Genesis 24:1-14

A Bride for Isaac

1 Now 1Abraham was old, advanced in age; and the LORD had 2blessed Abraham in every way.
2 Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had 3charge of all that he owned, "4Please place your hand under my thigh,
3 and I will make you swear by the LORD, 5the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you 6shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of 7the Canaanites, among whom I live,
4 but you will go to 8my country and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac."
5 The servant said to him, "Suppose the woman is not willing to follow * me to this land; should I take your son back to the land from where * you came?"
6 Then Abraham said to him, "9Beware that you do not take my son back there!
7 "10The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and who swore to me, saying, '11To your descendants I will give this land,' He will send 12His angel before you, and you will take a wife for my son from there.
8 "But if the woman is not willing to follow * you, then you will 13be free from this my oath; 14only do not take my son back there."
9 So the servant 15placed his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
10 Then the servant took ten camels from the camels of his master, and set out with a variety of 16good things of his master's in his hand; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to 17the city of Nahor.
11 He made the camels kneel down outside * the city by 18the well of water at evening time, 19the time when women go out to draw water.
12 He said, "20O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please 21grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham.
13 "Behold, 22I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water;
14 now may it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please let down your jar so that I may drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and I will water your camels also '-may she be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness to my master."

Genesis 24:1-14 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 22

  • 1. Genesis 18:11
  • 2. Genesis 12:2; Genesis 13:2; Genesis 24:35; Galatians 3:9
  • 3. Genesis 39:4-6
  • 4. Genesis 24:9; Genesis 47:29
  • 5. Genesis 14:19, 22
  • 6. Deuteronomy 7:3; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
  • 7. Genesis 10:15-19; Genesis 26:34, 35; Genesis 28:1, 8
  • 8. Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:15
  • 9. Genesis 24:8
  • 10. Genesis 24:3
  • 11. Genesis 12:7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 15:18; Exodus 32:13
  • 12. Genesis 16:7; Genesis 21:17; Genesis 22:11; Exodus 23:20, 23
  • 13. Joshua 2:17-20
  • 14. Genesis 24:6
  • 15. Genesis 24:2
  • 16. Genesis 24:22, 53
  • 17. Genesis 11:31, 32
  • 18. Genesis 24:42
  • 19. Exodus 2:16; 1 Samuel 9:11
  • 20. Gen 24:27, 42, 48; Genesis 26:24; Exodus 3:6, 15
  • 21. Genesis 27:20
  • 22. Genesis 24:43

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lit "seed"
  • [b]. Heb "Aram-naharaim, Aram of the two rivers"
  • [c]. Lit "cause to occur for me"
  • [d]. Lit "fountain of water"
  • [e]. Lit "she will say"
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