Genesis 24:18-28

18 1She said, "Drink, my lord "; and she quickly lowered her jar to her hand, and gave him a drink.
19 Now when she had finished giving him a drink, 2she said, "I will draw also for your camels until * they have finished drinking."
20 So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, and ran back to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.
21 3Meanwhile, the man was gazing at her in silence, to know whether the LORD had made his journey successful or not.
22 When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a 4gold ring weighing a half-shekel and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten shekels in gold,
23 and said, "Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room for us to lodge in your father's house?"
24 She said to him, "5I am the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor."
25 Again she said to him, "We have plenty of both straw and feed, and room to lodge in."
26 Then the man 6bowed low and worshiped the LORD.
27 He said, "7Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken 8His lovingkindness and His truth toward * my master; as for me, 9the LORD has guided me in the way to the house of my master's brothers."
28 Then 10the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.

Genesis 24:18-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 24

This chapter shows Abraham's concern to get a suitable wife for his son Isaac, for which purpose he commits the affair into the hands of his eldest servant, and makes him swear that he will not take one from among the Canaanites, but out of his own country, and from among his own kindred, Ge 24:1-4; which his servant agreed to, after having the nature of his charge, and of the oath, explained to him, Ge 24:5-9; upon which he departed to Mesopotamia, and coming to the city of Nahor, and to a well near it, he prayed for success, and desired direction by a token, which was granted him, Ge 24:10-22; and inquiring of the damsel, who answered to the token, whose daughter she was, and whether they had room for him and his in their house; and an agreeable answer being returned, he gave thanks to God that had directed him, and had so far made his journey prosperous, Ge 24:23-27; the damsel acquainting her parents whom and what she met with at the well, a brother of her steps out, and invites the servant in, and makes him welcome, Ge 24:28-33; but before he would eat anything, he tells his errand he was come upon, at the instance of his master; how, he had prayed for direction, and was heard, and for which he had given thanks, Ge 24:34-48; and then treats with the relations of the damsel about her marriage to his master's son, to which they agreed, Ge 24:49-51; and after having blessed God, and given his presents he brought with him to the damsel, and her family, and ate and drank with them, was for departing the next morning, Ge 24:52-54; but the friends of the damsel being desirous of her stay with them some few days, and he urgent to be gone, the affair was referred to her, and she agreed to go with him directly, Ge 24:55-58; upon which they dismissed her with their blessing, Ge 24:59,60; who being met by Isaac in the way, was received and introduced into his mother's tent, and married by him, Ge 24:61-67.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Genesis 24:14, 46
  • 2. Genesis 24:14
  • 3. Gen 24:12-14, 27, 52
  • 4. Genesis 24:47; Exodus 32:2, 3
  • 5. Genesis 24:15
  • 6. Genesis 24:48, 52; Exodus 4:31
  • 7. Gen 24:12, 42, 48; Exodus 18:10; Ruth 4:14; 1 Samuel 25:32; 2 Samuel 18:28; Luke 1:68
  • 8. Genesis 32:10; Psalms 98:3
  • 9. Genesis 24:21, 48
  • 10. Genesis 29:12

Footnotes 2

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