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 24:54-67
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.