---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Genesis 24"
description: "CHAPTER 24   :-. A MARRIAGE
COMMISSION. 1. And Abraham was old . . . take a
wife—His anxiety to see his son married was natural to his
position as a pasto"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/genesis/24"
---

![Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible](/images/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible.jpg)

 The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
 
Include 66 books
 
Denomination: calvinism
 
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CHAPTER 24

. A MARRIAGE
COMMISSION.

**1. And Abraham was old . . . take a
wife**—His anxiety to see his son married was natural to his
position as a pastoral chief interested in preserving the honor of
his tribe, and still more as a patriarch who had regard to the divine
promise of a numerous posterity.

**2. said unto his eldest
servant**—Abraham being too old, and as the heir of the promise
not being at liberty to make even a temporary visit to his native
land, was obliged to intrust this delicate mission to Eliezer, whom,
although putting entire confidence in him, he on this occasion bound
by a solemn oath. A pastoral chief in the present day would follow
the same course if he could not go himself.

**3. thou shalt not take a wife,**
&c.—Among pastoral tribes the matrimonial arrangements are made
by the parents, and a youth must marry, not among strangers, but in
his own tribe—custom giving him a claim, which is seldom or never
resisted, to the hand of his first cousin. But Abraham had a far
higher motive—a fear lest, if his son married into a Canaanitish
family, he might be gradually led away from the true God.
. THE JOURNEY.

**10. the servant took ten camels,**
c.—So great an equipage was to give the embassy an appearance
worthy of the rank and wealth of Abraham to carry provisions; to bear
the marriage presents, which as usual would be distributed over
several beasts; besides one or two spare camels in case of emergency.
**went to Mesopotamia,**
&c.—A stranger in those regions, who wishes to obtain
information, stations himself at one of the wells in the neighborhood
of a town, and he is sure to learn all the news of the place from the
women who frequent them every morning and evening. Eliezer followed
this course, and letting his camels rest, he waited till the evening
time of water drawing.

**12. And he said, O Lord God of my
master**—The servant appears worthy of the master he served. He
resolves to follow the leading of Providence; and while he shows good
sense in the tokens he fixes upon of ascertaining the temper and
character of the future bride, he never doubts but that in such a
case God will direct him.

**15-21. before he had done speaking .
. . behold, Rebekah came out**—As he anticipated, a young woman
unveiled, as in pastoral regions, appeared with her pitcher on her
shoulder. Her comely appearance, her affable manners, her obliging
courtesy in going down the steps to fetch water not only to him but
to pour it into the trough for his camels, afforded him the most
agreeable surprise. She was the very person his imagination had
pictured, and he proceeded to reward her civility.

**22. the man took a golden earring,**
c.—The ring was not for the ear, but the nose the armlets, such as
young women in Syria and Arabia still appear daily at wells decked
in. They are worn from the elbow to the wrist, commonly made of
silver, copper, brass, or horn.

**23-27. And said, Whose daughter art
thou?**—After telling her name and family, the kind-hearted
damsel hastened home to give notice of a stranger's arrival.

**28. and told them of her mother's
house these things**—the female apartments. This family was in an
advanced stage of pastoral life, dwelling in a settled place and a
fixed habitation.

**29-31. Rebekah had a brother . . .
Laban ran out**—From what we know of his character, there is
reason to believe that the sight of the dazzling presents increased
both his haste and his invitation.

**32-49. the man came into the house,**
&c.—What a beautiful picture of piety, fidelity, and
disinterestedness in a servant! He declined all attention to his own
comforts till he had told his name and his errand.

**50. Then Laban and Bethuel
answered**—The brothers conduct all the marriage negotiations,
their father being probably dead, and without consulting their
sister. Their language seems to indicate they were worshippers of the
true God.

**53. And the servant brought forth
jewels of silver, and . . . gold**—These are the usual articles,
with money, that form a woman's dowry among the pastoral tribes.
Rebekah was betrothed and accompanied the servant to Canaan.

**64. she lighted off the camel**—If
Isaac were walking, it would have been most unmannerly for her to
have continued seated; an inferior, if riding, always alights in
presence of a person of rank, no exception being made for women.

**65. she took a veil, and covered
herself**—The veil is an essential part of female dress. In
country places it is often thrown aside, but on the appearance of a
stranger, it is drawn over the face, as to conceal all but the eyes.
In a bride it was a token of her reverence and subjection to her
husband.

**67. And Isaac brought her into his
mother's . . . tent**—thus establishing her at once in the rights
and honors of a wife before he had seen her features. Disappointments
often take place, but when Isaac saw his wife, "he loved her."

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