Genesis 24:3

3 that I conjure thee by the Lord God of heaven and of earth, that thou take not a wife to my son of the daughters of Canaan, among which I dwell; (and I want thee to swear by the Lord God of heaven and earth, that thou shalt not get a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaan, among whom I live;)

Genesis 24:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and
the God of earth
The Maker and possessor of heaven and earth, by whom Abraham used to swear whenever he did, and by whom only men should swear, see ( Genesis 14:22 ) . The Targum of Jonathan is,

``I will make thee swear by the name of the Word of the Lord God,''
which strengthens the sense given of the rite before observed: that thou wilt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the
Canaanites, among whom I dwell;
these being not only idolaters, and very wicked people, degenerated yet more and more, but were the seed of the accursed Canaan; and who in process of time would be dispossessed of the land, and be destroyed. Now though Isaac was forty years of age, and one would think at an age sufficient to have chosen a wife for himself; but as Abraham knew that he had a great respect for this servant, and would be influenced by him in such a choice, and especially as this affair was now about to be committed to his care, and no doubt with the consent of Isaac, therefore he thus charges and adjures him.

Genesis 24:3 In-Context

1 Forsooth Abraham was eld, and of many days, and the Lord had blessed him in all things.
2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, that was sovereign on all things that he had, Put thou thine hand under mine hip, (And he said to the oldest servant of his household, who was the ruler over all the things that he had, Put thy hand under my hip,)
3 that I conjure thee by the Lord God of heaven and of earth, that thou take not a wife to my son of the daughters of Canaan, among which I dwell; (and I want thee to swear by the Lord God of heaven and earth, that thou shalt not get a wife for my son from the daughters of Canaan, among whom I live;)
4 but that thou go to my land and kindred, and thereof take a wife to my son Isaac. (but that thou shalt go to my land and family, and get a wife from there for my son Isaac.)
5 The servant answered, If the woman will not come with me into this land, whether I ought to lead again thy son to the place, from which thou wentest out? (And the servant answered, If the woman will not come back with me to this land, should I lead thy son back to the place from which thou wentest out?)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.