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Matthew Henry on 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 servant…
Abraham's Charges to His Servant. (b. c. 1857.)
ABRAHAM'S CHARGES TO HIS SERVANT. (B. C. 1857.) 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 w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:1-67
The unfolding of the Divine purpose. I. THE EXPANDED BLESSING. The first line of the web of sacred history stretches itself out to Mesopotamia. The aged patriarch, blessed of Jehovah in all things, is fading from our si…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:1
And Abraham was old and well stricken in age:—literally, [lone into days (cf. Genesis 18:11), being now about 140 (vide Genesis 25:20)—and the Lord—Jehovah] not because the chapter is the exclusive composition of the Je…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:1-9
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:1-9
A bride for the heir.-1. Abraham and Eliezer, or the mission for the bride. I. THE TRUSTY MESSENGER. 1. His designation. 2. His qualification. II. THE IMPORTANT COMMISSION. 1. The purport of it. "To take a wife for Isaa…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:2-4
And Abraham said auto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had,—literally, to his servant, the old man, ancient or elder, of his house, the ruler over all which (sc. belonged) to him. The term זָ…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:5
And the servant said unto him (not having the same faith as his master), Peradventure (with perhaps a secret conviction that he ought to say, "Of a surety") the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land. Pri…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:6
No turning back. "And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again." Abraham's care to prevent the leaven of idolatry entering his family (cf. Exodus 34:16; 1 Corinthians 15:33; James 1:27…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:6-8
And Abraham said, Beware thou—literally, beware for thyself, the pleonastic pronoun being added by way of emphasis (cf. Genesis 12:1; Genesis 21:16; Genesis 22:5)—that thou bring not my son thither again. Literally, les…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:9
And the servant (understanding the nature of his mission, and feeling satisfied on the points that impinged upon his conscience) put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matte…
Matthew Henry on 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…
Journey of Abraham's Servant. (b. c. 1857.)
JOURNEY OF ABRAHAM'S SERVANT. (B. C. 1857.) Abraham's servant now begins to make a figure in this story; and, though he is not named, yet much is here recorded to his honour, and for an example to all servants, who shal…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:10
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master,—to bear the presents for the bride, to enhance the dignity of his mission, and to serve as a means of transport for the bride and her companions on the return…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:10-28
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:10-28
A bride for the heir.-2. Eliezer and Rebekah, or the finding of the bride. I. THE MATRIMONIAL EMBASSY. 1. The departure from Hebron. With promptitude and alacrity, as became a servant executing the instructions of a mas…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:11
And he made his camels to kneel down—"a mode of expression taken from actual life. The action is literally kneeling; not stooping, sitting, or lying down on the side like a horse, but kneeling on his knees; and this the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:12-14
And he said,—commencing his search for the maiden by prayer, as he closes it with thanksgiving (Genesis 24:26)—a beautiful example of piety and of the fruits of Abraham's care for the souls of his household, Genesis 18:…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:15
And it came to pass (not certainly by accident, but by Divine arrangement), before he had done speaking, that,—his prayer was answered (cf. Isaiah 65:24; Daniel 9:20, Daniel 9:21). From Genesis 24:45 it appears that the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:16
And the damsel was very fair to look upon. Literally, good of countenance, like Sarah (Genesis 12:11) and Rachel (Genesis 29:17; cf. Genesis 26:7 of Rebekah). A virgin. Bethulah, i.e. one separated and secluded from int…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:17-19
And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher (a request which was at once complied with). And she said, Drink (and with the utmost politeness), my lord (and with ch…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:20
And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough (or gutter made of stone, with which wells were usually provided, and which were filled with water when animals required to drink), and ran again unto the well to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:21
And the man wondering at her—gazing with attention on her (LXX; Vulgate, Gesenius, Furst); amazed and astonished at her (Rosenmüller, Delitzsch, Keil, Lange, Calvin)—held his peace, to wit—i.e. that he might know—silenc…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:21
Eliezer, or a wife-seeker. "And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord had made his way prosperous or not." "The man" spoken of was probably the Eliezer of Damascus mentioned in Genesis 15:2. H…