the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Genesis 24:33
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Then food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." He said, "Speak on."
And there was set food before him to eat. But he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
Then Laban gave the servant food, but the servant said, "I will not eat until I have told you why I came." So Laban said, "Then tell us."
When food was served, he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I want to say." "Tell us," Laban said.
And there was set [food] before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
Food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."
But when food was set before him, he said, "I will not eat until I have stated my business." And Laban said, "Speak on."
And breed was set forth in his siyt, which seide, Y schal not ete til Y speke my wordis. He answerde to the man, Speke thou.
and setteth before him to eat; but he saith, `I do not eat till I have spoken my word;' and he saith, `Speak.'
Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say." So Laban said, "Please speak."
After that, they brought in food. But the servant said, "Before I eat, I must tell you why I have come." "Go ahead and tell us," Laban answered.
But when a meal was set before him, he said, "I won't eat until I say what I have to say." Lavan said, "Speak."
And there was set food before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.
And meat was put before him, but he said, I will not take food till I have made my business clear to you. And they said, Do so.
And there was set meate before hym to eate: but he sayd, I wyll not eate vntyll I haue sayde myne arande. And he sayd: say on.
And there was set [meat] before him to eat; but he said, I will not eat until I have made known my business. And he said, Speak on.
And there was set food before him to eat; but he said: 'I will not eat, until I have told mine errand.' And he said: 'Speak on.'
And there was set meat before him to eate: but he said, I will not eate, vntill I haue tolde mine errand. And hee said, Speake on.
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.
Then food was set in front of the man to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told you why I came here." Laban said, "Tell it."
Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." He said, "Speak on."
and food was set before him to eat, But he said, I cannot eat, until I have spoken my words. And he said - Speak!
Afterward the meate was set before him: but he saide, I will not eate, vntill I haue saide my message: And he said, Speake on.
And there was set food before them to eat; but Abrahams steward said, I will not eat until I have told my errand. And they said, Speak on.
When food was brought, the man said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." Laban said, "Go on and speak."
And bread was set before him. But he said: I will not eat, till I tell my message. He answered him: Speak.
Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." He said, "Speak on."
And he set before them loaves to eat; but he said, I will not eat, until I have told my errand. And he said, Speak on.
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.
A meal was set before him, but he said, “I will not eat until I have said what I have to say.”
Food was set before him to eat. But he said, "I will not eat until I have told my message." He said, "Speak on."
And food was placed before him to eat. And he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." And he said, "Speak."
And food was set before him to eat, but he said, I will not eat until I have spoken my message. And he said, Speak.
and set meate before him.Neuertheles he sayde: I wil not eate, tyll I haue fyrst tolde myne earade. They answered: Tell on.
But when food was set before him to eat, he said, "I will not eat until I have stated my business." And he said, "Speak on."
Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have told about my errand." And he said, "Speak on."
Then food was served. But Abraham's servant said, "I don't want to eat until I have told you why I have come." "All right," Laban said, "tell us."
But when food was set before him to eat, he said, "I will not eat until I have told my business." And he said, "Speak on."
Then food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have spoken my words." And he said, "Speak!"
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Job 23:12, Psalms 132:3-5, Proverbs 22:29, Ecclesiastes 9:10, John 4:14, John 4:31-34, Ephesians 6:5-8, 1 Timothy 6:2
Reciprocal: Psalms 132:4 - give sleep Luke 10:4 - and
Cross-References
Now I want you to make a promise to me. Promise to me before the Lord , the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry a girl from Canaan. We live among these people, but don't let him marry a Canaanite girl.
The servant said to him, "Maybe this woman will not want to come back with me to this land. If that happens, should I take your son with me to your homeland?"
If the girl refuses to come with you, you will be free from this promise. But you must not take my son back to that place."
Laban said, "Sir, you are welcome to come in! You don't have to stand outside here. I have prepared a room for you to sleep in and a place for your camels."
The servant said, "I am Abraham's servant.
I always obey his commands. I love the words from his mouth more than I love my food.
Skilled workers will always serve kings. They will never have to work for less important people.
