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Genesis 24:36-53
● Gen 24:36a . . And Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son
in her old age
Curiously, 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, or at least age-appropriate
for her liking-- 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 very 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 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 candidly, 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.
The gifts were a good-faith token that the servant meant what he said; and
I've no doubt that had Becky ultimately refused, he would not have
demanded them back.
/
Genesis 24:36-53
● Gen 24:36a . . And Sarah, my master's wife, bore my master a son
in her old age
Curiously, 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, or at least age-appropriate
for her liking-- 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 very 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 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 candidly, 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.
The gifts were a good-faith token that the servant meant what he said; and
I've no doubt that had Becky ultimately refused, he would not have
demanded them back.
/