†. Gen 24:34 . . I am Abraham's servant: he began.
I think it's commendable that this man, so far from home, didn't introduce
himself by his own name but rather by the name of the one whom he
represented.
†. Gen 24:35 . .The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has
become rich: He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold,
male and female slaves, camels and burros.
I love the way this man gives credit to Yhvh for Abraham's good fortune
rather than to idols, heathen deities, dumb luck, brute force, fortuitous
circumstance, and/or Abraham's business skills.
It was important that the man tell Becky's family about Abraham's religion,
and about his wealth, because in a moment he's going to drop a 2,000 lb
bunker-buster that will change their lives forever.
†. Gen 24:36a . . And Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son
in her old age
Oddly, he doesn't mention Sarah's passing. But then, the Scriptures don't
record every word that people ever spoke-- just excerpts really. Back in
verse 30, Becky's entire experience at the spring is recounted in a very
simple phrase: "Thus the man spoke to me."
If Becky wasn't listening before, you can just bet your equity line that her
little ears perked up like a NORAD radar station at the mention of Abraham's
son. And not just a son, but a son born in Sarah's old age; which would
mean that Abraham's boy was relatively young-- and maybe available too.
Americans don't take marriage serious enough. It was life or death in those
days. Ancient women didn't have the advantages of modern careers, open
promiscuity, and independence like the women in twenty-first century
America. Family life was all that really mattered to the women of old. It was
their career goal and it was their old age security. Single women were
failures and most likely headed for poverty. And some even felt it was an
evidence of Divine disfavor to become an old maid-- which only served to
aggravate their despair even more. So when those women got married
and/or had a baby; it was a really big cause for celebration.
†. Gen 24:36b . . and he has assigned to him everything he owns.
It's no doubt obvious by now to everyone in the house where the servant is
going with his narrative. Why else would he tell of the son's inheritance if
not to impress Becky's family in order to secure her for the son's bride?
†. Gen 24:37-41 . . Now my master made me swear, saying: You
shall not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites
in whose land I dwell; but you shall go to my father's house, to my
kindred, and get a wife for my son. And I said to my master: What if
the woman does not follow me?
. . . He replied to me: The Lord, whose ways I have followed, will
send His angel with you and make your errand successful; and you
will get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father's house.
Thus only shall you be freed from my adjuration: if, when you come
to my kindred, they refuse you--only then shall you be freed from my
adjuration.
The "kindred" who might refuse the servant, includes the potential bride
herself because Abraham said so at Gen 24:8.
In the ancient East, daughters were often given in arranged marriages
without their consent. And normally, if Becky's kin were to say she was
going to marry Isaac, well then she was going to marry Isaac and that was
the end of discussion. Up ahead, we'll see that very fate befall Becky's
nieces: Rachel and Leah. But Abraham didn't want Isaac's bride to be
purchased. No. In this case, Abraham broke with tradition and mandated the
prospective bride herself cast the deciding vote. So if Becky refuses, the
servant can't be blamed for dereliction of duty; and nobody is going to
handcuff Becky and ship her off to Palestine via UPS ground. Abraham wants
her to come down there of her own volition; and if not, then he'll look
elsewhere . . . and no hard feelings about it.
†. Gen 24:42-48 . . This portion is pretty much what went on before
except that in this version, the family is told how Becky came to
have the nose ring and the arm bands.
Becky hadn't known till just now that the servant prayed for special
providence prior to her arrival at the spring-- the part concerning drinking
the maiden's water, and her serving the camels. Becky must have been
totally astonished to think that the actual True God led that man, not just to
her doorstep, but right smack dab to her footsteps. Wow!
But she had no say in the negotiations at this point. Proposals were made to
the senior members of the family in those days, not to the girl.
†. Gen 24:49-51 . . And now, if you mean to treat my master with
true kindness, tell me; and if not, tell me also, that I may turn right
or left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered: The matter was decreed
by Yhvh; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Here is Rebecca
before you; take her and go, and let her be a wife to your master's
son, as the Lord has spoken.
Actually Bethuel himself didn't say anything. Laban spoke in proxy for him
regarding Becky in the same way that the steward was now speaking as
Abraham in Isaac's best interests. Bethuel and Laban may have had a quiet
pow-wow off to the side and then Laban came forward and announced their
decision.
At this point, Becky would have normally become legally engaged to marry
Isaac. But Abraham would not permit the marriage to be set in stone until
the girl actually consented for herself. So it's not over yet.
†. Gen 24:52 . .When Abraham's servant heard their words, he
bowed low to the ground before the Lord.
Abraham's steward is one of the most pious men in the Bible, and people
like him can be very influential for God. If you've ever been in the presence
of someone like him you know what I'm saying. All the prayers I learned as
a child were rote; just a memorized litany of chant-like mantras. The first
time I overheard someone pray from the heart, it was very moving.
†. Gen 24:53 . .The servant brought out items of silver and gold, and
garments, and gave them to Rebecca; and he gave presents to her
brother and her mother.
Becky's mom will sorely miss her swift footed little Flo-Jo. The presents were
a very kind recognition for the great job she did raising a really cool girl.
Laban, whose presents were no doubt intended not only for himself but for
Becky's dad Bethuel as well, was compensated for the loss of an important
(and useful) member of the household.
These items shouldn't be thought of as a bride-price because Becky isn't
going anywhere with that man until she makes up her own mind about it.
Cont.
