Genesis 24:12

12 O Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and shew kindness to my master, Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:12

And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham
He does not call the Lord his God, though no doubt he was, since he appears throughout the whole to be a good man; but the God of Abraham, because God had often manifested and renewed his covenant with Abraham in an eminent manner, and had bestowed many favours upon him, and admitted him to much nearness and communion with him; and it was not on his own account, but on his master's business he now was: I pray thee, send me good speed this day;
or "cause [something] to happen before me this day" F21; some extraordinary event, which depends not upon the will, or skill, or contrivance of men, but upon the pleasure of God; and which, with respect to second causes, men call hap or chance, but with respect to God, is according to his determinate counsel and will. The Targum of Jonathan is,

``prepare now a decent wife before me this day.''
But the servant's meaning is, that something might turn up in providence that would lead on to such an event: and shew kindness unto my master Abraham;
which he would be ready to acknowledge as a favour, an instance of kindness and mercy, and not merit.
FOOTNOTES:

F21 (ynpl an hrqh) "occurere fae nune coram me", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so Junius & Tremellius, Schmidt, Ainsworth.

Genesis 24:12 In-Context

10 And he took ten camels of his master’s herd, and departed, carrying something of all his goods with him, and he set forward and went on to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nachor.
11 And when he had made the camels lie down without the town, near a well of water, in the evening, at the time when women are wont to come out to draw water, he said:
12 O Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, meet me today, I beseech thee, and shew kindness to my master, Abraham.
13 Behold, I stand nigh the spring of water, and the daughters of the inhabitants of this city will come out to draw water:
14 Now, therefore, the maid to whom I shall say: Let down thy pitcher that I may drink: and she shall answer, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let it be the same whom thou hast provided for thy servant Isaac: and by this, I shall understand that thou hast shewn kindness to my master.
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