Isaac’s Bride – The Sworn Oath (G-24-HBS) —Title—Verses—BibRef—TecBib—Pics—Menu—

A bride for Isaac – part 1

We have come in chapter 24 to a major break in this second division of Genesis.

  1. The first division (chapters 1—11) deals with four great events.
  2. The second and final division (chapters 12—50), deals with four outstanding individuals.

Specifically, in Genesis 12—23 we have Abraham, the man of faith. Now in chapters 24—26 we have Isaac, the beloved son. There are three great events in the life of Isaac, and we have already seen two of them.

The first was his birth, and the second was his being offered by Abraham. The third is the obtaining of his bride.

They say there are three great events in a man’s life—his birth, his marriage, and his death—and that he has no choice except with the second one, marriage.

Sometimes a man doesn’t seem to have much choice in that connection either, but, nevertheless, these are the three great events in a man’s life.

Genesis 24 describes in great detail how Rebekah came to be the wife of Abraham’s son Isaac. The story begins with what sounds like a deathbed scene, though Abraham will apparently live another 35 years.

Abraham summons his oldest and most trusted servant and commissions the man with a specific mission: He must find for Isaac a wife from among Abraham’s people back in Mesopotamia.

Abraham is so urgent that he requires the servant to swear an oath binding himself to completing this task.

More specifically, the servant must not allow Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman, but Isaac must not leave Canaan in order to marry a Mesopotamian woman (Genesis 24:1–4).

 

Genesis 24:1-4 KJV

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

[2] And 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:

[3] And 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:

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

 

Genesis 24:1 KJV

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


His anxiety to see his son married was natural to his position as a pastoral chief interested in preserving the honor of his tribe, and still more as a patriarch who had regard to the divine promise of a numerous posterity.

Abraham was old and full of years. Scripture often uses this language at the end of a person’s life to set up their final actions. Abraham, however, will apparently not die for another 35 years or so (Genesis 25:1–11).

In fact, he will marry another wife and have several more children. Still, Abraham’s conversation as reported in this chapter contains his final recorded words in Genesis. Many times in Genesis, God promised to bless Abraham.

This is one of the few verses which indicate that God had, indeed, blessed him “in all things.” In addition to the birth of Isaac, God had blessed Abraham with great wealth and status in the land.

He had not yet received the promised possession of the land of Canaan promised to his offspring, but Abraham was known as a man blessed by God in all things.

 

Genesis 24:2 KJV

And 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:


Abraham being too old, and as the heir of the promise not being at liberty to make even a temporary visit to his native land, was obliged to entrust this delicate mission to Eliezer, whom, although putting entire confidence in him, he on this occasion bound by a solemn oath.

A pastoral chief in the present day would follow the same course if he could not go himself. As a wealthy man blessed greatly by God in all things, Abraham would have had many servants.

Here he selects his most trusted servant, and the oldest of all his servants, for a crucial assignment. This servant is never named, but we are told that he was in charge of everything Abraham owned.

He was Abraham’s right-hand man. Earlier in the book of Genesis, Abraham named a man, Eliezer, as his prospective heir, since at that time he had no sons (Genesis 15:2).

At that point in time, Eliezer would probably have been considered Abraham’s “most trusted” servant. The man Abraham speaks to here, decades later, might be the same person, and many interpreters assume this is the case.

However, chapter 24 never specifically names him, so this might well be a different person. Abraham begins by asking the servant to swear a sacred oath to complete the assignment he’s about to give him. That request is concluded in the following verse.

 

Genesis 24:3 KJV

And 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:


Among pastoral tribes the matrimonial arrangements are made by the parents, and a youth must marry, not among strangers, but in his own tribe – custom giving him a claim, which is seldom or never resisted, to the hand of his first cousin.

But Abraham had a far higher motive – a fear lest, if his son married into a Canaanitish family, he might be gradually led away from the true God.

Abraham is asking his most trusted servant to take a sacred oath to complete a crucial assignment, finding a wife for his son Isaac.

Many interpreters assume this servant is Eliezer, the servant mentioned decades earlier as the possible heir of Abraham’s estate (Genesis 15:2). However, this particular passage never specifies exactly who this man is.

Abraham begins by asking the man to place his hand under Abraham’s thigh. This would have involved the ancient Middle Eastern custom of swearing an oath to a man while touching his genitals as a sign of the importance of the commitment.

Strange as that may sound to modern culture, this was a gesture of profound symbolism. It implied that the one swearing the oath would answer to the other man’s seed—his offspring—if the oath was not kept.

Abraham, however, also insists that his servant also swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, binding him to answer to God if he failed to do as promised.

Abraham, apparently concerned that he might die before Isaac could be married, asks his servant to swear not to let Isaac marry a local, Canaanite woman.

