Genesis 24:65

65 and said to the servant, Who is that man that cometh by the field into the meeting of us? And the servant said to her, It is my lord. And she took soon a mantle, and covered her (And she quickly took a mantle, and covered herself).

Genesis 24:65 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:65

For she [had] said unto the servant
As soon as she saw a man walking towards them, who she thought with herself might be Isaac: what man is this that walketh in the field to meet us?
for by the course he steered, she perceived that he was coming towards them, and so concluded it must be one of the family, and probably the person she was to be married to; for otherwise, had he not by his look and motion discovered that he knew the servant, and was coming towards them, she would have took no notice of him and the servant [had] said, it is my master:
meaning not Abraham, but his son, who also was his master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself;
both out of modesty, and as a token of subjection to him: for the veil was put on when the bride was introduced to the bridegroom, as among the Romans ^F24 in later times. The Arab women always have veils when they appear in public, so that their faces cannot be seen; and though in the summer months they walk abroad with less caution, yet then, upon the approach of a stranger, they put on their veils ^F25.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Vid. Lucan. l. 2. & Martial. Epigr. l. 2. 74.
F25 See Shaw's Travels, p. 228. Tertullian. de Virgin. Veland, c. 17.

Genesis 24:65 In-Context

63 And he went out to think in the field, for the day was bowed [down] then; and when he had raised [up] his eyes, he saw camels coming (from) afar.

64 And when Isaac was seen, Rebecca lighted down off the camel,

65 and said to the servant, Who is that man that cometh by the field into the meeting of us? And the servant said to her, It is my lord. And she took soon a mantle, and covered her (And she quickly took a mantle, and covered herself).

66 Forsooth the servant told to his lord Isaac all (the) things which he had done;

67 Isaac led her into the tabernacle of Sarah, his mother, and took her to wife; and so much he loved her, that he assuaged the sorrow which befell to him of the death of his mother. (and Isaac led her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and took her as his wife; and he loved her so much, that he assuaged the sorrow which befell to him upon his mother's death.)