10 And the servant taketh ten camels of the camels of his lord and goeth, also of all the goods of his lord in his hand, and he riseth, and goeth unto Aram-Naharaim, unto the city of Nahor; 11 and he causeth the camels to kneel at the outside of the city, at the well of water, at even-time, at the time of the coming out of the women who draw water. 12 And he saith, 'Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham, cause to meet, I pray Thee, before me this day—(and do kindness with my lord Abraham; 13 lo, I am standing by the fountain of water, and daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water; 14 and it hath been, the young person unto whom I say, Incline, I pray thee, thy pitcher, and I drink, and she hath said, Drink, and I water also thy camels)—her Thou hast decided for Thy servant, for Isaac; and by it I know that Thou hast done kindness with my lord.' 15 And it cometh to pass, before he hath finished speaking, that lo, Rebekah (who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, wife of Nahor, brother of Abraham) is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder, 16 and the young person 'is' of very good appearance, a virgin, and a man hath not known her; and she goeth down to the fountain, and filleth her pitcher, and cometh up. 17 And the servant runneth to meet her, and saith, 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher;' 18 and she saith, 'Drink, my lord;' and she hasteth, and letteth down her pitcher upon her hand, and giveth him drink. 19 And she finisheth giving him drink, and saith, 'Also for thy camels I draw till they have finished drinking;' 20 and she hasteth, and emptieth her pitcher into the drinking-trough, and runneth again unto the well to draw, and draweth for all his camels. 21 And the man, wondering at her, remaineth silent, to know whether Jehovah hath made his way prosperous or not. 22 And it cometh to pass when the camels have finished drinking, that the man taketh a golden ring (whose weight 'is' a bekah), and two bracelets for her hands (whose weight 'is' ten 'bekahs' of gold), 23 and saith, 'Whose daughter 'art' thou? declare to me, I pray thee, is the house of thy father a place for us to lodge in?' 24 And she saith unto him, 'I 'am' daughter of Bethuel, son of Milcah, whom she hath borne to Nahor.' 25 She saith also unto him, 'Both straw and provender 'are' abundant with us, also a place to lodge in.' 26 And the man boweth, and doth obeisance to Jehovah, 27 and saith, 'Blessed 'is' Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham, who hath not left off His kindness and His truth with my lord;—I 'being' in the way, Jehovah hath led me to the house of my lord's brethren.' 28 And the young person runneth, and declareth to the house of her mother according to these words.
29 And Rebekah hath a brother, and his name 'is' Laban, and Laban runneth unto the man who 'is' without, unto the fountain; 30 yea, it cometh to pass, when he seeth the ring, and the bracelets on the hands of his sister, and when he heareth the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, 'Thus hath the man spoken unto me,' that he cometh in unto the man, and lo, he is standing by the camels by the fountain. 31 And he saith, 'Come in, O blessed one of Jehovah, why standest thou without, and I—I have prepared the house and place for the camels!' 32 And he bringeth in the man into the house, and looseth the camels, and giveth straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the feet of the men who 'are' with him: 33 and setteth before him to eat; but he saith, 'I do not eat till I have spoken my word;' and he saith, 'Speak.' 34 And he saith, 'I 'am' Abraham's servant; 35 and Jehovah hath blessed my lord exceedingly, and he is great; and He giveth to him flock, and herd, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and camels, and asses; 36 and Sarah, my lord's wife, beareth a son to my lord, after she hath been aged, and he giveth to him all that he hath. 37 'And my lord causeth me to swear, saying, Thou dost not take a wife to my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in whose land I am dwelling. 38 If not—unto the house of my father thou dost go, and unto my family, and thou hast taken a wife for my son. 39 'And I say unto my lord, It may be the woman doth not come after me; 40 and he saith unto me, Jehovah, before whom I have walked habitually, doth send His messenger with thee, and hath prospered thy way, and thou hast taken a wife for my son from my family, and from the house of my father; 41 then art thou acquitted from my oath, when thou comest unto my family, and if they give not 'one' to thee; then thou hast been acquitted from my oath. 42 'And I come to-day unto the fountain, and I say, Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham, if Thou art, I pray Thee, making prosperous my way in which I am going— 43 (lo, I am standing by the fountain of water), then the virgin who is coming out to draw, and I have said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher, 44 and she hath said unto me, Both drink thou, and also for thy camels I draw—she is the woman whom Jehovah hath decided for my lord's son. 45 'Before I finish speaking unto my heart, then lo, Rebekah is coming out, and her pitcher on her shoulder, and she goeth down to the fountain, and draweth; and I say unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee, 46 and she hasteth and letteth down her pitcher from off her and saith, Drink, and thy camels also I water; and I drink, and the camels also she hath watered. 47 'And I ask her, and say, Whose daughter 'art' thou? and she saith, Daughter of Bethuel, son of Nahor, whom Milcah hath borne to him, and I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her hands, 48 and I bow, and do obeisance before Jehovah, and I bless Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham, who hath led me in the true way to receive the daughter of my lord's brother for his son. 49 'And now, if ye are dealing kindly and truly with my lord, declare to me; and if not, declare to me; and I turn unto the right or unto the left.' 50 And Laban answereth—Bethuel also—and they say, 'The thing hath gone out from Jehovah; we are not able to speak unto thee bad or good; 51 lo, Rebekah 'is' before thee, take and go, and she is a wife to thy lord's son, as Jehovah hath spoken.' 52 And it cometh to pass, when the servant of Abraham hath heard their words, that he boweth himself towards the earth before Jehovah; 53 and the servant taketh out vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and giveth to Rebekah; precious things also he hath given to her brother and to her mother.
