jug,

44 and she answers, Not only may you have a drink, but I will give water to your camels, too - let her be the woman whom the LORD has decided upon for my master's son.'

45 "I had scarcely finished saying this prayer to myself when Rebekah came out with a jug on her shoulder. After she went down to the spring and drew water, I said to her, 'Please let me have a drink.'

46 She quickly lowered the jug she was carrying and said, 'Take a drink, and let me bring water for your camels, too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.

47 When I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' she answered, 'The daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, borne to Nahor by Milcah.' So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.

48 Then I bowed down in worship to the LORD, blessing the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right road to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.

49 If, therefore, you have in mind to show true loyalty to my master, let me know; but if not, let me know that, too. I can then proceed accordingly."

50 Laban and his household said in reply: "This thing comes from the LORD; we can say nothing to you either for or against it.

51 Here is Rebekah, ready for you; take her with you, that she may become the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has said."

52 When Abraham's servant heard their answer, he bowed to the ground before the LORD.

53 Then he brought out objects of silver and gold and articles of clothing and presented them to Rebekah; he also gave costly presents to her brother and mother.

54 After he and the men with him had eaten and drunk, they spent the night there. When they were up the next morning, he said, "Give me leave to return to my master."

55 Her brother and mother replied, "Let the girl stay with us a short while, say ten days; after that she may go."

56 But he said to them, "Do not detain me, now that the LORD has made my errand successful; let me go back to my master."

57 They answered, "Let us call the girl and see what she herself has to say about it."

58 So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Do you wish to go with this man?" She answered, "I do."

59 At this they allowed their sister Rebekah and her nurse to take leave, along with Abraham's servant and his men.

60 Invoking a blessing on Rebekah, they said: "Sister, may you grow into thousands of myriads; And may your descendants gain possession of the gates of their enemies!"

61 Then Rebekah and her maids started out; they mounted their camels and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and went on his way.

62 Meanwhile Isaac had gone from Beer-lahai-roi and was living in the region of the Negeb.

63 One day toward evening he went out. . . in the field, and as he looked around, he noticed that camels were approaching.

64 Rebekah, too, was looking about, and when she saw him, she alighted from her camel

65 and asked the servant, "Who is the man out there, walking through the fields toward us?" "That is my master," replied the servant. Then she covered herself with her veil.

66 The servant recounted to Isaac all the things he had done.

67 Then Isaac took Rebekah into his tent; he married her, and thus she became his wife. In his love for her Isaac found solace after the death of his mother Sarah.

 

COMMENTARIE

v 1. God’s promises are fulfilled and Abraham is old, wealthy and in peace.

v 2-4. Servant Eliezer of Damascus/ Gen 15:2. Oath custom still practiced in Australia, indicating one’s descendants will require the oath’s fulfillment. Abraham is concerned that Isaac not marry the heathen of the land. Relatives in Haran were idolaters, but they knew of and had respect for the God of Abraham. They were not under the curse. We should be concerned our children don’t marry unsaved. There are problems even when wed from two widely differing denominational backgrounds.
Some erroneously conclude from v 4 that the servant was sent back to Ur of the Chaldees, but it is south of the Euphrates, while Mesopotamia, where he was sent, v 10, is the long stretch of land between the rivers (Greek “meso” between, “potamia” rivers). Gen. 25:20 specifically states Rebekah came from Padanaram and family of Syrians. Padanaram is the large plain in Syria where Haran is located. Servant did not go to the land of Abraham’s grandfather Nahor, but his brother Nahor. Unknown when Nahor 2 came to Haran, but the natives knew him as the ancestor of Laban, Gen. 29:5. 

v 5,6. Perhaps Abraham remembers how long he was delayed at Haran. By no means is Isaac to leave the land of promise and compromise for the sake of marriage.

v 7-9. Abraham is confident God will lead the servant, but emphasizes that even if the servant fulfills his obligation and the mission fails, Isaac is not to go back there. He will send his angel before thee: This shews that the Hebrews believed that God gave them guardian angels for their protection.

