Genesis 24
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And Abraham was old - He was now about one hundred and forty years of age, and consequently Isaac was forty, being born when his father was one hundred years old. See Gen 21:5; Gen 25:20.
Open source ↗A MARRIAGE COMMISSION. (Gen 24:1-9) 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.
Open source ↗And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age,.... Being now one hundred and forty years of age, for as he was an hundred years old when Isaac was born, and Isaac was forty years of age when he married Rebekah, which was at this time, Abraham must be of the age mentioned, see Gen 21:5, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things; with all kind of blessings, with temporal and spiritual blessings; the former seems chiefly designed here, because of what follows; God had blessed him, as Aben Ezra observes, with long life, and riches, and honour, and children, things desirable by men.
Open source ↗After the death of Sarah, Abraham had still to arrange for the marriage of Isaac. He was induced to provide for this in a mode in harmony with the promise of God, quite as much by his increasing age as by the blessing of God in everything, which necessarily instilled the wish to transmit that blessing to a distant posterity. He entrusted this commission to his servant, "the eldest of his house," - i.e., his upper servant, who had the management of all his house (according to general opinion, to Eliezer, whom he had previously thought of as the heir of his property, but who would now, like Abraham, be extremely old, as more than sixty years had passed since the occurrence related in Gen 15:2), - and made him swear that he would not take a wife for his son from the daughters of the Canaanites, but would fetch one from his (Abraham's) native country, and his kindred. Abraham made the servant take an oath in order that his wishes might be inviolably fulfilled, even if he himself should die in the interim. In swearing, the servant put his hand under Abraham's hip. This custom, which is only mentioned here and in Gen 47:29, the so-called bodily oath, was no doubt connected with the significance of the hip as the part from which the posterity issued (Gen 46:26), and the seat of vital power; but the early Jewish commentators supposed it to be especially connected with the rite of circumcision. The oath was by "Jehovah, God of heaven and earth," as the God who rules in heaven and on earth, not by Elohim; for it had respect not to an ordinary oath, but to a question of great importance in relation to the kingdom of God. "Isaac was not regarded as a merely pious candidate for matrimony, but as the heir of the promise, who must therefore be kept from any alliance with the race whos…
Open source ↗Three things we may observe here concerning Abraham: - I. The care he took of a good son, to get him married, well married. It was high time to think of it now, for Isaac was about forty years old, and it had been customary with his ancestors to marry at thirty, or sooner, Gen 11:14, Gen 11:18, Gen 11:22, Gen 11:24. Abraham believed the promise of the building up of his family, and therefore did not make haste; not more haste than good speed. Two considerations moved him to think of it now (Gen 24:1): - 1. That he himself was likely to leave the world quickly, for he was old, and well-stricken in age, and it would be a satisfaction to him to see his son settled before he died; and, 2. That he had a good estate to leave behind him, for the Lord had blessed him in all things; and the blessing of the Lord makes rich. See how much religion and piety befriend outward prosperity. Now Abraham's pious care concerning his son was, (1.) That he should not marry a daughter of Canaan, but one of his kindred. He saw that the Canaanites were degenerating into great wickedness, and knew by revelation that they were designed for ruin, and therefore he would not marry his son among them, lest they should be either a snare to his soul, or at least a blot to his name. (2.) That yet he should not leave the land of Canaan, to go himself among his kindred, not even for the purpose of choosing a wife, lest he should be tempted to settle there. This caution is given Gen 24:6, and repeated, Gen 24:8. "Bring not my son thither again, whatever comes of it. Let him rather want a wife than expose himself to that temptation." Note, Parents in disposing of their children, should carefully consult the welfare of their souls, and their furtherance in the way to heaven. Those who through grace have esca…
Open source ↗24:1-67 Isaac’s marriage to Rebekah ensured that God’s plan would continue into the next generation. God showed covenant faithfulness by working through his faithful people (24:12, 27, 49). 24:1-9 Confident in the Lord’s promise, Abraham had his chief servant (probably Eliezer, 15:2) swear to find a wife among Abraham’s relatives in his homeland, some 450 miles away. Abraham was faithful to the covenant by preparing for Isaac’s future.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
אַבְרָהָם (ʼAbrâhâm, H85) — Abraham, the later name of Abram זָקֵן (zâqên, H2204) — to be old בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as…
Open source ↗אַבְרָהָם (ʼAbrâhâm, H85) — Abraham, the later name of Abram אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) זָקֵן (zâqên, H2205) — old עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) מָשַׁל (mâshal, H4910) — to rule שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יָרֵךְ (yârêk, H3409) — the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts;…
Open source ↗שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to…
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מוֹלֶדֶת (môwledeth, H4138) — nativity (plural birth-place); by implication, lineage, native country; also offspring,… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִצְחָק (Yitschâq, H3327) — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham
Open source ↗עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman אָבָה (ʼâbâh, H14) — to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and…
Open source ↗אַבְרָהָם (ʼAbrâhâm, H85) — Abraham, the later name of Abram אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… פֵּן (pên, H6435) — properly, removal; used only (in the construction) adverb as conjunction, lest בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מוֹלֶדֶת (môwledeth, H4138) — nativity (plural birth-place); by implication, lineage, native country; also offspring,… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
Open source ↗אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman אָבָה (ʼâbâh, H14) — to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescent יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… נָקָה (nâqâh, H5352) — to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense)… שְׁבוּעָה (shᵉbûwʻâh, H7621) — properly, something sworn, i.e. an oath שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), יָרֵךְ (yârêk, H3409) — the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts;… אַבְרָהָם (ʼAbrâhâm, H85) — Abraham, the later name of Abram אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) עַל (ʻal, H5921) — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… זֶה (zeh, H2088) — the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Open source ↗עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) עֶשֶׂר (ʻeser, H6235) — ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits) גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) טוּב (ṭûwb, H2898) — good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִם (ʼĂram Nahărayim, H763) — Aram of (the) two rivers (Euphrates and Tigris) or Mesopotamia עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… נָחוֹר (Nâchôwr, H5152) — Nochor, the name of the grandfather and a brother of Abraham
Open source ↗בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… אֵל (ʼêl, H413) — near, with or among; often in general, to בְּאֵר (bᵉʼêr, H875) — a pit; especially a well מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. עֶרֶב (ʻereb, H6153) — dusk יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… שָׁאַב (shâʼab, H7579) — to bale up water
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) אַבְרָהָם (ʼAbrâhâm, H85) — Abraham, the later name of Abram פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… קָרָה (qârâh, H7136) — to light upon (chiefly by accident); causatively, to bring about; specifically, to impose… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… עִם (ʻim, H5973) — adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications;…
Open source ↗נָצַב (nâtsab, H5324) — to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… שָׁאַב (shâʼab, H7579) — to bale up water
Open source ↗נַעֲרָה (naʻărâh, H5291) — a girl (from infancy to adolescence) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… כַּד (kad, H3537) — properly, a pail; but generally of earthenware; a jar for domestic purposes שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) שָׁקָה (shâqâh, H8248) — to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel יָכַח (yâkach, H3198) — to be right (i.e. correct); reciprocal, to argue; causatively, to decide, justify or… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant יִצְחָק (Yitschâq, H3327) — Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Open source ↗Cross-references
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So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold.
The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
And Abraham and Sarah were already old and well along in years; Sarah had passed the age of childbearing.
I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.
“The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys.
Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.
For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.