54 And they eat and drink, he and the men who 'are' with him, and lodge all night; and they rise in the morning, and he saith, 'Send me to my lord;' 55 and her brother saith—her mother also—'Let the young person abide with us a week or ten days, afterwards doth she go.' 56 And he saith unto them, 'Do not delay me, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way; send me away, and I go to my lord;' 57 and they say, 'Let us call for the young person, and ask at her mouth;' 58 and they call for Rebekah, and say unto her, 'Dost thou go with this man?' and she saith, 'I go.' 59 And they send away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men; 60 and they bless Rebekah, and say to her, 'Thou 'art' our sister; become thou thousands of myriads, and thy seed doth possess the gate of those hating it.' 61 And Rebekah and her young women arise, and ride on the camels, and go after the man; and the servant taketh Rebekah and goeth.
62 And Isaac hath come in from the entrance of the Well of the Living One, my Beholder; and he is dwelling in the land of the south, 63 and Isaac goeth out to meditate in the field, at the turning of the evening, and he lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, camels are coming. 64 And Rebekah lifteth up her eyes, and seeth Isaac, and alighteth from off the camel; 65 and she saith unto the servant, 'Who 'is' this man who is walking in the field to meet us?' and the servant saith, 'It 'is' my lord;' and she taketh the veil, and covereth herself. 66 And the servant recounteth to Isaac all the things that he hath done, 67 and Isaac bringeth her in unto the tent of Sarah his mother, and he taketh Rebekah, and she becometh his wife, and he loveth her, and Isaac is comforted after 'the death of' his mother.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 24:10-67
Commentary on Genesis 24:10-28
(Read Genesis 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.
Commentary on Genesis 24:29-53
(Read Genesis 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, John 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. All our temporal concerns are sweet if intermixed with godliness.
Commentary on Genesis 24:54-67
(Read Genesis 24:54-67)
Abraham's servant, as one that chose his work before his pleasure, was for hastening home. Lingering and loitering no way become a wise and good man who is faithful to his duty. As children ought not to marry without their parents' consent, so parents ought not to marry them without their own. Rebekah consented, not only to go, but to go at once. The goodness of Rebekah's character shows there was nothing wrong in her answer, though it be not agreeable to modern customs among us. We may hope that she had such an idea of the religion and godliness in the family she was to go to, as made her willing to forget her own people and her father's house. Her friends dismiss her with suitable attendants, and with hearty good wishes. They blessed Rebekah. When our relations are entering into a new condition, we ought by prayer to commend them to the blessing and grace of God. Isaac was well employed when he met Rebekah. He went out to take the advantage of a silent evening, and a solitary place, for meditation and prayer; those divine exercises by which we converse with God and our own hearts. Holy souls love retirement; it will do us good to be often alone, if rightly employed; and we are never less alone than when alone. Observe what an affectionate son Isaac was: it was about three years since his mother died, and yet he was not, till now, comforted. See also what an affectionate husband he was to his wife. Dutiful sons promise fair to be affectionate husbands; he that fills up his first station in life with honour, is likely to do the same in those that follow.