Genesis 24:23

23 And he asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? Tell me if there is room for us to lodge with thy father.

Genesis 24:23 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:23

And said
After he had given her the earring and the bracelets, he put the following question, according to Jarchi, and so our version seems to intimate the same; but, as it is related in ( Genesis 24:47 ) ; the question was put before those were given, therefore some render the words, "and he had said", or, "and after he had said" F6, namely, what follows; though, as Schmidt observes, the matter is easily reconciled, and both accounts stand clear and plain, if it be only remarked, that he took out the earring and bracelets before he put the question, but it was after it that he gave her them, or put them upon her: whose daughter [art] thou?
the reason of this question is, because by her answer to it he would know whether she was of the family related to Abraham or not; from whom only, according to his oath, he was to take a wife for Isaac, and which would in a good measure satisfy him as to what he had been musing about, whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not: tell me, I pray thee, is there room [in] thy father's house for us to
lodge in?
by her answer to this he would know whether her family was wealthy, and so fit to be in connection with his master's; and besides, if she appeared to be the person he hoped she was, he was desirous of lodging in her father's house, that he might have the better opportunity of managing the affair he was come about.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (rmayw) "et dixerat", Drusius; "postquam dixisset", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Genesis 24:23 In-Context

21 And the man took great notice of her, and remained silent to know whether the Lord had made his way prosperous or not.
22 And it came to pass when all the camels ceased drinking, that the man took golden ear-rings, each of a drachm weight, and he two bracelets on her hands, their weight was ten pieces of gold.
23 And he asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? Tell me if there is room for us to lodge with thy father.
24 And she said to him, I am the daughter of Bathuel the son of Melcha, whom she bore to Nachor.
25 And she said to him, We have both straw and much provender, and a place for resting.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.