Genesis 24

Genesis 24:1

old. About 140 years old.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Genesis 24:2

eldest servant. Probably Eleazar of Dan 15:2.

thigh. According to the Midrash and ancient Jewish expositors, a Euphemism (App-6) for the organs of generation, as most sacred. According to Ibn Ezra and present Indian custom, on the thigh is a token of subjection.

Genesis 24:3

God. Hebrew. Elohim.

Canaanites. Mixed with the Nephilim. App-23.

I. Emph. in contrast with the Canaanites. Hence Abraham’s horror of mixing the holy seed with that of the Nephilim.

Genesis 24:4

my kindred. Gentiles thus expressly excluded from this chapter, if regarded as a type. Compare verses: Genesis 24:3, Genesis 24:4, Genesis 24:7, Genesis 3:37, Genesis 3:38. See also Genesis 26:35; Genesis 27:46; Genesis 28:1, Genesis 28:8.

Genesis 24:7

heaven. The Septuagint reads: “heaven, and God of the earth. “See App-4.

father’s house, and from the land of my kindred. The Severus Codex reads: “from my house and from my country, “as in Genesis 24:4. See App-34.

Genesis 24:10

arose = amounted.

Mesopotamia Hebrew. Aram-naharaim, i.e. Aram of the two rivers (the Tigris and Euphrates). The country of Haran. Genesis 11:31.

Genesis 24:13

well = spring. Hebrew. ’ayin. See note on Genesis 21:19.

come out. Hebrew are coming out.

Genesis 24:14

pitcher. Still used in Palestine as in John 4:28.

Genesis 24:15

before he had done speaking. Compare Isaiah 65:24.

Rebekah. Hebrew captivating.

born to Bethuel. See App-29.

Bethuel. Hebrew separated of God.

Genesis 24:16

virgin. Hebrew. bethulah. Compare Genesis 24:43. See note on Genesis 24:43.

Genesis 24:21

wondering: or eagerly watching her.

to wit = to know.

Genesis 24:22

golden. Hebrew of gold. Genitive of material. App-17.

earring. Probably a nose (or “face”) ring. See Genesis 24:47.

Genesis 24:24

Nahor. See App-29. Rebekah his granddaughter; but old enough to marry Isaac, because Sarah was “well stricken in years” when Isaac was born (Genesis 18:11, Genesis 18:12). Compare Genesis 24:36.

Genesis 24:29

Laban. See App-29.

Genesis 24:30

when he saw. Characteristic of Laban. Rebekah showed kindness before she saw.

Genesis 24:31-32

he,i.e. Laban.

Genesis 24:35

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton, App-6, to emphasize all the items which went to make up Abraham’s wealth. Twelve “ands” (3 x 4 = 12) = abundance of earthly wealth. See App-10.

Genesis 24:40

I walk = I walk habitually. Hebrew verb in Hithpael.

Genesis 24:42

said. Eleazar repeats his prayer from memory, but inexactly. Who could have written the actual words (verses: Genesis 24:12-21) but the Holy Inspiring Spirit? He records both the prayer itself and Eleazar’s remembrance of it.

Genesis 24:43

virgin. Hebrew. ’almah. Every bethulah is an ’ahnah, but every ’almah is not a bethulah: ’almah Occurs 7 times, Genesis 24:43 (first occurance). Exodus 2:8. Psalms 68:25. Proverbs 30:19. Son 1:3; Son 6:8. Isaiah 7:14. Bethulah Occurs 49 times (App-10).

Genesis 24:47

face or nose. Compare Genesis 24:22.

Genesis 24:48

led me in the right way. Compare Psalms 107:7.

daughter. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species), App-6, daughter put for granddaughter.

Genesis 24:53

raiment: or garments; i.e. changes of raiment.

Genesis 24:55

ten. Seven days = a week, but ten or a decad (1/3 of a month) sometimes reckoned as a longer, but strictly defined period. Compare Exodus 12:3. Leviticus 16:29.

Genesis 24:62

well = spring. Hebrew. beer. See note on Genesis 21:19.

Lahai-roi. Hebrew. the well of life and vision.

Genesis 24:63

meditate. Refers back to the historical context, Genesis 23:19, the death and burial of Sarah, his mother. What follows this digression (of which Isaac as yet knew nothing) in Genesis 24:1-67 shows that Isaac went out, not to “meditate”, or “to pray” (Authorized Version margin), or “take a walk” (Syriac), or “muster the flocks” (Gesenius), but to mourn. This is the meaning of the Hebrew suach. in Psalms 44:25. Lamentations 3:20.

Genesis 24:64

lighted off. Hebrew. fell, or alighted hastily.

Genesis 24:67

comforted after, or consoled himself for.