OUR
FATHER'S
WORD
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path."
Psalm 119:105
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Genesis
A Message For The End Time
by
Jim Lisenby
________________________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER 24
Isaac And Rebekah Marry
Sarah had recently died in Hebron and Isaac was mourning her
passing in
a really big way. Abraham had traveled to Hebron to mourn for
Sarah and to bury her. By now he very likely had returned to
Beersheba where he was living when Sarah passed
away. Isaac was very likely living in Hebron with his mother
Sarah when
she died. So, it follows that since Abraham and Sarah were
estranged over the sacrifice incident at Moriah, then he and Isaac
likely had been separated from each other also. Abraham was
concerned
about the state of mind that Isaac was in since the passing of his
mother, so he decided it was time for Isaac to marry, but his
bride had to be carefully chosen.
In those days the parents either picked the husbands and wives of their
children, or had to approve and bless the marriage if their children
did the picking and choosing. That practice is still extant in
some places in the world today. For instance, it is a widespread
practice in India where the parents arrange the marriages of their
children, sometimes at a very early age.
Abraham definitely did not want Isaac marrying a Canaanitish woman, so
to prevent that he took matters into his own hands. He summoned
his highest ranking servant and gave him strict instructions on how to
pick a wife for his son, but he had to go to Mesopotamia to do
it. His trip had to be carefully planned because it could have
serious consequences if not done properly. His trusted servant
had to go because Abraham nor Isaac could go there. Let's get
into it and find out why.
Gen. 24:1 And
Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed
Abraham in all things.
This statement may seem a little incongruous in light of the things
that had happened to Abraham so far in his life, but in physical wealth
he had definitely been blessed. Abraham had also learned and
grown from the trials in his life, and so in that sense he was blessed
spiritually (mentally, if you will) as well. We all grow and
build character from experience.
Gen. 24:2 And
Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all
that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
The writer of Genesis, or those who handled the manuscript later, were
being very socially polite, or even coy here in their choice of words
in the last clause. The last clause is a euphemism for the actual
practice which involved placing the right hand on the genitals, a very
special area that contained the seed, or DNA. Don't be shocked,
it was just another silly tradition of men.
Anyway, you won't find such a thing being done today anywhere within
western civilization because it would be considered a vulgar
practice. We are civilized now, so we simply raise our right
hands instead. Another silly tradition of men???
Regarding that ancient practice, carefully consider the following
definition taken from my American Heritage Dictionary, and notice
especially the part that I have underlined.
tes·tis
(tĕstĭs)
n. pl.
tes·tes (-tēz)
1. The
reproductive gland in a male vertebrate, the source of spermatozoa and
the androgens, normally occurring paired in an external scrotum in
humans and certain other mammals.
2. An analogous
gland in an invertebrate animal, such as a hydra or a mollusk.
[Latin, witness,
testis; see testify.]
Word History: The
resemblance between testimony, testify, testis, and testicle shows an
etymological relationship, but linguists are not agreed on precisely
how English testis came to have its current meaning. The Latin testis
originally meant "witness," and etymologically means "third (person)
standing by": the te- part comes from an older tri-, a combining form
of the word for "three," and -stis is a noun derived from the
Indo-European root stā- meaning "stand." How this also came
to refer to
the body part(s) is disputed. An
old theory has it that the Romans placed their right hands on their
testicles and swore by them before giving testimony in court.
Another theory says that the sense of testicle in Latin testis is due
to a calque, or loan translation, from Greek. The Greek noun
parastatēs
means "defender (in law), supporter" (para- "by, alongside," as in
paramilitary and -statēs from histanai, "to stand"). In the
dual
number, used in many languages for naturally occurring, contrasting, or
complementary pairs such as hands, eyes, and ears, parastatēs
had the
technical medical sense "testicles," that is "two glands side by side."
The Romans simply took this sense of parastatēs and added it
to testis,
the Latin word for legal supporter, witness.
The American
Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition.
Copyright© 2004, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin
I hope that you can see the relationship between the male testicles and testifying, and
that would include swearing,
or performing an
oath in ancient times. Some will
undoubtedly think that it is tacky of me to bring these things to
light, but what men did in olden times should not be swept under the
rug. I'm not a goody two-shoes.
The did what they did, in the way that they did, and it shouldn't be
covered up and hidden. Whoever was responsible for writing the
words under my
thigh were doing just that, covering up and sanatizing the
text.
