Bereshis 24:23

23 And said, Whose bat art thou? Tell me, now: is there makom in the bais of thy av for us to spend the night?

Bereshis 24:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:23

And said
After he had given her the earring and the bracelets, he put the following question, according to Jarchi, and so our version seems to intimate the same; but, as it is related in ( Genesis 24:47 ) ; the question was put before those were given, therefore some render the words, "and he had said", or, "and after he had said" F6, namely, what follows; though, as Schmidt observes, the matter is easily reconciled, and both accounts stand clear and plain, if it be only remarked, that he took out the earring and bracelets before he put the question, but it was after it that he gave her them, or put them upon her: whose daughter [art] thou?
the reason of this question is, because by her answer to it he would know whether she was of the family related to Abraham or not; from whom only, according to his oath, he was to take a wife for Isaac, and which would in a good measure satisfy him as to what he had been musing about, whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not: tell me, I pray thee, is there room [in] thy father's house for us to
lodge in?
by her answer to this he would know whether her family was wealthy, and so fit to be in connection with his master's; and besides, if she appeared to be the person he hoped she was, he was desirous of lodging in her father's house, that he might have the better opportunity of managing the affair he was come about.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (rmayw) "et dixerat", Drusius; "postquam dixisset", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Bereshis 24:23 In-Context

21 And the ish gazed at her and held his peace, so as to have da’as whether Hashem had made his derech prosperous or not.
22 And it came to pass, just as the gemalim had done drinking, that the ish took a nezem zahav (gold ring) by weight a beka, and two tzemidim (bracelets) by weight ten [shekels of] gold for her wrists;
23 And said, Whose bat art thou? Tell me, now: is there makom in the bais of thy av for us to spend the night?
24 And she said unto him, I am Bat Beituel Ben Milcah, the ben which she bore unto Nachor.
25 She said moreover unto him, We have both teven (straw) and mispo (fodder) enough, and makom (room) to spend the night.
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