Genesis 24:50-60

50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, "¹The matter comes from the LORD; ²so we cannot * speak to you bad or good.

51 "Here is Rebekah before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."

52 When Abraham's servant heard their words, he ³bowed himself to the ground before the LORD.

53 The servant brought out ⁴articles of silver and articles of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave precious things to her brother and to her mother.

54 Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank and spent the night. When they arose in the morning, he said, "⁵Send me away to my master."

55 But her brother and her mother said, "⁶Let the girl stay with us a few days, say ten; afterward she may go."

56 He said to them, "Do not delay me, since ⁷the LORD has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."

57 And they said, "We will call the girl and consult her wishes."

58 Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" And she said, "I will go."

59 Thus they sent away their sister Rebekah and ⁸her nurse with Abraham's servant and his men.

60 They blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, ⁹Become thousands of ten thousands, And may ¹⁰your descendants possess The gate of those who hate them."

Genesis 24:50-60 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 24

This chapter shows Abraham's concern to get a suitable wife for his son Isaac, for which purpose he commits the affair into the hands of his eldest servant, and makes him swear that he will not take one from among the Canaanites, but out of his own country, and from among his own kindred, Ge 24:1-4; which his servant agreed to, after having the nature of his charge, and of the oath, explained to him, Ge 24:5-9; upon which he departed to Mesopotamia, and coming to the city of Nahor, and to a well near it, he prayed for success, and desired direction by a token, which was granted him, Ge 24:10-22; and inquiring of the damsel, who answered to the token, whose daughter she was, and whether they had room for him and his in their house; and an agreeable answer being returned, he gave thanks to God that had directed him, and had so far made his journey prosperous, Ge 24:23-27; the damsel acquainting her parents whom and what she met with at the well, a brother of her steps out, and invites the servant in, and makes him welcome, Ge 24:28-33; but before he would eat anything, he tells his errand he was come upon, at the instance of his master; how, he had prayed for direction, and was heard, and for which he had given thanks, Ge 24:34-48; and then treats with the relations of the damsel about her marriage to his master's son, to which they agreed, Ge 24:49-51; and after having blessed God, and given his presents he brought with him to the damsel, and her family, and ate and drank with them, was for departing the next morning, Ge 24:52-54; but the friends of the damsel being desirous of her stay with them some few days, and he urgent to be gone, the affair was referred to her, and she agreed to go with him directly, Ge 24:55-58; upon which they dismissed her with their blessing, Ge 24:59,60; who being met by Isaac in the way, was received and introduced into his mother's tent, and married by him, Ge 24:61-67.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 118:23; Mark 12:11
• 2. Genesis 31:24, 29
• 3. Genesis 24:26, 48
• 4. Genesis 24:10, 22; Exodus 3:22; Exodus 11:2; Exodus 12:35
• 5. Genesis 24:56, 59; Genesis 30:25
• 6. Judges 19:4
• 7. Genesis 24:40
• 8. Genesis 35:8
• 9. Genesis 17:16
• 10. Genesis 22:17

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "to"
• [b] Lit "ask her mouth"
• [c] Lit "seed"