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The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:22-27
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking,—"If it is remembered that camels, though endowed in an almost marvelous degree with the power of enduring thirst, drink, when an opportunity offers, an enormous quan…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:28
And the damsel— הַגַּעַרָ (vide on Genesis 24:16)—ran (leaving the venerable stranger in the act of devotion), and told them of her mother's house—a true touch of nature. With womanly instinct, discerning the possibilit…
Matthew Henry on Genesis 24:29-53
The making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah is told very particularly. We are to notice God's providence in the common events of human life, and in them to exercise prudence and other graces. Laban went to a…
Abraham's Servant Entertained by Laban; Errand of Abraham's Servant. (b. c. 1857.)
ABRAHAM'S SERVANT ENTERTAINED BY LABAN; ERRAND OF ABRAHAM'S SERVANT. (B. C. 1857.) We have here the making up of the marriage between Isaac and Rebekah. It is related very largely and particularly, even to the minute ci…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:29-60
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:29-60
A bride for the heir.-3. Eliezer and Laban, or proposals for the bride. I. THE HOSPITABLE BROTHER. 1. The eager invitation. "Come in, thou blessed of the Lord!" 2. The kindly reception. II. THE AGED WOOER. 1. Impatient.…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:29
And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. "White," whose character has been considerably traduced, the Biblical narrative not representing him as "a monster of moral depravity," but rather as actuated by genero…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:30
Laban's eye of greed. "And when he saw the bracelets," &c. One thing moved Laban to offer hospitality to a stranger—the vision of gold on his sister's form. I. COVETOUSNESS MAKES A MAN CALCULATING WHEN APPEARING TO BE G…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:30
And it cams to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands (vide Genesis 24:22), and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man (…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:31
And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord. בְּרוּךְ יהֹוָה (cf. Genesis 26:29; Numbers 24:9); the usual form being לַיַהוָֹה (vide Genesis 14:19; Ruth 2:20; 1 Samuel 15:13). Though Laban was an idolater (Genesis 31…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:31
Laban, the solicitous host. "Wherefore standest thou without?" The character of Laban has been well explained by Blunt in his ' Coincidences.' It is one of consistent greed. He was sincere in inviting Eliezer because he…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:32
And the man came into the house: and he (i.e. Laban) ungirded his (literally, the) camels, and gave straw—cut up by threshing for fodder (cf. Job 21:18; Isaiah 11:7; Isaiah 65:25)—and provender for the camels, and water…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:33
And there was set—appositus est (Vulgate); i.e. if the first word be taken, as in the Keri, as the hophal of שׂוּם; but if the Kethib be preferred, then וַיַּישֶׂם is the fur. Kal of יָשַׂם, signifying, "and he set;" πα…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:34-49
Availing himself of the privilege thus accorded, the faithful ambassador recounted the story of his master's prosperity, and of the birth of Isaac when Sarah his mother was old (literally, after her old age); of the oat…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:50-52
Then Laban and Bethuel (vide on Genesis 24:29) answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord:—Jehovah (vide on Genesis 24:31)—we cannot speak unto thee bad or good—i.e. they could not demur to a proposal so clea…
Matthew Henry on 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 th…
Rebekah's Departure. (b. c. 1857.)
REBEKAH'S DEPARTURE. (B. C. 1857.) Rebekah is here taking leave of her father's house; and 1. Abraham's servant presses for a dismission. Though he and his company were very welcome, and very cheerful there, yet he said…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:55
And her brother and her mother—Laban as usual (Genesis 24:50) having the first place; probably because of the prominence which from this time he assumes in the theocratic history—said, Let the damsel abide with us a few…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:56-60
Still urging his suit for permission to depart, Laban and the mother of Rebekah proposed that the maiden should be left to decide a matter so important for her by her own inclinations. When consulted she expressed her r…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:61-67
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:61
And Rebekah arose, and her damsels,—probably a company, at least two, though Laban afterwards only gave each of his daughters one (Genesis 29:24, Genesis 29:29)—and they rode upon camels (most likely those which Abraham…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:61-67
A bride for the heir.-4. Rebekah and Isaac, or the wedding of the bride. I. THE PENSIVE BRIDEGROOM. 1. Mourning for his mother. Isaac's meditation clearly includes this. Good mothers, when they die, should be deeply and…
Isaac's Marriage. (b. c. 1857.)
ISAAC'S MARRIAGE. (B. C. 1857.) Isaac and Rebekah are, at length, happily brought together. Observe, I. Isaac was well employed when he met Rebekah: He went out to meditate, or pray, in the field, at the even-tide, Gene…
The Pulpit Commentary on Genesis 24:62
And (when the bridal train was nearing home) Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi;—Hagar's well (Genesis 16:7, Genesis 16:14)—for he dwelt in the south country—on the Negeb (vide Genesis 12:9). Abraham may by t…