Every time you find work to do, do it the best you can. In the grave there is no work. There is no thinking, no knowledge, and there is no wisdom. And we are all going to the place of death.
But anyone who drinks the water I give will never be thirsty again. The water I give people will be like a spring flowing inside them. It will bring them eternal life."
Some slaves have masters who are believers, so they are brothers. Does this mean they should show their masters any less respect? No, they should serve them even better, because they are helping believers, people they should love. This is what you must teach and tell everyone to do.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And there was set [meat] before them to eat,.... By the order of Bethuel or Laban, or both; or, "afterwards was set" l; that is after care had been taken the camels, then food being provided was set before the men to refresh them:
but he said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand; or, "spoke my words" m; delivered the message he was sent with, and declared the business he came about; which shows him to be a diligent faithful servant, who had his master's interest at heart, and preferred it to his necessary food:
and he said; either Bethuel or Laban, for both were present, to whom the servant directed his discourse, Genesis 24:47; perhaps Laban spoke in the name of his father, and bid him
speak on; go on with his discourse until he had said all he had to say, signifying that they were ready to give attention to him.
l ××××©× "post appositum", Drusius, Schmidt. m ×××¨×ª× ×××¨× "donec loquar sermones meos", V. L. "vel mea verba", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- The Marriage of Isaac
26. ×§×¨× qaÌdad, âbow the head.â ×ש×ת××× shaÌchaÌh, âbow the body.â
29. ××× laÌbaÌn, âLaban, white.â
In this circumstantial account of the marriage of Isaac, we have a beautiful picture of ancient manners in the East, the living original of which the present customs of that cradle of mankind are a striking copy.
Genesis 24:1-9
Abraham binds the chief servant of his house to seek a wife for his son Isaac among his kindred. The first movement in this matrimonial arrangement is on the part of the father, who does not consult his son, but the chief manager of his household affairs. Abraham is now a hundred and forty years of age, and Sarah has been three years dead. Isaac seems to have been of an easy, sedate turn of mind, and was not in circumstances to choose a partner for life such as his father would approve. The promise of a numerous offspring by the son of Sarah is before the mind of the patriarch. All these considerations impel him to look out for a suitable wife for his son, and the blessing of the Lord encourages him to proceed. The person whom Abraham intrusted with this delicate task has a threefold designation. First, he is âhis servantâ or minister. Secondly, he is the old man, ancient, or elder of his house. Here the term âelderâ approaches its official signification. In early times age was taken into account, along with good conduct and aptitude, as the qualification for services of trust. Thirdly, he âruled over all that he had.â He was therefore a master as well as a minister. If this be Eliezer of mascus Genesis 15:2, he was the steward of Abraham before the birth of Ishmael fifty-four Years ago. âUnder my thigh.â The thigh was the seat of generative power, and the region of sacramental consecration, and to put the hand under the thigh was to acknowledge and pledge obedience to him who requires the oath.
Genesis 24:3-4
The appeal is to God as âYahweh, God of heaven and God of the earth.â Yahweh is the personal name of God, which is properly used by those who are in fellowship with him. He is the Author of all being, and therefore of heaven and earth; and hence the arbiter of the destiny of the oath-taker, both in spiritual and material things, both in this life and in what is to come. âNot of the daughters of the Kenaanite,â a race sinking fast into ungodliness and unrighteousness, doomed to extirpation, to whom the promised seed is to succeed. The kindred of Abraham were Shemites, Hebrews, and still retained some knowledge of the true God, and some reverence for him and his will. The experienced elder of Abrahamâs house does not wish to bind himself by an oath to what it may be impossible to fulfill. He makes the supposition of the unwillingness of the bride whom he may select, and obtains a quittance from his oath in that ease. The patriarch, however, charges him not to bring his son back to the land of his fathers, and expresses his confidence in the God of promise, that he will direct his servant to the suitable wife for his son. âHis angelâ Genesis 16:7. This is the Lord in the function of an angel or messenger opening the way for the servant of Abraham. He does not make any appearance to the servant, though a superintending Providence is strikingly displayed in the whole affair. The faithful elder now understands and takes the required oath.
