2 and Abraham saith unto his servant, the eldest of his house, who is ruling over all that he hath, 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, 3 and I cause thee to swear by Jehovah, God of the heavens, and God of the earth, that thou dost not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanite, in the midst of whom I am dwelling; 4 but unto my land and unto my kindred dost thou go, and hast taken a wife for my son, for Isaac.' 5 And the servant saith unto him, 'It may be the woman is not willing to come after me unto this land; do I at all cause thy son to turn back unto the land from whence thou camest out?' 6 And Abraham saith unto him, 'Take heed to thyself, lest thou cause my son to turn back thither; 7 Jehovah, God of the heavens, who hath taken me from the house of my father, and from the land of my birth, and who hath spoken to me, and who hath sworn to me, saying, To thy seed I give this land, He doth send His messenger before thee, and thou hast taken a wife for my son from thence; 8 and if the woman be not willing to come after thee, then thou hast been acquitted from this mine oath: only my son thou dost not cause to turn back thither.' 9 And the servant putteth his hand under the thigh of Abraham his lord, and sweareth to him concerning this matter.
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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 24:2-28
Commentary on Genesis 24:1-9
(Read Genesis 24:1-9)
The effect of good example, good teaching, and the worship of God in a family, will generally appear in the piety, faithfulness, prudence, and affection of the servants. To live in such families, or to have such servants, both are blessings from God which should be highly valued, and thankfully acknowledged. But no concern in life is of greater importance to ourselves, to others, or to the church of God, than marriage. It therefore ought always to be undertaken with much care and prudence, especially with reference to the will of God, and with prayer for his direction and blessing. Where good parents are not consulted and regarded, the blessing of God cannot be expected. Parents, in disposing of their children, should carefully consult the welfare of their souls, and their furtherance in the way to heaven. Observe the charge Abraham gave to a good servant, one whose conduct, faithfulness, and affection, to him and his family, he had long known. Observe also, that Abraham remembers that God had wonderfully brought him out of the land of his birth, by the call of his grace; and therefore doubts not but He will prosper his care, not to bring his son thither again. God will cause that to end in our comfort, in which we sincerely aim at his glory.
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.