36 And Sarah H8283 my master's H113 wife H802 bare H3205 a son H1121 to my master H113 when H310 she was old: H2209 and unto him hath he given H5414 all that he hath.
And the LORD H3068 visited H6485 Sarah H8283 as he had said, H559 and the LORD H3068 did H6213 unto Sarah H8283 as he had spoken. H1696 For Sarah H8283 conceived, H2029 and bare H3205 Abraham H85 a son H1121 in his old age, H2208 at the set time H4150 of which God H430 had spoken H1696 to him. And Abraham H85 called H7121 the name H8034 of his son H1121 that was born H3205 unto him, whom Sarah H8283 bare H3205 to him, Isaac. H3327 And Abraham H85 circumcised H4135 his son H1121 Isaac H3327 being eight H8083 days H3117 old, H1121 as God H430 had commanded H6680 him. And Abraham H85 was an hundred H3967 years H8141 old, H1121 when his son H1121 Isaac H3327 was born H3205 unto him. And Sarah H8283 said, H559 God H430 hath made H6213 me to laugh, H6712 so that all that hear H8085 will laugh H6711 with me. And she said, H559 Who would have said H4448 unto Abraham, H85 that Sarah H8283 should have given children H1121 suck? H3243 for I have born H3205 him a son H1121 in his old age. H2208
And Abram H87 and Nahor H5152 took H3947 them wives: H802 the name H8034 of Abram's H87 wife H802 was Sarai; H8297 and the name H8034 of Nahor's H5152 wife, H802 Milcah, H4435 the daughter H1323 of Haran, H2039 the father H1 of Milcah, H4435 and the father H1 of Iscah. H3252 But Sarai H8297 was barren; H6135 she had no child. H2056
And God H430 said H559 unto Abraham, H85 As for Sarai H8297 thy wife, H802 thou shalt not call H7121 her name H8034 Sarai, H8297 but H3588 Sarah H8283 shall her name H8034 be. And I will bless H1288 her, and give H5414 thee a son H1121 also of her: yea, I will bless H1288 her, and she shall be a mother of nations; H1471 kings H4428 of people H5971 shall be of her. Then Abraham H85 fell H5307 upon his face, H6440 and laughed, H6711 and said H559 in his heart, H3820 Shall a child be born H3205 unto him that is an hundred H3967 years H8141 old? H1121 and shall Sarah, H8283 that is ninety H8673 years H8141 old, H1323 bear? H3205 And Abraham H85 said H559 unto God, H430 O that H3863 Ishmael H3458 might live H2421 before thee! H6440 And God H430 said, H559 Sarah H8283 thy wife H802 shall bear H3205 thee a son H1121 indeed; H61 and thou shalt call H7121 his name H8034 Isaac: H3327 and I will establish H6965 my covenant H1285 with him for an everlasting H5769 covenant, H1285 and with his seed H2233 after him. H310
And he said, H559 I will certainly H7725 return H7725 unto thee according to the time H6256 of life; H2416 and, lo, Sarah H8283 thy wife H802 shall have a son. H1121 And Sarah H8283 heard H8085 it in the tent H168 door, H6607 which was behind him. H310 Now Abraham H85 and Sarah H8283 were old H2205 and well stricken H935 in age; H3117 and it ceased H2308 to be with Sarah H8283 after the manner H734 of women. H802 Therefore Sarah H8283 laughed H6711 within herself, H7130 saying, H559 After H310 I am waxed old H1086 shall I have pleasure, H5730 my lord H113 being old also? H2204 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Abraham, H85 Wherefore H4100 did Sarah H8283 laugh, H6711 saying, H559 Shall I of a surety H552 bear H3205 a child, which H589 am old? H2204 Is H6381 any thing H1697 too hard H6381 for the LORD? H3068 At the time appointed H4150 I will return H7725 unto thee, according to the time H6256 of life, H2416 and Sarah H8283 shall have a son. H1121
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 24
Commentary on Genesis 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Ge 24:1-9. A Marriage Commission.
