Genesis 24:67

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent,.... The apartment in which she dwelt when living; for women in those times and places had separate apartments from their husbands; this was done

And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’ s tent, partly to give her possession of it, and partly to consummate the marriage. Women then had their tents apart from men. See 24:67 31:33. Isaac was comforted after his mother’ s death; a sorrowful sense whereof he yet had retained, though she died three years before this time.

Genesis 24:67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’ s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’ s [death]. Ver. 67. Isaac brought her into his mother’ s tent.] There to rest till the marriage rites were performed; till he had got her goodwill; till their affections were knit, and in some sort settled; till they had pledged their mutual trust; sought God for a blessing, and performed such solemnities as the time required. Youth rides in post to be married: but in the end, finds the inn of repentance to be lodged in. And took Rebekah.] Not as Shechem took Dinah, or Amnon Tamur, to deflower her; but as Boaz took Ruth, and David Abigail, to make her his wife by lawful wedlock. And he loved her.] Not only as his countrywoman or his kinswoman, or a good woman, &c., but as his woman, with a conjugal love. And he had reason: for (1.) She was his wife, the proper object of his love; (2.) A wife of God’ s providing; a mate meet for him; none in all the world so meet; (3.) She was love-worthy, because fair, courteous, virtuous: and as meat pleaseth us better in a clean dish, so doth virtue in comely persons, saith Hugo; (4.) She forgot her father’ s house, and forsook all her friends for him, &c. And Isaac was comforted.] If God takes away one comfort, he will give another. Cheer up, therefore.

(67) Sarah’s tent.—So Leah and Rachel had each her own tent (Genesis 31:33; but see on Genesis 24:28).

Verse 67. Sarah's tent] Sarah being dead, her tent became now appropriated to the use of Rebekah. And took Rebekah, c.] After what form this was done we are not told or whether there was any form used on the occasion, more than solemnly receiving her as the person whom God had chosen to be his wife; for it appears from Genesis 24:66 that the servant told him all the especial providential circumstances which had marked his journey. The primitive form of marriage we have already seen, Genesis 2:23-24, which, it is likely, as far as form was attended to, was that which was commonly used in all the patriarchal times. IN this chapter we have an affecting and edifying display of that providence by which God disposes and governs the affairs of the universe, descending to the minutest particulars, and managing the great whole by directing and influencing all its parts. This particular or especial providence we see is not confined to work by general laws; it is wise and intelligent, for it is the mind, the will, and energy of God; it steps out of common ways, and takes particular directions, as endlessly varied human necessities may need, or the establishment and maintenance of godliness in the earth may require. What a history of providential occurrences, coming all in answer to the prayer and faith of a simple, humble individual, does this chapter exhibit! As Abraham's servant has God's glory only in view in the errand on which he is going, he may well expect the Divine direction. See with what simplicity and confidence he prays to God! He even prescribes the way in which the Divine choice and approbation shall be made known; and God honours the purity of his motives and his pious faith, by giving him precisely the answer he wished. How honourable in the sight of God is simplicity of heart! It has nothing to fear, and all good to hope for; whereas a spirit warped by self-interest and worldly views is always uncertain and agitated, as it is ever seeking that from its own counsels, projects, and schemes, which should be sought in God alone. In every place the upright man meets with his God; his heart acknowledges his Maker, and his Maker acknowledges him; for such a one the whole economy of providence and grace is ever at work. Abraham's solicitude to get a suitable wife for his son is worthy of the most serious regard. He was well aware that if Isaac formed a matrimonial alliance with the Canaanites it might be ruinous to his piety, and prevent the dissemination of the true religion; therefore he binds his most trusty servant by a solemn oath not to take a wife for his son from the daughters of Canaan, but from his own kindred, among whom the knowledge of the true God was best preserved. Others had different rays of the light of truth, but Abraham's family alone had THE truth; and to the descendants of this family were the promises made.

67. into his mother Sarah’s tent] The language of the Heb. text is here very obscure; and the original structure of it has probably been altered. Literally it means “into the tent Sarah his mother,” a grammatical impossibility. It can hardly be questioned that the words “Sarah his mother” are a gloss upon the word “tent,” which has found its way into the text. The tent would be either Isaac’s, or the chief tent in the women’s quarters. Cf. Genesis 31:33. This would explain the gloss. after his mother’s death] Once more the text seems to be doubtful. The literal translation of the Heb. is “after his mother”: and the phrase is intolerably harsh. The versions have paraphrased the sentence. LXX καὶπαρεκλήθηἸσαὰκπερὶΣάῤῥαςτῆςμητρὸςαὐτοῦ, Lat. ut dolorem qui ex morte matris ejus acciderat temperaret. The probability is that the text of J ran, “after his father’s death” (’aḥ ?arey mτth ’βbξv); but that, as the compiler decided to accept P’s account of Abraham’s death and burial (Genesis 25:7-11), it was necessary to harmonize this passage; and this was done by the substitution of “his mother” (’immτ) for “his father’s death” (mτth ’βbξv).

67. Into his mother Sarah’s tent — The tent which had been her special apartment and home during many years of nomadic life. This tent had probably been removed after Sarah’s death to Beer-sheba. See on Genesis 24:62.