Bible Commentaries
E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes
Genesis 24
eldest servant. Probably Eleazar of Daniel 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.
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.
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.
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.
arose = amounted.
Mesopotamia Hebrew. Aram-naharaim, i.e. Aram of the two rivers (the Tigris and Euphrates). The country of Haran. Genesis 11:31.
before he had done speaking. Compare Isaiah 65:24.
Rebekah. Hebrew captivating.
born to Bethuel. See App-29.
Bethuel. Hebrew separated of God.
golden. Hebrew of gold. Genitive of material. App-17.
earring. Probably a nose (or "face") ring. See Genesis 24:47.
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.
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.
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.
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. Song of Solomon 1:3; Song of Solomon 6:8. Isaiah 7:14. Bethulah Occurs 49 times (App-10).
led me in the right way. Compare Psalms 107:7.
daughter. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Species), App-6, daughter put for granddaughter.
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.
well = spring. Hebrew. beer. See note on Genesis 21:19.
Lahai-roi. Hebrew. the well of life and vision.
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.
comforted after, or consoled himself for.
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