1. And Abraham was old … take a wife—His anxiety to see his son married was natural to his position as a pastoral chief interested in preserving the honor of his tribe, and still more as a patriarch who had regard to the divine promise of a numerous posterity.
2. said unto his eldest servant—Abraham being too old, and as the heir of the promise not being at liberty to make even a temporary visit to his native land, was obliged to intrust this delicate mission to Eliezer, whom, although putting entire confidence in him, he on this occasion bound by a solemn oath. A pastoral chief in the present day would follow the same course if he could not go himself.
3. thou shalt not take a wife, &c.—Among pastoral tribes the matrimonial arrangements are made by the parents, and a youth must marry, not among strangers, but in his own tribe—custom giving him a claim, which is seldom or never resisted, to the hand of his first cousin. But Abraham had a far higher motive—a fear lest, if his son married into a Canaanitish family, he might be gradually led away from the true God.
Ge 24:10-67. The Journey.
10. the servant took ten camels, &c.—So great an equipage was to give the embassy an appearance worthy of the rank and wealth of Abraham; to carry provisions; to bear the marriage presents, which as usual would be distributed over several beasts; besides one or two spare camels in case of emergency.
went to Mesopotamia, &c.—A stranger in those regions, who wishes to obtain information, stations himself at one of the wells in the neighborhood of a town, and he is sure to learn all the news of the place from the women who frequent them every morning and evening. Eliezer followed this course, and letting his camels rest, he waited till the evening time of water drawing.
12. And he said, O Lord God of my master—The servant appears worthy of the master he served. He resolves to follow the leading of Providence; and while he shows good sense in the tokens he fixes upon of ascertaining the temper and character of the future bride, he never doubts but that in such a case God will direct him.
15-21. before he had done speaking … behold, Rebekah came out—As he anticipated, a young woman unveiled, as in pastoral regions, appeared with her pitcher on her shoulder. Her comely appearance, her affable manners, her obliging courtesy in going down the steps to fetch water not only to him but to pour it into the trough for his camels, afforded him the most agreeable surprise. She was the very person his imagination had pictured, and he proceeded to reward her civility.
22. the man took a golden earring, &c.—The ring was not for the ear, but the nose; the armlets, such as young women in Syria and Arabia still appear daily at wells decked in. They are worn from the elbow to the wrist, commonly made of silver, copper, brass, or horn.
23-27. And said, Whose daughter art thou?—After telling her name and family, the kind-hearted damsel hastened home to give notice of a stranger's arrival.
28. and told them of her mother's house these things—the female apartments. This family was in an advanced stage of pastoral life, dwelling in a settled place and a fixed habitation.
29-31. Rebekah had a brother … Laban ran out—From what we know of his character, there is reason to believe that the sight of the dazzling presents increased both his haste and his invitation.
32-49. the man came into the house, &c.—What a beautiful picture of piety, fidelity, and disinterestedness in a servant! He declined all attention to his own comforts till he had told his name and his errand.
50. Then Laban and Bethuel answered—The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations, their father being probably dead, and without consulting their sister. Their language seems to indicate they were worshippers of the true God.
53. And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and … gold—These are the usual articles, with money, that form a woman's dowry among the pastoral tribes. Rebekah was betrothed and accompanied the servant to Canaan.
64. she lighted off the camel—If Isaac were walking, it would have been most unmannerly for her to have continued seated; an inferior, if riding, always alights in presence of a person of rank, no exception being made for women.
65. she took a veil, and covered herself—The veil is an essential part of female dress. In country places it is often thrown aside, but on the appearance of a stranger, it is drawn over the face, as to conceal all but the eyes. In a bride it was a token of her reverence and subjection to her husband.
67. And Isaac brought her into his mother's … tent—thus establishing her at once in the rights and honors of a wife before he had seen her features. Disappointments often take place, but when Isaac saw his wife, "he loved her."