Genesis 24:12

And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham,.... He does not call the Lord his God, though no doubt he was, since he appears throughout the whole to be a good man; but the God of Abraham, because

And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

Or, mercy. He makes no mention of himself, nor of the merits of his master, but he ascribes even temporal blessings, and much more eternal salvation, merely to God’ s mercy.

Genesis 24:12 And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.Ver. 12. And he said, O Lord God.] Begin we all our enterprizes with prayer. God may give good success without, but it will be nothing so sweet. See therefore that, “ Hoc primum repetas opus, hoc postremus omittas.” - Hor., epis. 6. l. 48.

(12-14) O Lord God . . . —Heb., Jehovah, God of my lord Abraham. The word translated “master” throughout this chapter is ‘donai, the ordinary word for lord, and it is so rendered in Genesis 24:18. As a circumcised member of Abraham’s household, the servant prays to Jehovah, Abraham’s God; and though in Genesis 24:5 he had suggested a difficulty, apparently it was from no want of faith, but that he might know whether under any circumstances Isaac might return to Aram-Naharaim. He now leaves the success of his mission to Jehovah; and while he would use his own discernment in selecting from the troop of advancing maidens one whose countenance gave promise of goodness of heart, the fulfilment of the appointed signal which was to mark God’s approval would also show that she was no churlish woman, but one active, generous, and kind. Send me good speed this day.—Heb., cause it to meet me this day.I stand.—This word here, and in Genesis 24:43, is not the same as that used in Genesis 24:30, but one that means I post myself, or I take my station.Thereby.—Rather, by her: by her giving the appointed sign I shall know that thou hast showed kindness to my lord. The damsel.—This word (Heb., Na’ar) is of the common gender in the Pentateuch, except in Deuteronomy 22:19, where it has the feminine termination. It is used of Abraham’s young men in Genesis 14:24; Genesis 18:7, &c., but no less than twenty-two times of women. In the rest of the Bible the gender is always marked, and even here it is read in the feminine in the Jewish synagogues. We have herein another of the many linguistic proofs of the extreme antiquity of the Pentateuch, and it is the more interesting because found in a Jehovistic section. The same word is used again in Genesis 24:16; Genesis 24:28. (See Note on Genesis 43:8.)

Verse 12. And he said, O Lord God, c.] "The conduct of this servant," says Dr. Dodd, "appears no less pious than rational. By supplicating for a sign, he acknowledges God to be the great superintendent and director of the universe, and of that event in particular and at the same time, by asking a natural sign, such as betokened humanity, condescension, and other qualities which promised a discreet and virtuous wife, he puts his prayer upon such a discreet, rational footing, as to be a proper example for all to imitate who would not tempt the providence of God, by expecting extraordinary signs to be given them for the determination of cases which they are capable of deciding by a proper use of their rational faculties." This is all very good; but certainly the case referred to here is such a one as required especial direction from God; a case which no use of the rational faculties, without Divine influence, could be sufficient to determine. It is easy to run into extremes, and it is very natural so to do. In all things the assistance and blessing of God are necessary, even where human strength and wisdom have the fullest and freest sphere of action; but there are numberless cases, of infinite consequence to man, where his strength and prudence can be of little or no avail, and where the God of all grace must work all things according to the counsel of his own will. To expect the accomplishment of any good end, without a proper use of the means, is the most reprehensible enthusiasm; and to suppose that any good can be done or procured without the blessing and mercy of God, merely because proper means are used, is not less reprehensible. Plan, scheme, and labour like Eliezer, and then, by earnest faith and prayer, commit the whole to the direction and blessing of God.

12. O Lord, the God of my master] Referring to Genesis 24:7. The servant, though possibly (Genesis 15:2) a native of Damascus, worships the God of Abraham; cf. Genesis 24:26.

12. Lord… send me good speed — Or, cause it to happen before me today. This prayer is one of remarkable simplicity and directness, but in it note the following: 1) The use of the name Jehovah. 2) The appeal to Abraham’s God.