/
I think it's commendable that this man, so far from home, didn't introduce
himself by his own name but rather by the name of the one whom he
represented.
†. Gen 24:35 . .The Lord has greatly blessed my master, and he has
become rich: He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold,
male and female slaves, camels and burros.
I love the way this man gives credit to Yhvh for Abraham's good fortune
rather than to idols, heathen deities, dumb luck, brute force, fortuitous
circumstance, and/or Abraham's business skills.
It was important that the man tell Becky's family about Abraham's religion,
and about his wealth, because in a moment he's going to drop a 2,000 lb
bunker-buster that will change their lives forever.
†. Gen 24:36a . . And Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son
in her old age
Oddly, he doesn't mention Sarah's passing. But then, the Scriptures don't
record every word that people ever spoke-- just excerpts really. Back in
verse 30, Becky's entire experience at the spring is recounted in a very
simple phrase: "Thus the man spoke to me."
If Becky wasn't listening before, you can just bet your equity line that her
little ears perked up like a NORAD radar station at the mention of Abraham's
son. And not just a son, but a son born in Sarah's old age; which would
mean that Abraham's boy was relatively young-- and maybe available too.
Americans don't take marriage serious enough. It was life or death in those
days. Ancient women didn't have the advantages of modern careers, open
promiscuity, and independence like the women in twenty-first century
America. Family life was all that really mattered to the women of old. It was
their career goal and it was their old age security. Single women were
failures and most likely headed for poverty. And some even felt it was an
evidence of Divine disfavor to become an old maid-- which only served to
aggravate their despair even more. So when those women got married
and/or had a baby; it was a really big cause for celebration.
†. Gen 24:36b . . and he has assigned to him everything he owns.
It's no doubt obvious by now to everyone in the house where the servant is
going with his narrative. Why else would he tell of the son's inheritance if
not to impress Becky's family in order to secure her for the son's bride?
†. Gen 24:37-41 . . Now my master made me swear, saying: You
shall not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites
in whose land I dwell; but you shall go to my father's house, to my
kindred, and get a wife for my son. And I said to my master: What if
the woman does not follow me?
. . . He replied to me: The Lord, whose ways I have followed, will
send His angel with you and make your errand successful; and you
will get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father's house.
Thus only shall you be freed from my adjuration: if, when you come
to my kindred, they refuse you--only then shall you be freed from my
adjuration.
The "kindred" who might refuse the servant, includes the potential bride
herself because Abraham said so at Gen 24:8.
In the ancient East, daughters were often given in arranged marriages
without their consent. And normally, if Becky's kin were to say she was
going to marry Isaac, well then she was going to marry Isaac and that was
the end of discussion. Up ahead, we'll see that very fate befall Becky's
nieces: Rachel and Leah. But Abraham didn't want Isaac's bride to be
purchased. No. In this case, Abraham broke with tradition and mandated the
prospective bride herself cast the deciding vote. So if Becky refuses, the
servant can't be blamed for dereliction of duty; and nobody is going to
handcuff Becky and ship her off to Palestine via UPS ground. Abraham wants
her to come down there of her own volition; and if not, then he'll look
elsewhere . . . and no hard feelings about it.
†. Gen 24:42-48 . . This portion is pretty much what went on before
except that in this version, the family is told how Becky came to
have the nose ring and the arm bands.
Becky hadn't known till just now that the servant prayed for special
providence prior to her arrival at the spring-- the part concerning drinking
the maiden's water, and her serving the camels. Becky must have been
totally astonished to think that the actual True God led that man, not just to
her doorstep, but right smack dab to her footsteps. Wow!
But she had no say in the negotiations at this point. Proposals were made to
the senior members of the family in those days, not to the girl.
†. Gen 24:49-51 . . And now, if you mean to treat my master with
true kindness, tell me; and if not, tell me also, that I may turn right
or left. Then Laban and Bethuel answered: The matter was decreed
by Yhvh; we cannot speak to you bad or good. Here is Rebecca
before you; take her and go, and let her be a wife to your master's
son, as the Lord has spoken.
Actually Bethuel himself didn't say anything. Laban spoke in proxy for him
regarding Becky in the same way that the steward was now speaking as
Abraham in Isaac's best interests. Bethuel and Laban may have had a quiet
pow-wow off to the side and then Laban came forward and announced their
decision.
At this point, Becky would have normally become legally engaged to marry
Isaac. But Abraham would not permit the marriage to be set in stone until
the girl actually consented for herself. So it's not over yet.
†. Gen 24:52 . .When Abraham's servant heard their words, he
bowed low to the ground before the Lord.
Abraham's steward is one of the most pious men in the Bible, and people
like him can be very influential for God. If you've ever been in the presence
of someone like him you know what I'm saying. All the prayers I learned as
a child were rote; just a memorized litany of chant-like mantras. The first
time I overheard someone pray from the heart, it was very moving.
†. Gen 24:53 . .The servant brought out items of silver and gold, and
garments, and gave them to Rebecca; and he gave presents to her
brother and her mother.
Becky's mom will sorely miss her swift footed little Flo-Jo. The presents were
a very kind recognition for the great job she did raising a really cool girl.
Laban, whose presents were no doubt intended not only for himself but for
Becky's dad Bethuel as well, was compensated for the loss of an important
(and useful) member of the household.
These items shouldn't be thought of as a bride-price because Becky isn't
going anywhere with that man until she makes up her own mind about it.
Cont.
/
