Genesis 24:25

24:10-28 Abraham's servant devoutly acknowledged God. We have leave to be particular in recommending our affairs to the care of Divine providence. He proposes a sign, not that he intended to proceed no further, if not gratified in it; but it is a prayer that God would provide a good wife for his young master; and that was a good prayer. She should be simple, industrious, humble, cheerful, serviceable, and hospitable. Whatever may be the fashion, common sense, as well as piety, tells us, these are the proper qualifications for a wife and mother; for one who is to be a companion to her husband, the manager of domestic concerns, and trusted to form the minds of children. When the steward came to seek a wife for his master, he did not go to places of amusement and sinful pleasure, and pray that he might meet one there, but to the well of water, expecting to find one there employed aright. He prayed that God would please to make his way in this matter plain and clear before him. Our times are in God's hand; not only events themselves, but the times of them. We must take heed of being over-bold in urging what God should do, lest the event should weaken our faith, rather than strengthen it. But God owned him by making his way clear. Rebekah, in all respects, answered the characters he sought for in the woman that was to be his master's wife. When she came to the well, she went down and filled her pitcher, and came up to go home with it.

She did not stand to gaze upon the strange man his camels, but minded her business, and would not have been diverted from it but by an opportunity of doing good. She did not curiously or confidently enter into discourse with him, but answered him modestly. Being satisfied that the Lord had heard his prayer, he gave the damsel some ornaments worn in eastern countries; asking at the same time respecting her kindred. On learning that she was of his master's relations, he bowed down his head and worshipped, blessing God. His words were addressed to the Lord, but being spoken in the hearing of Rebekah, she could perceive who he was, and whence he came.

She said moreover unto him,.... In answer to the second question: we have both straw and provender enough; for the camels, straw for their litter, and provender for their food, as hay, barley, &c. and room to lodge in; for him and his men; this she could venture to say, and invite him to come and take up his quarters in her father's house, without going home to relate the question put to her, and to have leave to give the invitation, knowing full well the generosity, liberality, and hospitable spirit of her father.

25 . straw and provender ] The character of Rebekah comes out in her practical answer. Food and stabling for the 10 camels would be more difficult to find than a lodging for the man. The Latin renders “room to lodge in” somewhat freely by locus spatiosus ad manendum . Genesis 24:25

CHAPTER 24 Ge 24:1-9. A Marriage Commission. 1. And Abraham was old … take a wife—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’s age and prosperity, Genesis 24:1. He makes his eldest servant swear not to take a wife for his son Isaac of the Canaanites, but of his own kindred, Genesis 24:2-4. The servant inquires into the nature and condition of the oath, Genesis 24:5. Abraham expresses his faith in the promise, Genesis 24:7; explains the oath, Genesis 24:8. The servant swears, Genesis 24:9. He goes to the city of Nahor, Genesis 24:10; prays for success, Genesis 24:12; and direction, Genesis 24:13,14. An immediate and particular answer, Genesis 24:15-20. He wonders at the providence, Genesis 24:21; makes a present to Rebekah, Genesis 24:22. Inquires of what family she was, Genesis 24:23. Her answer, Genesis 24:24,25. He blesseth the Lord, Genesis 24:26,27. Rebekah acquaints her friends with it, Genesis 24:28. They provide for him, &c. and invite him in, Genesis 24:31,32. He goes in, but refuses to eat till he had told his errand, Genesis 24:33. He acquaints them with his business, and God’s providence towards him, Genesis 24:34-49. They consent to his proposal, Genesis 24:50,51.

Rebekah makes herself known in reply to his inquiries. "A ring of gold." The single ring was worn in the nose, the side cartilage of which was pierced for the purpose. This is a custom of the East. "A beka" was half a shekel, somewhat less than a quarter of an ounce. "Ten of gold in weight." Ten bekas would be about two ounces and a quarter. If shekels, however, be understood, the weight will be double. These were merely a reward for her kindness and courtesy to a stranger. Two questions are now asked by the stranger - the one relating to her kindred, and the other to the means and the inclination they had to entertain a stranger, when inns were not yet in existence. She announces herself to be the daughter of his master's nephew, and assures him of the requisite accommodation.

After the watering of the camels was over, the man took a golden nose-ring of the weight of a beka, i.e., half a shekel ( Exodus 38:26 ), and two golden armlets of 10 shekels weight, and (as we find from Genesis 24:30 and Genesis 24:47 ) placed these ornaments upon her, not as a bridal gift, but in return for her kindness. He then asked her about her family, and whether there was room in her father's house for him and his attendants to pass the night there; and it was not trill after Rebekah had told him that she was the daughter of Bethuel, the nephew of Abraham, and had given a most cheerful assent to his second question, that he felt sure that this was the wife appointed by Jehovah for Isaac. He then fell down and thanked Jehovah for His grace and truth, whilst Rebekah in the meantime had hastened home to relate all that had occurred to "her mother's house," i.e., to the female portion of her family. חסד the condescending love, אמת the truth which God had displayed in the fulfilment of His promise, and here especially manifested to him in bringing him to the home of his master's relations.

[Bible] 24:12. O Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and shew kindness to my master, Abraham. 24:13. Behold, I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water: 24:14. Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: and by this, I shall understand that thou hast shewn kindness to my master. 24:15. He had not yet ended these words within himself, and behold Rebecca came out, the daughter of Bathuel, son of Melcha, wife to Nachor the brother of Abraham, having a pitcher on her shoulder: 24:16. An exceeding comely maid, and a most beautiful virgin, and not known to man: and she went down to the spring, and filled her pitcher, and was coming back. 24:17. And the servant ran to meet her, and said: Give me a little water to drink of thy pitcher. 24:18. And she answered: Drink, my lord. And quickly she let down the pitcher upon her arm, and gave him drink. 24:19. And when he had drunk, she said: I will draw water for thy camels also, till they all drink. 24:20. And pouring out the pitcher into the troughs, she ran back to the well to draw water; and having drawn, she gave to all the camels. 24:21. But he musing, beheld her with silence, desirous to know whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. 24:22. And after that the camels had drunk, the man took out golden earrings, weighing two sicles; and as many bracelets, of ten sicles weight. 24:23. And he said to her: Whose daughter art thou? tell me: is there any place in thy father's house to lodge? 24:24. And she answered: I am the daughter of Bathuel, the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor. 24:25. And she said, moreover, to him: We have good store of both straw and hay, and a large place to lodge in. 24:26. The man bowed himself down, and adored the Lord,

Acts 7:11 . λιμὸς , cf. Luke 4:25 , where ἐπί follows.— χορτάσματα : sustenance, R.V., fodder, provender for their cattle, cf. Genesis 24:25 ; Genesis 24:32 ; Genesis 42:27 , Jdg 19:19 ; only here in N.T., cf. Polyb., ix., 43. The want of it would be a most pressing need for large owners of flocks. Blass takes it as meaning frumentum , corn, food for man as well as for beasts, since χορτάζειν , both in LXX and N.T. ( Mark 8:4 ; cf. Mark 7:27-28 ), is used of the food of man, cf. Kennedy, Sources of N. T. Greek , pp. 82, 156.