24:1 Abraham See 11:26 and note; 17:5 and note.

24:2 his servant Possibly Eliezer (see 15:2), but he is not identified. The reference to him being the oldest apparently means seniority and highest trust, since he was steward over all Abraham had.

put your hand under my thigh Swearing oaths typically involved symbolic acts in the ancient Near East. See note on 47:29.

24:3 heaven and the God of earth In ancient Israelite thought, “heaven and earth” represented the totality of all creation.

the Canaanites This refers generally to all the inhabitants of Canaan, regardless of individual ethnicity (see 10:19).

24:4 my land and to my family In response to this command, the servant does not go to Ur where Abraham is originally from (see note on 11:28). Instead, he goes across the Euphrates (see v. 10) to the country of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (see 11:27, 29; compare 27:43).

24:6 that you do not return my son there Although the people to whom the servant was sent were Abraham’s kin, Abraham did not want the son of Yahweh’s covenant promises to leave the promised land.

24:7 will send his angel before you Abraham’s theology allowed for a refusal on the part of the woman whom God, through His angel, would select. The language “His angel” is elsewhere used of the Angel of Yahweh (Exod 23:20, 23; 33:2; compare Judg 2:1–3).

24:10 Aram-Naharaim The Hebrew phrase used here, aram naharayim, does not occur anywhere else in the ot, though it is paralleled by Paddan-aram in Gen 25:20. It is sometimes translated as Mesopotamia because it can be understood as “Aram of the rivers” or “Aram, the land between two rivers” and because the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the ot) translates it as mesopotamia (Mesopotamia).

the city of Nahor A city associated with either (or both) Abraham’s brother Nahor or Abraham’s grandfather who had the same name, Nahor (see 11:24–27).

24:11 the time the women went out to draw water After the normal workday and its requirements have ended, in preparation for the evening meal.

24:12 grant me success today Abraham’s servant is the first person explicitly mentioned in the Bible as praying for divine guidance. God answers his request before he finishes speaking (v. 15).

24:15 was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah Rebekah’s genealogy is provided to show that her grandmother was the wife of Nahor (Abraham’s brother) and not a concubine (11:29). Rebekah, as Bethuel’s daughter, is Isaac’s first cousin once removed.

24:16 a virgin The Hebrew word bethulah used here is often associated with virginity—which is here made explicitly clear by the ensuing phrase.

24:20 she drew water for all his camels Rebekah goes above and beyond the servant’s request. He asked for only a little water (v. 17). She not only provides water for him, but also for all his camels.

24:21 if Yahweh had made his journey successful Rebekah’s words and actions have already fulfilled the prayer for guidance offered by Abraham’s servant earlier. The man waits to learn whether Rebekah is related to Abraham’s family.

24:22 a gold ring The Hebrew word used here, nezem, refers to a nose ring (Isa 3:21; Ezek 16:12). The gifts Abraham’s servant gives to Rebekah reveal Abraham’s wealth and help convince Rebekah’s family to allow her to return with him (compare Gen 24:30).

24:26 worshiped Yahweh Rebekah’s response is an answer to the prayer of Abraham’s servant (v. 24). It reveals that she is related to Abraham and fits the request that Abraham made him swear (vv. 2–4; compare note on v. 15).

24:27 loyal love The Hebrew term chesed.

24:28 the household of her mother This and other features of the narrative may suggest a matrilineal family structure. See note on v. 50.

24:29 Laban Rebekah’s brother and son of Bethuel (see note on v. 50). Laban is Abraham’s great nephew and like Rebekah, Isaac’s first cousin once removed.

24:32 wash his feet An act of hospitality.

24:33 I will not eat After a long journey (see note on v. 4), Abraham’s servant is probably hungry, but he puts his mission ahead of his physical needs.

24:49 loyally and truly Abraham’s servant does not waste any time—he wants to know if whether Rebekah will return with him.

24:50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered In the narrative that follows (and all other ot references to it), Rebekah’s father, Bethuel, says and does nothing in negotiations regarding Rebekah. Laban, her brother, handles everything—and his name appears before her father’s when the opposite is expected. Laban clearly has guardianship over his sister.

24:51 Rebekah before you Laban believes the servant’s accounting and consents. The request of consent later (v. 58) does not deal with consent to the marriage—that has been determined. Rather, it deals with whether Rebekah is willing to leave immediately rather than spend a few more days at home.

24:52 he bowed down A gesture of deference and respect. Throughout this story, Abraham’s servant acknowledges God’s provision (vv. 26, 34, 48, 56).

24:53 precious gifts It is unclear whether these gifts are part of a bride price (called elsewhere in Hebrew mohar; see note on Exod 22:16) or are meant to show generosity.

24:55 ten days This may be a colloquialism for a long period of time—perhaps longer than a year. Ten days alone would not be a sufficient reason for the servant to protest the imposition.

24:58 I will go Just as Abraham was willing to leave his country and family to follow God’s call (Gen 12:1–4), so Rebekah is willing to leave her family and country to follow Abraham’s servant.

24:59 nurse The Hebrew term used here usually specifies a wet nurse. Since Rebekah had no such need, her nurse is likely a trusted member of the household. Her name was Deborah and her death is recorded in 35:8.

24:60 countless thousands The blessing refers to childbearing and offspring.

may your offspring take possession of the gate of Precisely the same blessing that God bestowed on Isaac after his binding (22:17). Once again, Isaac and Rebekah are carefully tied together.

24:62 Beer-Lahai-Roi The well where Hagar had a divine encounter (see 16:14 and note).

24:63 to meditate The meaning of the Hebrew word used here, suach, is uncertain. It is likely related to the word siach, meaning “meditation” (see note on Psa 104:34).

24:65 my master The man Rebekah asked about is Isaac. Abraham’s servant refers to Isaac as his master because Isaac will inherit all of Abraham’s wealth, including his servants (compare to Gen 25:5).

she took her veil The story of the Egyptians witnessing Sarah’s beauty seems to indicate that Israelite women did not normally veil themselves (12:14). Veiling was, however, part of the marriage ceremony (29:23–25).

24:67 Sarah his mother As Isaac will replace Abraham as patriarch, so will Rebekah replace Sarah as matriarch. See Song 3:4 and note.