Genesis 24:23

23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?”

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 The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had given him success in his mission.
22 Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists.
23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?”
24 “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.
25 Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.”
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