Genesis 24:47

24:29-53 The making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah is told very particularly. We are to notice God's providence in the common events of human life, and in them to exercise prudence and other graces. Laban went to ask Abraham's servant in, but not till he saw the ear-ring, and bracelet upon his sister's hands. We know Laban's character, by his conduct afterwards, and may think that he would not have been so free to entertain him, if he had not hoped to be well rewarded for it. The servant was intent upon his business. Though he was come off a journey, and come to a good house, he would not eat till he had told his errand. The doing our work, and the fulfilling our trusts, either for God or man, should be preferred by us before our food: it was our Saviour's meat and drink, Joh 4:34. He tells them the charge his master had given him, with the reason of it. He relates what had happened at the well, to further the proposal, plainly showing the finger of God in it. Those events which to us seem the effect of choice, contrivance, or chance, are appointed out of God. This hinders not, but rather encourages the use of all proper means. They freely and cheerfully close with the proposal; and any matter is likely to be comfortable, when it proceeds from the Lord. Abraham's servant thankfully acknowledges the good success he had met with. He was a humble man, and humble men are not ashamed to own their situation in life, whatever it may be.

And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou?.... See Gill on Genesis 24:23 . And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: See Gill on Genesis 24:24. and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands. See Gill on Genesis 24:22.

The reception of Abraham's servant. Laban now comes on the scene. He is ready to run with his sister to find the man, and invite him, as a matter of course, to his father's house. "When he saw the ring." The presents to his sister assure him that this is the envoy of some man of wealth and position. "Thou blessed of the Lord." The name of Yahweh was evidently not unfamiliar to Laban's ears. He calls this stranger "blessed of Yahweh," on account of his language, demeanor, and manifest prosperity. The knowledge and worship of the living God, the God of truth and mercy, was still retained in the family of Nahor. Being warmly invited, the man enters the house. "And he ungirded the camels." Laban is the actor here, and in the following duties of hospitality. "The men's feet that were with him." It comes out here, incidentally, as it was reasonable to infer from the number of camels, that Abraham's steward had a retinue of servants with him. The crowning act of an Eastern reception is the presenting of food. But the faithful servant must deliver his message before partaking of the friendly meal. Verse 34-49 The servant's errand is told. He explains his business in a singularly artless and pleasing manner. He then leaves the matter in the hands of the family. "Given unto him all that he hath." His children by Hagar and Keturah were dismissed with portions during his life, and the main bulk of his property was conveyed to Isaac.

As soon as Laban her brother had seen the splendid presents and heard her account, he hurried out to the stranger at the well, to bring him to the house with his attendants and animals, and to show to him the customary hospitality of the East. The fact that Laban addressed him as the blessed of Jehovah ( Genesis 24:31 ), may be explained from the words of the servant, who had called his master's God Jehovah. The servant discharged his commission before he partook of the food set before him (the Kethibh ויישׂם in Genesis 24:33 is the imperf. Kal of ישׂם equals שׂוּם); and commencing with his master's possessions and family affairs, he described with the greatest minuteness his search for a wife, and the success which he had thus far met with, and then (in Genesis 24:49 ) pressed his suit thus: "And now, if he will show kindness and truth to my lord, tell me; and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand or to the left," sc., to seek in other families a wife for Isaac.

[Reformed Biblical] ethuel, who is hereafter mentioned, was not Laban’s father, but his brother so called; or because the women had distinct apartments in the houses, and she went first thither according to her custom. Genesis 24:31 ## Come in, thou blessed of the Lord, i.e. whom God hath so eminently favoured and blessed. Genesis 24:32 Of which custom, see Gen_18:4. Genesis 24:36 i.e. Hath purposed and promised, and doth by me engage that he will giv e. Things are oft said to be done, in Scripture language, when they will certainly and shortly be done. Genesis 24:40 ## Before whom I walk, in obedience to all his commands, and in hearty trust in his promises and gracious providence towards me and mine. Genesis 24:41 ## Clear from this my o ath; Heb. from my curse, denounced against thee if thou shouldst violate thine oath. The words oath and curse are ofttimes indifferently used, because they commonly go together, and sometimes they are both expressed, as Num_5:21. Genesis 24:42 i.e. The design or course in which I am engaged, as the word way is frequently used. Genesis 24:47 ## First he asks who she was, then he gives the gifts to her; which is the right order, and is here observed in the repetition; which was inverted in the first relation, Gen_24:22 ,23 . Genesis 24:49 If you will show true kindness and real friendship to him in giving your daughter to his son, ## tell me; and if not, tell me, that I may look out a wife for him elsewhere. It is a proverbial expression, Num_20:17 22

48 . my master’s brother’s daughter ] The servant definitely states the relationship of Rebekah; cf. Genesis 22:23 . “Brother” may mean “relative” ( Genesis 13:8 , Genesis 14:14 ). Those who think Bethuel’s name in this chapter ( Genesis 24:15; Genesis 24:24; Genesis 24:47 [50]) is inserted as a gloss, regard Rebekah as Abraham’s niece, the daughter of Nahor, and refer to Genesis 29:5 . Genesis 24:48