In the following verse, he will add that Isaac must marry a woman from Abraham’s former homeland and extended family. Further, though, Abraham will insist that Isaac not be allowed to leave Canaan to search for this bride (Genesis 24:5–8).

 

Genesis 24:4 KJV

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


In the previous verse, Abraham asked his most trusted servant to swear an oath. This promise was to not allow his son Isaac to take a wife from among the local, Canaanite women.

Apparently afraid that he might die before Isaac could be married, Abraham further asks his servant to swear to find a wife for Isaac among the women of Abraham’s old homeland and extended family.

Why is Abraham so urgent about this request?

He is aware of God’s promise to make from him a great people who will belong to the Lord. This promise from God was also to give Abraham’s offspring the land of Canaan, as their own possession.

He apparently does not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman and to begin to assimilate into the Canaanite people as one of them.

He is concerned, even in this first generation, that God’s people maintain a separate and distinct identity from the people of the land of Canaan.

Later, the Israelites will be officially commanded by God not to intermarry with the people of the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 7:1–4).

Then, as now, the issue has nothing to do with race. Rather, the concern is over faith—avoiding the particularly wicked practices of the Canaanite people.

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 2

The servant receives a caveat: If he cannot find a woman willing to return to Canaan to marry Isaac, the servant will be released from his oath.

Abraham, though, is confident God will make this happen, even sending an angel to guarantee success (Genesis 24:5–9).

 

Genesis 24:5-9 KJV

[5] And 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?

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

[7] The 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.

[8] And 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.

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

 

Genesis 24:5 KJV

And 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?


Abraham has asked his most trusted servant to swear to find a wife for his son Isaac. This man is explicitly charged with finding a woman of Abraham’s extended family, in his old homeland outside of Canaan.

Before swearing to do so, however, the servant responds with a reasonable objection:

What if I find a girl, but she doesn’t want to travel away from her family to a strange land to marry a man she’s never seen?

Should I then take Isaac back to your people to live among them?

The servant’s question is very reasonable. He needs to know if marrying a girl from Abraham’s people is so critical that Isaac should be taken to live in Abraham’s former old homeland, if no woman will agree to come to Canaan.

Abraham’s response will fully resolve that question—his absolutely forbids the servant to allow Isaac to return to Mesopotamia. Abraham does not want to jeopardize, in any way, his descendants’ possession of the Promised Land.

 

Genesis 24:6 KJV

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


Abraham has asked his servant to swear to find a wife for his son Isaac among his extended family back in his old homeland. The servant has asked what to do if a woman cannot be found who is willing to live in Canaan.

Should Isaac move to Abraham’s old homeland to live in order to be married to one of the women of his extended family?

That’s a reasonable question, since Abraham is so absolutely set on Isaac marrying a woman from that region. Here Abraham makes his position clear: in no uncertain terms, Isaac cannot be allowed to go to Mesopotamia.

In fact, Abraham instructs the servant not to take Isaac back to that land. Isaac’s place is in the Promised Land of Canaan. This is the home of Abraham’s future offspring—period.

Isaac must not be allowed to leave and, by implication, risk settling outside of Canaan among Abraham’s extended family. Abraham has established why this mission is so critical.

Isaac must not marry into a Canaanite family and thus be assimilated into the Canaanite people. This is a spiritual issue, not a racial one: Abraham does not want to risk the identity of Abraham’s descendants as God’s chosen ones.

But Isaac also must not return to Abraham’s people and settle outside of the land of promise, which would also risk the family’s loss of identity as those who belong to God.

Only one path would work: Isaac must marry a woman from Abraham’s people and also live in the land of promise as a people living among, but separate from, the Canaanites.

 

Genesis 24:7 KJV

The 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.


Abraham is answering his servant’s very valid question: what to do if he could not find a woman willing to move away from her family and live in the land of Canaan as Isaac’s wife? Abraham insists that God will make it happen.

More specifically, he is sure an angel of the Lord will intervene in such a way as to bring it to pass.

Where did Abraham’s confidence that God would work in this way come from?

He remembered that the Lord did the exact same thing in his own life. He came to Abraham in the land of his own people and took him from his father’s house and promised to give the land of Canaan to his offspring (Genesis 12:1–7).

If God did that in Abraham’s life, the Lord would also do that in the life of this woman Isaac was meant to marry. Abraham’s confidence in God’s ability to move people where He wanted them was based on the experience of God acting in his own life.

We, too, can have confidence in God’s ability to work in the circumstances of others as He has worked in ours.

 

Genesis 24:8 KJV

And 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.


In the previous verse, Abraham expressed confidence that God would make a crucial mission successful. The servant Abraham is sending is meant to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac, among Abraham’s people in Mesopotamia.