Gen. 24:3 And I
will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the
earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of
the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
Abraham here is making his servant swear or testify
(see the above definition of testis) and give
his solemn oath
that he will comply. The testicles are not involved today, we
simply raise our right hand to testify, take an
oath, or swear.
Gen. 24:4 But thou
shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my
son Isaac.
Why would he send his servant in his stead? You would think that
Abraham himself, and Isaac too, would jump at the chance to see their
kin in Mesopotamia. Well, maybe they would indeed, but you see,
there was a slight problem. Not too many years before this,
Abraham had pursued and defeated the armies of four powerful kings from
that area, and had dispatched them all to the next world. In
other words, he probably was a "wanted man" in
Babylonia. Oh, and one other thing should be mentioned concerning
this. Isaac was totally unaware of what Abraham was doing because
they weren't together.
Gen. 24:5 And the
servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to
follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the
land from whence thou camest?
Gen. 24:6 And
Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither
again.
Abraham absolutely did not want Isaac to go into Babylonia
with his servant.
Gen. 24:7 The LORD
God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land
of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying,
Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before
thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
The last clause of this verse should logically be the
beginning of the next verse.
Gen. 24:8 And if the
woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from
this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
Again, the last clause of verse 8 emphatically shows that Abraham would
not allow Isaac to go into Babylonia. Why? Because he
feared for the life of his son if the Babylonians discovered that he
was there.
Gen. 24:9 And the servant
put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him
concerning that matter.
Oops! There's that disgusting under the thigh
thing again. (Silly traditions of men.)
Gen. 24:10 And the
servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for
all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to
Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
Gen. 24:11 And he
made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at
the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
Gen. 24:12 And he
said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed
this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
Gen. 24:13 Behold, I
stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the
city come out to draw water:
Gen. 24:14 And let
it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy
pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I
will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast
appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou
hast shewed kindness unto my master.
Gen. 24:15 And it came to
pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who
was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s
brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
I guess that would make Rebekah a second cousin to
Isaac. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Gen. 24:16 And the damsel
was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her:
and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
The second and third clauses may seem to be redundant, but not
necessarily so. The term a virgin could
simply mean that she was unmarried and had never been married.
The third clause is self explanatory.
Gen. 24:17 And the
servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little
water of thy pitcher.
Did he really run,
or should run
be translated hurried
or rushed?
The remaining verses of this chapter are clear and self
explanatory. They describe the events that Abraham's servant went
through to negotiate for Rebekah. I won't comment much on them.
Gen. 24:18 And she
said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her
hand, and gave him drink.
Gen. 24:19 And when
she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy
camels also, until they have done drinking.
Gen. 24:20 And she
hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the
well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
Gen. 24:21 And the
man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made
his journey prosperous or not.
Gen. 24:22 And it
came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a
golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands
of ten shekels weight of gold;
Gen. 24:23 And said,
Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy
father’s house for us to lodge in?
Gen. 24:24 And she
said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which
she bare unto Nahor.
Gen. 24:25 She said
moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to
lodge in.
Gen. 24:26 And the
man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
Gen. 24:27 And he
said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left
destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the
LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.
Gen. 24:28 And the
damsel ran, and told them of her mother’s house these things.
Gen. 24:29 And
Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto
the man, unto the well.
Gen. 24:30 And it
came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s
hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus
spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood
by the camels at the well.
Gen. 24:31 And he
said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou
without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
Gen. 24:32 And the
man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and
provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men’s
feet that were with him.
Gen. 24:33 And there
was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I
have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
Gen. 24:34 And he
said, I am Abraham’s servant.
Gen. 24:35 And the
LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he
hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and
menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
Gen. 24:36 And Sarah
my master’s wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him
hath he given all that he hath.
Gen. 24:37 And my
master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of
the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:
Gen. 24:38 But thou
shalt go unto my father’s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife
unto my son.
Gen. 24:39 And I
said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.
Gen. 24:40 And he
said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with
thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my
kindred, and of my father’s house:
Gen. 24:41 Then
shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred;
and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.
Gen. 24:42 And I
came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham,
if now thou do prosper my way which I go:
Gen. 24:43 Behold, I
stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the
virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray
thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;
Gen. 24:44 And she
say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let
the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master’s
son.
Gen. 24:45 And
before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth
with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and
drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
Gen. 24:46 And she
made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said,
Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made
the camels drink also.
Gen. 24:47 And I
asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The
daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put
the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.
Gen. 24:48 And I
bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God
of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my
master’s brother’s daughter unto his son.
Gen. 24:49 And now
if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not,
tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.
