Genesis 24:32

32 So the man entered the house. Then ¹Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

Genesis 24:32 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:32

And the man came into the house
Upon the pressing instance made unto him; for so it may be rendered, "wherefore the man came" ^F11 and he ungirded his camels;
took off their bridles, which hindered them from eating, as the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi; or loosed their girts and took off their burdens, that they might have rest: this may be interpreted either of the servant and of his men by his order doing this, it being the first thing that travellers do when they come to an inn to take care of their cattle; or rather of Laban, as what follows must be interpreted of him: and gave straw and provender for the camels;
straw for their litter, and provender to eat; this Laban did, or ordered to be done: the Targum of Jonathan expresses his name, and no doubt he is intended, for who should give these but he? and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that [were] with him:
which was usually done to strangers and travellers in those hot countries, see ( Genesis 18:4 ) . The Vulgate Latin version is, "and water to wash the feet of the camels"; which, though it is possible might be done, yet is without any foundation in the text.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 (abyw) "intravit itaque", Tigurine version, Piscator; "quare", Schmidt.

Genesis 24:32 In-Context

30 When he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, "This is what the man said to me," he went to the man; and behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

31 And he said, "Come in, blessed of the LORD ! Why do you stand outside since I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels?"

32 So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

33 But when food was set before him to eat, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my business." And he said, "Speak on."

34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 43:24; Judges 19:21

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "he"