29 Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban ; and Laban ran outside to the man at the spring . 30 When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists , and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister , saying , "This is what the man said to me," he went to the man ; and behold , he was standing by the camels at the spring . 31 And he said , " Come in, blessed of the Lord ! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house , and a place for the camels ?" 32 So the man entered the house . Then Laban unloaded the camels , and he gave straw and feed to the camels , and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. 33 But when food was set before him to eat , he said , "I will not eat until e I have told my business ." And he said , "Speak on." 34 So he said , "I am Abraham's servant . 35 "The Lord has greatly blessed my master , so that he has become rich ; and He has given him flocks and herds , and silver and gold , and servants and maids , and camels and donkeys . 36 "Now Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master in her old age , and he has given him all that he has. 37 " My master made me swear , saying , 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites , in whose land I live ; 38 but you shall go to my father's house and to my relatives , and take a wife for my son .' 39 " I said to my master , 'Suppose the woman does not follow e me.' 40 "He said to me, ' The Lord , before whom I have walked , will send His angel with you to make your journey successful , and you will take a wife for my son from my relatives and from my father's house ; 41 then you will be free from my oath , when you come to my relatives ; and if they do not give her to you, you will be free from my oath .' 42 "So I came today to the spring , and said , 'O Lord , the God of my master Abraham , if now You will make my journey on which I go successful ; 43 behold , I am standing by the spring , and may it be that the maiden who comes out to draw , and to whom I say , " Please let me drink a little water from your jar "; 44 and she will say to me, "You drink , and I will draw for your camels also "; let her be the woman whom the Lord has appointed for my master's son .' 45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart , behold , Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder , and went down to the spring and drew , and I said to her, 'Please let me drink .' 46 "She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder, and said , ' Drink , and I will water your camels also '; so I drank , and she watered the camels also . 47 " Then I asked her, and said , 'Whose daughter are you?' And she said , 'The daughter of Bethuel , Nahor's son , whom Milcah bore to him'; and I put the ring on her nose , and the bracelets on her wrists . 48 "And I bowed low and worshiped the Lord , and blessed the Lord , the God of my master Abraham , who had guided me in the right way to take the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son . 49 "So now if you are going to deal kindly and truly with my master , tell me; and if not, let me know , that I may turn to the right hand or the left ." 50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied , " The matter comes from the Lord ; so we cannot e speak to you bad or good . 51 "Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go , and let her be the wife of your master's son , as the Lord has spoken ." 52 When Abraham's servant heard their words , he bowed himself to the ground before the Lord . 53 The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold , and garments , and gave them to Rebekah ; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 24:29-53
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.