Genesis 24:9-19

9 So the servant 1placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of 2good things of his master's in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to 3the city of Nahor.
11 He made the camels kneel down outside * the city by 4the well of water at evening time, 5the time when women go out to draw water.
12 He said, "6O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please 7grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.
13 "Behold, 8I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
14 now may it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also '-may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master."

Rebekah Is Chosen

15 9Before he had finished speaking, behold, 10Rebekah who was born to Bethuel the son of 11Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor, came out with her jar on her shoulder.
16 The girl was 12very beautiful, a virgin, and no man had had relations with her; and she went down to the spring and filled her jar and came up.
17 Then the servant ran to meet her, and said, "13Please let me drink a little water from your jar."
18 14She 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, 15she said, "I will draw also for your camels until * they have finished drinking."

Genesis 24:9-19 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 15

  • 1. Genesis 24:2
  • 2. Genesis 24:22, 53
  • 3. Genesis 11:31, 32
  • 4. Genesis 24:42
  • 5. Exodus 2:16; 1 Samuel 9:11
  • 6. Gen 24:27, 42, 48; Genesis 26:24; Exodus 3:6, 15
  • 7. Genesis 27:20
  • 8. Genesis 24:43
  • 9. Genesis 24:45
  • 10. Genesis 22:20, 23
  • 11. Genesis 11:29
  • 12. Genesis 12:11; Genesis 26:7; Genesis 29:17
  • 13. John 4:7
  • 14. Genesis 24:14, 46
  • 15. Genesis 24:14

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Heb "Aram-naharaim, Aram of the two rivers"
  • [b]. Lit "cause to occur for me"
  • [c]. Lit "fountain of water"
  • [d]. Lit "she will say"
  • [e]. Lit "known"
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