v 10,11. Arabs still consider ten camels the proper caravan number. He could have asked directions to Laban, but chose to leave it entirely in the hands of the Lord.

v 12-14. His prayer was not presumptuous, but contained the basics that would be in God’s will. Her offer to water ten camels would prove her courteous, willing to serve, unselfish, physically strong and vigorous, a suitable sheiks wife. Our prayers should be specific, but be sure of God’s will before asking what may be desire of our flesh.

v 15. Milcah was the daughter of Haran and sister of Lot. She had married Abraham’s brother Nahor and his great granddaughter was Rebekah.

v 16. Women in this family were very beautiful. Consider Sarah and Rachel.

v 17-21. God answered the servants prayer in every specific detail, and he wondered at her..

v 22-25. She was given rich gifts even before disclosing her family name. Then she gave the generous offer of food and shelter.

v 26,27. In his prayer he reveals a truth we all need to apply. He was “in the way” (of faith and obedience), and we must step out in faith & in the light He has given to enable the Lord to lead us.

v 28. In excitement she ran ahead to report the event and prepare for guests. 

v 29-31. The servant waited at the well for an official invitation. Laban’s invitation, unlike Rebekah’s, seems motivated by the rich gifts that might be obtained.

v 32,33. The servant accepted hospitality, but wouldn’t eat until he told his errand.

v 34-49. First Abraham and his position are named, then Isaac’s financial status. After stating the purpose of the trip, a wife for Isaac, he gives full account of how God led him to this point. Now the offer is made for either acceptance or rejection. Our work is done after we present the gospel, it is up to the listener to make the decision.

v 50,51. According to custom, the father and brother could make the decisions on marriage. God’s leading was so overwhelmingly clear, they could not refuse.

v 52 In v 12 the servant prayed. In v 26 he bowed his head in worship. In v 52 he worshipped by bowing himself to the earth. Then marriage agreement gifts were given.

v 53-56. After eating and sleeping it was wise to leave at once, since God’s will was known. Understandably, even our culture would not want such sudden parting. v 57-60. Given her choice, Rebekah agreed to go at once, with family blessing. The number may have been a hyperbolic expression, but is not far from true. v 61-65. Rebekah was given her nurse, but here we see she had one or more other maids to, meet her needs on the road and as a sheiks wife. They had ridden openly, but by custom, she purposely “fell” from the camel in her haste to dismount. An inferior, even a woman, if riding, always alighted in presence of a person of rank. The word “lighted” could infer that she even prostrated herself. She veiled herself In a veil that may have covered her entire body, when informed they were meeting Isaac. It is noteworthy that he was meditating and praying for the success of the servant’s task at the very moment they were approaching. We need to get alone with the Lord, and if we don’t have time for devotions, we must make the time for them.v 66. This model servant gave full report of the wonderful leading of the Lord. He:
Is dependable and trustworthy, v 2.
Is prayerful and thankful, v 12-14 and 26-27.
Is dignified and humble.
Is mannerly, patient, wise, reverent and earnest.
Is so dedicated he doesn’t eat till the master’s business is done.
Is always speaking in the master’s name, not his own.
Is giving God all the glory, v 48. v 67. Our culture resents arranged marriages, but more should involve parental advice. Casual reading makes it appear that the wedding contract had been finalized without Isaac, so he had only to take her to his mother’s tent for the consummation of the marriage. There was probably at least some introductions and a blessing from Abraham first. It is better to realize that Sarah’s compartment of the tent had been empty for three years. When Rebekah, her hand maid or maids and her nurse arrived, Isaac properly escorted them to his mother’s apartment for a place to stay. Wealthy Abraham no doubt invited guests in for a wedding celebration. Then Isaac may have taken Rebekah to his tent at Lahairoi (V 62) for the consummation of the marriage. It is noted that he came to love her, because he had not courted her or even been able to see her face and form until he removed her veil at the time of consummation.