Genesis 24:4

4 But thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred, and take a wife 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 Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh;

3 and I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.

4 But thou shalt go unto my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac."

5 And the servant said unto him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land. Must I bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?"

6 And Abraham said unto him, "Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.