Genesis 24

1 old. One hundred and forty years of age: Isaac being, at this time, forty. See xxv. 20.

2 his eldest servant. Probably Eliezer of Damascus (xv. 2).

thigh. A solemn form of attestation found also in xlvii. 29. The commission to the chief servant; his anxiety for a providential sign; the present of the nose-jewel and armlets, of no little weight; the invitation of Laban, and the part which, as Rebekah’s brother, he takes in the transaction; the refusal of the servant to partake of hospitality till the business was settled; the decision of the question without reference to Rebekah’s inclinations; her sudden separation from her parents and country, and her mode of presenting herself to her destined husband; with the important

4 my country. Not to Ur, but to Haran (Charran), where Abraham’s brother had remained. See xi. 31; xii. 1-5.

10 hand. Or, “having all goodly things of his master in his hand” (R.V.).—Mesopotamia. Literally, “Aram [the lowland] of the two rivers”; i.e., of the Tigris and Euphrates.—the city of Nahor. i.e., Haran. See xi. 31; xxvii. 43.

14 thereby. Heb., “by her.”

15 shoulder. “The Egyptian and the negro carry on the head; the Syrian, on the shoulder or the hip."—Thomson.

16 went down. In the East many wells are enclosed, and reached by a long flight of steps, as the well of Siloam at Jerusalem.

20 camels. An uncommon act of zealous kindness. It was no light labour to go up and down the steps several times, carrying the water which the camels needed. The sign which the servant had asked was thus clearly granted.

21 to wit. That is, “to know.” The very success of his plan bewildered him. He knew not yet, moreover, whether the damsel was of his master’s family.

22 earring. Heb., simply “a ring”; which might be, as in xxxv. 4, an earring; or, as in Isa. iii. 21; Ezek. xvi. 12, a “nose-ring”; an ornament common in the East.

31 thou blessed of the Lord. The language of the Arabs, to the present day, often expresses a piety and generosity to which, like Laban, they are really strangers. The sight of the jewels may have helped to dispose him the more to hospitality. See ver. 30.

32 he. That is, Laban, either personally or by his servants.

34. He said. The first speech recorded in the Bible.

49 that I may turn, etc. i.e., that I may seek out some other branch of the family of Torah, and so discharge my vow.

50 bad or good. “We can have no voice in the matter.”

53 jewels . . . precious things. A dowry to Rebekah; a purchase-gift to her relatives.

55 [a few], etc. Literally, “days, or ten,” i.e., about ten days. The business brooked no delay.

59 nurse. A personal attendant exempt from the husband’s control, always of great importance in an Eastern family. The name of Rebekah’s servant was Deborah (xxxv. 8).

65 rail. By dismounting and veiling herself she showed the customary respect to Isaac as a chief and her future husband.

67 death. Which had happened three years before.