An angel of the Lord would go before his servant to ensure that a suitable wife would be found for Isaac among Abraham’s people, a woman willing to move from her family and live in the land of Canaan.

Now, though, Abraham assures his servant that if he’s wrong, if the woman is not willing to return to Canaan, then the servant will be released from the oath. The most important thing is that his servant not take Isaac out of Canaan under any circumstances.

Did Abraham make this concession because he suddenly doubted God would provide?

Probably not. More likely is that Abraham wanted to reassure his servant. This would make it easier for the man to swear to take on this mission without himself having to be confident that God would supernaturally intervene.

 

Genesis 24:9 KJV

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


Abraham has ordered his servant to find a wife for Isaac, among Abraham’s kinsmen back in Mesopotamia. However, Isaac is not to leave Canaan—the woman must be brought here.

The servant is concerned he might not be able to find a suitable woman and convince her to travel so far to marry Isaac. So, Abraham made it clear to his servant that this oath would not be binding if circumstances were beyond his control.

With that reassurance, as Abraham had requested, the servant would swear not to allow Isaac to marry any local Canaanite woman and would, instead, travel himself to the land of Abraham’s people to attempt to find a wife for Isaac who would agree to marry him and live in Canaan.

The servant put his hand under Abraham’s thigh, as was the custom, and took the oath. This symbolic gesture implied that the oath-taker would be at the mercy of Abraham’s descendants if he did not fulfill his end of the bargain.

The whole conversation raises an obvious question: Where was Isaac?

As a man around the age of 40 (Genesis 25:20), why did he not participate in this conversation?

Why was Abraham’s servant given so much authority over Isaac’s decisions instead of Isaac himself being included?

We’re never told. Perhaps custom demanded that finding a wife was absolutely a father’s duty and one Abraham could not fulfill without the help of his servant.

Perhaps Isaac was a particularly passive person. In any case, Abraham saw it as his responsibility to find his son a wife without, apparently, Isaac’s input.

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 3

The servant arrives in Mesopotamia at the town of Nahor, which shares the name of Abraham’s own brother.

Eager not to fail in his mission, the servant prays to Abraham’s God and asks that if any of the young women coming to draw water at the town well offer to water his ten camels, she will be the one God has appointed for Isaac (Genesis 24:10–14).

 

Genesis 24:10-14 KJV

[10] And 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.

[11] And 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.

[12] And 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.

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

[14] And 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 that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

 

Genesis 24:10 KJV

And 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.


So great an equipage was to give the embassy an appearance worthy of the rank and wealth of Abraham; to carry provisions; to bear the marriage presents, which as usual would be distributed over several beasts; besides one or two spare camels in case of emergency.

A stranger in those regions, who wishes to obtain information, stations himself at one of the wells in the neighborhood of a town, and he is sure to learn all the news of the place from the women who frequent them every morning and evening.

Eliezer followed this course, and letting his camels rest, he waited till the evening time of water drawing.

 

Genesis 24:11 KJV

And 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.


 

 

 

Genesis 24:12 KJV

And 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.


The servant appears worthy of the master he served.

He resolves to follow the leading of Providence; and while he shows good sense in the tokens he fixes upon of ascertaining the temper and character of the future bride, he never doubts but that in such a case God will direct him.

 

Genesis 24:13 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:14 KJV

And 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 that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.


 

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 4

Before the servant has finished his prayer, Rebekah enters the scene and does exactly as the servant has asked. He immediately gives expensive jewelry to Rebekah.

He asks if her family has room to accommodate a visit from himself and his company, including their camels. He also asks who her father is (Genesis 24:15–23).

 

Genesis 24:15-23 KJV

[15] And 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.

[16] And 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.

[17] And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.

[18] And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

[19] And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

[20] And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

[21] And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.

[22] And 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;

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

 

Genesis 24:15 KJV

And 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.


As he anticipated, a young woman unveiled, as in pastoral regions, appeared with her pitcher on her shoulder.

 

Genesis 24:16 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:17 KJV

And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.


 

 

Genesis 24:18 KJV

And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.


 

 

Genesis 24:19 KJV

And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.


 

 

Genesis 24:20 KJV

And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.


Her comely appearance, her affable manners, her obliging courtesy in going down the steps to fetch water not only to him but to pour it into the trough for his camels, afforded him the most agreeable surprise.

 

Genesis 24:21 KJV

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


She was the very person his imagination had pictured, and he proceeded to reward her civility.

 

Genesis 24:22 KJV

And 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;


The ring was not for the ear, but the nose; the armlets, such as young women in Syria and Arabia still appear daily at wells decked in. They are worn from the elbow to the wrist, commonly made of silver, copper, brass, or horn.

 

Genesis 24:23 KJV

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


After telling her name and family, the kind-hearted damsel hastened home to give notice of a stranger‘s arrival.

