Genesis 24:49

49 Seid ihr nun die, so an meinem Herrn Freundschaft und Treue beweisen wollen, so sagt mir's; wo nicht, so sagt mir's auch, daß ich mich wende zur Rechten oder zur Linken.

Genesis 24:49 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:49

And now, if you deal kindly and truly with my master, tell
me
The servant directs himself to more than one, to the whole family, especially to Laban and Bethuel; if you will do my master a kindness, and grant him the favour he requests, that a damsel of this family may be given for a wife to his son; and, if you are hearty and sincere in granting this, tell me at once: and if not, tell me:
if you do not choose to gratify my master, and are not hearty in this matter, let me know: that I may turn to the right hand or to the left;
look out elsewhere among the daughters of some of the other sons of Nahor; for he had seven more which Milcah bare to him besides Bethuel, as well as four others by a concubine, ( Genesis 22:20-24 ) ; though some of the Jewish writers


FOOTNOTES:

F15 by "the right hand" understand the daughters of Ishmael, that dwelt to the right, and by "the left [hand]" the daughters of Lot, who were to the left, which is not likely: it seems to be only a proverbial expression, that, if they did not choose to attend to his proposal in his master's name, he must take some other method, as he might be directed; he knew not for the present which way, whether he should steer his course to the right or left, but some way he must take. The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it,
``to the south or to the north;''
because when a man stands with his face to the east, the south is on his right hand, and the north on his left.
F15 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 60. fol. 53. 1. Jarchi in loc.

Genesis 24:49 In-Context

47 Und ich fragte sie und sprach: Wes Tochter bist du? Sie antwortete: Ich bin Bethuels Tochter, des Sohnes Nahors, den ihm Milka geboren hat. Da legte ich einen Reif an ihre Stirn und Armringe an ihre Hände
48 und neigte mich und betete den HERRN an und lobte den HERRN, den Gott meines Herrn Abraham, der mich den rechten Weg geführt hat, daß ich seinem Sohn die Tochter nehme des Bruders meines Herrn.
49 Seid ihr nun die, so an meinem Herrn Freundschaft und Treue beweisen wollen, so sagt mir's; wo nicht, so sagt mir's auch, daß ich mich wende zur Rechten oder zur Linken.
50 Da antworteten Laban und Bethuel und sprachen: Das kommt vom HERRN; darum können wir nicht wider dich reden, weder Böses noch Gutes;
51 da ist Rebekka vor dir, nimm sie und zieh hin, daß sie das Weib sei des Sohnes deines Herrn, wie der HERR geredet hat.
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