Genesis 24:10-14
He proceeds on his journey. âTook ten camels.â These are designed for conducting the bride and her companions home to his master. âAll the best belonging to his master in his hand.â This refers to the presents for the bride and her friends, and to the accommodations for her comfort on the journey. âAram-Naharaim.â Aram was an extensive area, embracing not only the country west of the Frat and north of Palestine, but the northern part of Mesopotamia, or the country between the Frat and the Dijlah. The latter region is for the sake of distinction called Aram of the two rivers. It did not include the southern part of Mesopotamia, which was called Shinar Genesis 11:2, and probably extended only to the Chaboras, Khabour. The part of it in which Haran was situated was called Padan-aram Genesis 28:2. âThe city of Nahor.â It is probable that Nahor accompanied his father, Terah, to Haran Genesis 11:31. If not, he must have followed him very soon.
Genesis 24:11
Made the camels kneel, - for repose. âThe time when the maidens that draw water come out.â The evening was the cool part of the day. The simple maidens of primitive days attended personally to domestic affairs. The experienced steward might therefore naturally expect to see the high-born damsels of the land at the public well, which had probably given rise to the neighboring town. The prayer of the aged servant is conceived in a spirit of earnest, childlike faith. The matter in hand is of extraordinary importance. A wife is to be found for the heir of promise. This was a special concern of God, and so the single-hearted follower of Abraham makes it. He takes upon himself the choice of a maiden among those that come to draw, to whom he will make the request of a particular act of kindness to a stranger, and he prays God that the intended bride may be known by a ready compliance with his request. The three qualifications, then, in the mind of the venerable domestic for a bride for his masterâs son, are a pleasing exterior, a kindly disposition, and the approval of God.
Genesis 24:15-21
The answer is immediate and direct. âHe had not yet done speaking,â when the answer came. A damsel âvery fair to look upon,â satisfying the taste of the old man, appears. He thereupon prefers his request, with which she promptly complies. The old man waits in wonder and silence to see if the Lordâs approval will follow.
Genesis 24:22-28
Rebekah makes herself known in reply to his inquiries. âA ring of gold.â The single ring was worn in the nose, the side cartilage of which was pierced for the purpose. This is a custom of the East. âA bekaâ was half a shekel, somewhat less than a quarter of an ounce. âTen of gold in weight.â Ten bekas would be about two ounces and a quarter. If shekels, however, be understood, the weight will be double. These were merely a reward for her kindness and courtesy to a stranger. Two questions are now asked by the stranger - the one relating to her kindred, and the other to the means and the inclination they had to entertain a stranger, when inns were not yet in existence. She announces herself to be the daughter of his masterâs nephew, and assures him of the requisite accommodation.
Genesis 24:26-27
Bowed his head and worshipped. - The bowing of the head and of the body are here combined to indicate the aged servantâs deep thankfulness for the guidance of the Lord. The utterance of the mouth accompanies the external gesture of reverence. âHer motherâs house;â those who were in the department of the females. We may imagine with what excitement and alacrity Rebekah would communicate the extraordinary intelligence.
Genesis 24:29-33
The reception of Abrahamâs servant. Laban now comes on the scene. He is ready to run with his sister to find the man, and invite him, as a matter of course, to his fatherâs house. âWhen he saw the ring.â The presents to his sister assure him that this is the envoy of some man of wealth and position. âThou blessed of the Lord.â The name of Yahweh was evidently not unfamiliar to Labanâs ears. He calls this stranger âblessed of Yahweh,â on account of his language, demeanor, and manifest prosperity. The knowledge and worship of the living God, the God of truth and mercy, was still retained in the family of Nahor. Being warmly invited, the man enters the house. âAnd he ungirded the camels.â Laban is the actor here, and in the following duties of hospitality. âThe menâs feet that were with him.â It comes out here, incidentally, as it was reasonable to infer from the number of camels, that Abrahamâs steward had a retinue of servants with him. The crowning act of an Eastern reception is the presenting of food. But the faithful servant must deliver his message before partaking of the friendly meal.