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 5

When Rebekah names her father, the servant knows exactly who she is. She is the granddaughter of Abraham’s own brother Nahor. This is better even than the servant had hoped. He knows now that the Lord has led him to the exact young lady intended for Isaac.

As Abraham has requested, he has found Abraham’s kinsmen and identified a bride for Isaac. He immediately worships the Lord right in front of Rebekah (Genesis 24:24–27).

 

Genesis 24:24-27 KJV

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

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

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

[27] And 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 being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.

 

Genesis 24:24 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:25 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:26 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:27 KJV

And 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 being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.


 

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 6

Rebekah hurries home and soon her brother rushes to the well to welcome this servant of their family member Abraham. Invited into the home of Rebekah’s father Bethuel, the servant presents his mission, telling in great detail how the Lord led him to Rebekah.

 

Genesis 24:28-39 KJV

[28] And 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.

[30] And 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.

[31] And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

[32] And 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.

[33] And 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.

[34] And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.

[35] And 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.

[36] And 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.

[37] And 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:

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

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

 

Genesis 24:28 KJV

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


The female apartments. This family was in an advanced stage of pastoral life, dwelling in a settled place and a fixed habitation.

 

Genesis 24:29 KJV

And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.


From what we know of his character, there is reason to believe that the sight of the dazzling presents increased both his haste and his invitation.

 

Genesis 24:30 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:31 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:32 KJV

And 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.


What a beautiful picture of piety, fidelity, and disinterestedness in a servant!

 

Genesis 24:33 KJV

And 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.


He declined all attention to his own comforts till he had told his name and his errand.

 

Genesis 24:34 KJV

And he said, I am Abraham’s servant.


 

 

Genesis 24:35 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:36 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:37 KJV

And 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:


 

 

Genesis 24:38 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:39 KJV

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


 

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 7

Finally, he asks if they will give Rebekah in marriage to his master Abraham’s son Isaac. They agree, stating that they could do nothing else given what the servant has told them (Genesis 24:28–51).

 

Genesis 24:40-51 KJV

[40] And 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:

[41] Then 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.

[42] And 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:

[43] Behold, 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;

[44] And 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.

[45] And 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.

[46] And 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.

[47] And 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.

[48] And 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.

[49] And 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.

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

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

 

Genesis 24:40 KJV

And 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:


 

 

Genesis 24:41 KJV

Then 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:42 KJV

And 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:


 

 

Genesis 24:43 KJV

Behold, 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;


 

 

Genesis 24:44 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:45 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:46 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:47 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:48 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:49 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:50 KJV

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


The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations, their father being probably dead, and without consulting their sister. Their language seems to indicate they were worshippers of the true God.

 

Genesis 24:51 KJV

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


 

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 8

After a brief negotiation the next morning, Rebekah agrees to leave that very day to travel with the servant to the land of Canaan.

 

Genesis 24:52-59 KJV

[52] And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

[53] And 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.

[54] And 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.

[55] And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

[56] And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

[57] And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

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

[59] And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.

 

Genesis 24:52 KJV

And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.


 

 

Genesis 24:53 KJV

And 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.


These are the usual articles, with money, that form a woman‘s dowry among the pastoral tribes. Rebekah was betrothed and accompanied the servant to Canaan.

 

Genesis 24:54 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:55 KJV

And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.


 

 

Genesis 24:56 KJV

And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.


 

 

Genesis 24:57 KJV

And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.


 

 

Genesis 24:58 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:59 KJV

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.


 

 

 

A bride for Isaac – part 9

At the end of the journey, she meets Isaac, now 40, for the first time (Genesis 25:20). He allows her to live in the tent of his late mother Sarah, and soon they are happily wed (Genesis 24:52–67).

 

Genesis 24:60-67 KJV

[60] And 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.

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

[62] And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai–roi; for he dwelt in the south country.

[63] And 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.

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

[65] For 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.

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

[67] And 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.

 

Genesis 24:60 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:61 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:62 KJV

And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai–roi; for he dwelt in the south country.


 

 

Genesis 24:63 KJV

And 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.


 

 

Genesis 24:64 KJV

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


If Isaac were walking, it would have been most unmannerly for her to have continued seated; an inferior, if riding, always alights in presence of a person of rank, no exception being made for women.

 

Genesis 24:65 KJV

For 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.


The veil is an essential part of female dress. In country places it is often thrown aside, but on the appearance of a stranger, it is drawn over the face, as to conceal all but the eyes. In a bride it was a token of her reverence and subjection to her husband.

 

Genesis 24:66 KJV

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


 

 

Genesis 24:67 KJV

And 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.


Thus establishing her at once in the rights and honors of a wife before he had seen her features. Disappointments often take place, but when Isaac saw his wife, “he loved her.”

 

 

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