Genesis 24:8

8 And if the woman should not be willing to come with thee into this land, thou shalt be clear from my oath, only carry not my son thither again.

Genesis 24:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:8

And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee
Or "but" if ^F13, which is said by Abraham, not as doubting she would be willing, of which he was satisfied, being persuaded that that God that had made him willing to leave his own country, and his father's house, would make her willing to do the like, and come and settle with his son in the land that God had given him; but this, and what follows, he said to make the mind of his servant easy, who had some doubt about it, or however was desirous of knowing how he must act should that be the case; and what it was he was to take an oath to do, and how far, and how far not, that would oblige him: then thou shalt be clear from this my oath;
which he enjoined his servant to take; the sense is, when he had done all he could to get the consent of the damsel, and her friends, to go with him and marry his master's son; and after all she could not be prevailed upon to come with him, then he was free from his oath, having done all that that obliged him to, and he not attempting to take one from any other quarter: only bring not my son thither again;
neither agree with the damsel and her parents, that he shall come to them, nor persuade him to comply with such terms.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 (Maw) "sin autem", V. L.

Genesis 24:8 In-Context

6 And Abraam said to him, Take heed to thyself that thou carry not my son back thither.

7 The Lord the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, who took me out of my father's house, and out of the land whence I sprang, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, I will give this land to thee and to thy seed, he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife to my son from thence.

8 And if the woman should not be willing to come with thee into this land, thou shalt be clear from my oath, only carry not my son thither again.

9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraam, and swore to him concerning this matter.

10 And the servant took ten camels of his master's camels, and of all the goods of his master with him, and he arose and went into Mesopotamia to the city of Nachor.