Genesis 24:12

12 He prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and keep your promise to my master.

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 The servant, who was in charge of Abraham's property, took ten of his master's camels and went to the city where Nahor had lived in northern Mesopotamia.
11 When he arrived, he made the camels kneel down at the well outside the city. It was late afternoon, the time when women came out to get water.
12 He prayed, "Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today and keep your promise to my master.
13 Here I am at the well where the young women of the city will be coming to get water.
14 I will say to one of them, "Please, lower your jar and let me have a drink.' If she says, "Drink, and I will also bring water for your camels,' may she be the one that you have chosen for your servant Isaac. If this happens, I will know that you have kept your promise to my master."
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.