Genesis 24:4

4 But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.

Genesis 24:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 24:4

But thou shalt go unto my country
Not Canaan, which though his by promise, yet not in possession, but Mesopotamia, as appears from ( Genesis 24:10 ) ; which taken largely included the Chaldea, see ( Acts 7:2 ) , the country where Abraham was born, and from whence he came: and to my kindred;
the family of Nahor his brother, which now dwelt at Haran in Mesopotamia, called the city of Nahor, ( Genesis 24:10 ) ; see ( Genesis 29:4 Genesis 29:5 ) ; of the increase of whose family Abraham had heard a few years ago, ( Genesis 22:20-24 ) : and take a wife to my son Isaac;
from among them, who though they were not clear of superstition and idolatry, yet they worshipped the true God with their "idols"; and a woman taken out of such a family, and removed at a distance from it, it might be reasonably concluded would be brought off of those things, and adhere to the pure and undefiled religion; and the rather this family was chosen, not only because related to Abraham, but because it had sprung from Shem, who was blessed of God, and whose God the Lord was; nearness of kin was no objection and hinderance to such a marriage, the laws relating to marriage not being given till the time of Moses.

Genesis 24:4 In-Context

2 And he said to the elder servant of his house, who was ruler over all he had: Put thy hand under my thigh,

3 That I may make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that thou take not a wife for my son, of the daughters of the Chanaanites, among whom I dwell:

4 But that thou go to my own country and kindred, and take a wife from thence for my son Isaac.

5 The servant answered: If the woman will not come with me into this land, must I bring thy son back again to the place from whence thou camest out?

6 And Abraham said: Beware thou never bring my son back again thither.