Gen. 24:50 Then
Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the
LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.
Gen. 24:51 Behold,
Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master’s
son’s wife, as the LORD hath spoken.
Gen. 24:52 And it
came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he
worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
Gen. 24:53 And the
servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and
raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to
her mother precious things.
Gen. 24:54 And they
did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all
night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto
my master.
Gen. 24:55 And her
brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days,
at the least ten; after that she shall go.
Gen. 24:56 And he
said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way;
send me away that I may go to my master.
This servant of Abraham's was obviously very anxious to
leave. He undoubtedly was aware of the danger they were in, and
that it would increase the longer that he stayed in Babylonia.
Gen. 24:57 And they
said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.
Gen. 24:58 And they
called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she
said, I will go.
Gen. 24:59 And they
sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham’s servant,
and his men.
And his men?
This is the first mention of additional men. So, this servant of
Abraham had carried some bodyguards with him. Very wise, because
he was transporting considerable wealth with him on the way into
Babylonia, and was departing there with precious cargo indeed.
Now, lets address the subject of Rebekah's nurse. Her
name is given as Deborah in Gen. 35:8, and she obviously was a wet nurse, or
possibly a nursemaid,
or both. There is no mention of Rebekah being ill, or needing
medical care, and besides, it is not likely that medical nurses were known in those days.
Consider the following definitions of the Hebrew word translated nurse in this
verse, taken from my Logos 2 Enhanced
Strong's Lexicon.
3243 yanaq { yaw-nak’}
a primitive root; TWOT - 874; v
AV - suck 14, nurse 7, suckling 6, sucking child 3, milch 1, nursing
mothers 1; 32
GK - 3567 { qn"y:
} & 4787 { tq,n<yme
}* & 5682 { qWn
}*
1) to suckle, nurse, suck
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to suck
1a2) suckling, babe (subst)
1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to give suck to, nurse
1b2) nursing, nursing woman, nurse (participle)
Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems,
Inc.) 1995.
I have asked several people about the usage of the word nurse here
without any tangible results, so I will go out on a limb with an
assumption. She was Rebekah's wet nurse, and they had bonded from
that relationship. Rebekah's mother possibly either could not, or
would not, nurse Rebekah. I'm a man, but even I know that some
women are incapable of properly breastfeeding their babies. Some
have inverted nipples, and there are other reasons that some mothers
cannot nurse. And, many women simply do not want to breastfeed
their babies, for whatever reason.
I have been told that a baby, or a toddler, will develop a special bond
with the woman who nurses them. Deborah may have been Rebekah's
wet nurse, and nursemaid since she was born. A second mother, so
to speak. They could have been very close, and perhaps virtually
inseparable.
Gen. 24:60 And they
blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the
mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of
those which hate them.
Gen. 24:61 And
Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and
followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.
And her damsels? So, there were more females
accompanying Rebekah than just her nurse. They probably were her
so-called handmaidens, but they also could have been her bridesmaids,
and likely so.
Gen. 24:62 And Isaac
came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south
country.
This well called Lahairoi in this
verse is the same well called Beerlahairoi in
Gen. 16:14. So when Abraham's servant was returning from
Babylonia with Rebekah, Isaac was staying at the same well where the
Angel of the Lord found Hagar after she had ran away from the harsh
treatment of Sarah, and when she was pregnant with Ismael.
Gen. 24:63 And Isaac
went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his
eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
Gen. 24:64 And
Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the
camel.
Gen. 24:65 For she
had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field
to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she
took a vail, and covered herself.
The last clause here is interesting. Why did she veil
at this point? It was a bridal veil, of course.
Gen. 24:66 And the
servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
One thing to notice in all this is that Abraham is nowhere to be
seen. His servant went to Abraham's people and negotiated for
Rebekah,
and brought her to Isaac here at the well called Beerlahairoi. Of
course, this verse means that Isaac was told that it was Abraham who
sent him for Rebekah. Perhaps it was a kind of peace offering to
mend their relationship. In any case, it was the right thing to
do.
Gen. 24:67 And Isaac
brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she
became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his
mother’s death.
Evidently Isaac had moved himself and his mother's
possessions from Hebron to this location, which was very close to his
father Abraham if he still dwelled at Beersheba. In any case, he
now has a fine and noble wife brought to him by the ruling servant in
his father Abraham's house, but she was really chosen by God.
Their marriage will soon produce the two brothers, Jacob and Esau.
God bless with
understanding
of His word.
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2006 by Jim
Lisenby. All Rights Reserved