Verse 34-49
The servantâs errand is told. He explains his business in a singularly artless and pleasing manner. He then leaves the matter in the hands of the family. âGiven unto him all that he hath.â His children by Hagar and Keturah were dismissed with portions during his life, and the main bulk of his property was conveyed to Isaac.
Genesis 24:50-61
The servantâs return with Rebekah. So plain an interposition of Providence admits of no refusal on the part of those who revere the Lord. Bethuel now appears as a concurring party. Laban, as the full brother of Rebekah, has a voice in the disposal of her hand; but the father only has the power to ratify the contract. The patriarchâs servant first bows in acknowledgment to the Lord, who had now manifested his approval of the choice he had made, and then proceeds to distribute costly gifts to the bride, and to her brother and mother. Now at length the thankful guest partakes of the fare set before him along with his entertainers, and after the nightâs repose requests to be dismissed. âA few days;â perhaps a week or ten days. The mother and brother naturally plead for a little time to prepare for parting with Rebekah. They could not expect the servant, however, to stay months.
âInquire at her mouth.â This is the only free choice in the matter that seems to be given to Rebekah. Her consent may have been modestly indicated, before her family ratified the contract. It is plain, however, that it was thought proper that the parents should receive and decide upon a proposal of marriage. The extent to which the maidenâs inclinations would be consulted would depend very much on the custom of the country, and the intelligence and good feeling of the parents. In later times the custom became very arbitrary. Rebekahâs decision shows that she concurred in the consent of her relatives. âAnd her nurse.â Her name, we learn afterward Genesis 35:8, was Deborah. The nurse accompanied the bride as her confidential adviser and faithful attendant, and died in her service; a beautiful trait of ancient manners. The blessing consists in a boundless offspring, and the upper hand over their enemies. These are indicative of a thin population, and a comparatively rude state of society. âAnd her damsels.â We here learn, again, incidentally, that Rebekah had more female attendants than her nurse.
Genesis 24:62-67
Isaac receives his bride. He had been at Beer-lahai-roi, the scene of the interview of Hagar with the angel of the Lord - a spot calculated to awaken thoughts of an overruling Providence. âTo meditate.â This is a characteristic of Isaacâs retiring, contemplative mood. Abraham was the active, authoritative father; Isaac was the passive, submissive son. To meditate was to hold converse with his own thoughts, to ponder on the import of that never-to-be-forgotten scene when he was laid on the altar by a fatherâs hand, and a ram caught in the thicket became his substitute, and to pour out his soul unto the God of his salvation. In this hour of his grave reflection comes his destined bride with her faithful escort upon his view. Rebekah lights off the camel. Doubtless the conversation by the way with the elder of Abrahamâs house had made her aware of their approach to the residence of her future husband.
She concludes at once that this must be he, and, alighting, asks if it be. On being informed by the servant that this is his young master, she puts on the veil, which covers the head, and hangs down gracefully both behind and before. The aged servant reports the success of his mission, and presents Rebekah. Isaac brings his cousinâs daughter into the apartments formerly occupied by his mother, and accepts her as his wife. The formalities of the interview, and of her presentation to Abraham as his daughter-in-law, are all untold. âAnd he loved her.â This is the first mention of the social affections. It comes in probably because Isaac had not before seen his bride, and now felt his heart drawn toward her, when she was presented to his view. All things were evidently done in the fear of God, as became those who were to be the progenitors of the seed of promise. We have here a description of the primeval marriage. It is a simple taking of a woman for a wife before all witnesses, and with suitable feelings and expression of reverence toward God, and of desire for his blessing. It is a pure and holy relation, reaching back into the realms of innocence, and fit to be the emblem of the humble, confiding, affectionate union between the Lord and his people.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Genesis 24:33. I will not eat until I have told — In Hindoostan it is not unusual for a Brahmin to enter a house and sit down, and when meat is offered, refuse to eat till he has obtained the object of his errand. Here is a servant who had his master's interest more at heart than his own. He refuses to take even necessary refreshment till he knows whether he is likely to accomplish the object of his journey. Did not our blessed Lord allude to the conduct of Abraham's servant, John 4:34: My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work?
