Gen 24:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | Abraham, being solicitous to get his son Isaac property married, calls his confidential servant, probably Eliezer, and makes him swear that he will not take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites, , but from among his own kindred, . The servant proposes certain difficulties, , which Abraham removes by giving him the strongest assurances of God's direction in the business, , , and then specifies the conditions of the oath, . The form of the oath itself, . The servant makes preparations for his journey, and sets out for Mesopotamia, the residence of Abraham's kindred, . Arrives at a well near to the place, . His prayer to God, . Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, comes to the well to draw water, . She is described, . Conversation between her and Abraham's servant, in which every thing took place according to his prayer to God, . He makes her presents, and learns whose daughter she is, . She invites him to her father's house, . He returns thanks to God for having thus far given him a prosperous journey, , . Rebekah runs home and informs her family, ; on which her brother Laban comes out, and invites the servant home, . His reception, , . Tells his errand, , and how he had proceeded in executing the trust reposed in him, . Requests an answer, . The family of Rebekah consent that she should become the wife of Isaac, , . The servant worships God, , and gives presents to Milcah, Laban, and Rebekah, . He requests to be dismissed, . Rebekah, being consulted, consents to go, , . She is accompanied by her nurse, ; and having received the blessing of her parents and relatives, , she departs with the servant of Abraham, . They are met by Isaac, who was on an evening walk for the purpose of meditation, . The servant relates to Isaac all that he had done, . Isaac and Rebekah are married, . Verse 1 And Abraham was old - He was now about one hundred and forty years of age, and consequently Isaac was forty, being born when his father was one hundred years old. See ; .

Genesis 24:1-3

Introduction

Abraham, being solicitous to get his son Isaac property married, calls his confidential servant, probably Eliezer, and makes him swear that he will not take a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites, Gen 24:1-3, but from among his own kindred, Gen 24:4. The servant proposes certain difficulties, Gen 24:5, which Abraham removes by giving him the strongest assurances of God's direction in the business, Gen 24:6, Gen 24:7, and then specifies the conditions of the oath, Gen 24:8. The form of the oath itself, Gen 24:9. The servant makes preparations for his journey, and sets out for Mesopotamia, the residence of Abraham's kindred, Gen 24:10. Arrives at a well near to the place, Gen 24:11. His prayer to God, Gen 24:12-14. Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, Abraham's brother, comes to the well to draw water, Gen 24:15. She is described, Gen 24:16. Conversation between her and Abraham's servant, in which every thing took place according to his prayer to God, Gen 24:17-21. He makes her presents, and learns whose daughter she is, Gen 24:22-24. She invites him to her father's house, Gen 24:25. He returns thanks to God for having thus far given him a prosperous journey, Gen 24:26, Gen 24:27. Rebekah runs home and informs her family, Gen 24:28; on which her brother Laban comes out, and invites the servant home, Gen 24:29-31. His reception, Gen 24:32, Gen 24:33. Tells his errand, Gen 24:34, and how he had proceeded in executing the trust reposed in him, Gen 24:35-48. Requests an answer, Gen 24:49. The family of Rebekah consent that she should become the wife of Isaac, Gen 24:50, Gen 24:51. The servant worships God, Gen 24:52, and gives presents to Milcah, Laban, and Rebekah, Gen 24:53. He requests to be dismissed, Gen 24:54-56. Rebekah, being consulted, consents to go, Gen 24:57, Gen 24:58. She is accompanied by her nurse, Gen 24:59; and having received the blessing of her parents and relatives, Gen 24:60, she departs with the servant of Abraham, Gen 24:61. They are met by Isaac, who was on an evening walk for the purpose of meditation, Gen 24:62-65. The servant relates to Isaac all that he had done, Gen 24:66. Isaac and Rebekah are married, Gen 24:67.

Verse 1

And Abraham was old - He was now about one hundred and forty years of age, and consequently Isaac was forty, being born when his father was one hundred years old. See Gen 21:5; Gen 25:20. Verse 2

Eldest servant - As this eldest servant is stated to have been the ruler over all that he had, it is very likely that Eliezer is meant. See Gen 15:2, Gen 15:3.

Put, I pray thee, thy hand - See note on Gen 24:9. Verse 3

I will make thee swear - See note on Gen 24:9.

Of the Canaanites - Because these had already been devoted to slavery, etc., and it would have been utterly inconsistent as well with prudence as with the design of God to have united the child and heir of the promise with one who was under a curse, though that curse might be considered to be only of a political nature. See the curse of Canaan, Gen 9:25 (note).